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| On to Nouakchott After further preparations, fuel, food and water, we went on direction south. Supposedly there were from time to time a few kilometres apart markings to follow as there were no road just tracks mostly gone because of the "once in the year" rain. Anyway we traveled on while discussing the best way and getting into verbal fights over it. After a while somehow we got back to place we were at before. So Harald and I decided to walk in front of the car in order to identify tracks or markings. Eventually we reached the sea and drove on along the beach on the firm not too wet sand. It was a lot of fun and a real adventure. We were getting stuck in the sand, pushing the car out and on and on also because very often we had to drive around some rock formations to continue on the other side on the beach. It was a very good training on how to drive on sand, as to at what time to change shifts and when to give less gas. Travelling along the beach Michel saw a glass ball used to hold up fishing nets. We stopped Michel got the glass ball and then the car never started again. The car was actually not equipped for the desert and the motor was now full of sand. No special equipment for the oil filter. So we were at the beach and what do we do now? Away from the beach further inland we found a little settlement, very neat but no person around. In order to find food or water we broke into the huts, but there was no food or water to be found. We rationed the water and the food and tried very hard not to fight over it. Along the way when we stopped Harald and I instited to have the water farther away from where we stopped in order to see who is going to get some extra water. We cauth the old men once. His excuse was I'm sixtythree. On the second day we started to have fever. The old French started to write letters to his son hoping that one day his letters will be found. We went into the water hoping to get some humidity in the body. It was really strange. Getting into the water was difficult because the water seemed to be very cold. Getting out of the water was also difficult because now the air seemed to be very cold. Suddenly we saw a man on a fishing boat. We were not sure whether it was a Fata Morgana or not. Anyway we started jumping around to get his attention. He came to shore stared at us and went away gain. He had no water to spare. On the third day getting really despaired Harald and later on Michel decided to walk on. There must be a village or camp with people some where, they took a can of sardines and went on. It was farewell to Harald and then to Michel. Late in the afternoon of this day we suddenly heard something motorised coming towards us. It was a group of fisherman on an old Dodge with Michel but not Harald. They found Michel exhausted on the beach. We were saved. They had to go on but left us a good supply of rusty water. The water tasted like a drink from heaven. We were really lucky because this particular Dodge makes the trip once a month. Two days later they came back and after some discussion about the price took the car and us all the way to Nouakchott. It was a fantastic trip. Before leaving and confessing that we broke into the huts and were forgiven, we had all the same a wonderful evening with prepared food on the skewer. Further down along the beach we reached a fishing village and to our surprise there was Harald. I was really happy to see him again. He went down along the beach and when feeling thirsty he went into the water. After a while he saw a camel and followed it but the camel was gone. Further on he thought to see something but this image was going and coming. Eventually he saw a group of Arabs sitting on a dune staring at him. I guess they could not believe what they saw. There was a stranger walking along the beach. They welcomed him and gave him water, food and even a pack of cigarettes. Somehow he managed to tell them that there were some friends stuck further north. The villagers decided to go with Harald to get us. First they were 14, after a while asking again how far? They were eight. Eventually there were only 3 left but decided to go back and organize something the next day. Maybe. Harald though to be in the movie L of A and believed in the "Happy End". He was right. We arrived there late at night. |
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