Here we go. The fellowship of the Italian Convoy is on the move and to be repeated for me since 2018. 

Loaded with my camera in hand, I jumped into Claudio’s trusty Landrover. Andiamo! 

The holy bitumen track quickly came to be a corrugated dirt track before the Sahara sand surpassed the tar completely.

Sand, that’s what we came here for. Vai, Vai! Surf those sandy waves.

My excitement was put on hold quickly, we didn’t even get 200 meters. I wasn’t so much surprised as the first vehicle got stuck. The tire pressure hadn’t been adjusted to the hot and soft sand, a rookie mistake. Although, I did mention it before.

A father/son duo had issues with their full jerry cans on the roof, which were attached with ropes without a roof rack? I mentioned that issue back in Douz too, but what do I know. I know we will be waiting.

Claudio lead the way for an hour or two an isolated Café within the dunes.

This actually took me by surprise, I didn’t expect to see the ‘Sahara Inn-the-tent’ here. We’re not so isolated after all. It was past lunchtime and that’s a moment not to be missed in Italian society. A fried egg Tunisian style went down well indeed.

Another driver’s car tire came off the rim whilst turning too drastic on a highly deflated tire. We won’t get far at this ‘stop and go’ rate.

But it gave me time to launch Rick for the very first time in the Sahara. This was the moment I have been waiting for.

Flying my drone over the Sahara desert, a vast expanse of sandy ripples.

Sand dunes as far as the drone can see.

Following tire tracks and footprints. Where are the camels?

Instead, another motorized convoy arrived. And then another. Desert Fox Claudio knew the leaders of each group, which are in direct competition with his Safari Service Africa. But as the saying goes; Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer. I met new friends too. Mason, a friendly young Dubaen, who studied in Germany for some years, was part of one automobile group. We met on the overnight ferry to Tunis and had plenty to talk about. He was ready to take his brand new, very expensive Landcruiser Troopcarrier to the test.

My Troopy in Australia is the same model, only 21 years older. I wished him and his friends a fun and adventurous journey. 

Claudio had lost sense of time and was still chatting, whilst the sun lowered over the horizon. Vai, Vai Claudio!

Eventually, the convoy was on the move again. Hurrah!

It was late afternoon already and we will be running out of sunlight soon.

We didn’t navigate far and stayed in the flats the first night out.

There was still sunlight and battery power for Rick. ‘Drone in the Air’ I yelled as he took off over the Landrover’s bonnet.

I didn’t need to fly far for a spectacular view. Check this out!

Sand and shadows on bird’s-eye-view.

Sun, sky, and sand from up high.

Or top-down low.

360 degrees.

Or in panoramic view. Fabulous.

This sand dune meadow appears like an oversized sand basket on an oversized golf course from Rick’s point of view.

It takes a bit of effort to get here, but walk the mile and return with a smile. I was smiling all around.

It appears that this convoy enjoys neighborly comfort as well. With hundreds of acres of sand around us, some sort of wagon wheel was created, which centered the hub;

Claudio’s Sahara Pub and Diner.

On the menu tonight; Pasta and Spritz.

I don’t understand the personal closeness in space like this, but neither did I have to.

It gave me more choices, well out of harm’s way.