The Long Way Round – Libyan style

This camp is just a short drive from a nearby military airport which is also use for civilian purposes. This is quite handy as my company can fly me for 3hours on a commercial airliner to this airport from the capital of Tripoli. It is served by a rather old, Soviet-era passenger airliner, run by a Libyan company.

A week before I’m due to go on leave to the UK, the plane broke down. Now, normally you’d think, so what, they will fly a replacement plane. Nope, if it breaks down, that’s it until someone superglue the wings back on or something.

This mean I will be bussed to Benghazi, 7.5hours away via the coastal route rather than the straight desert road (it would take 3 hours if you survive it). This straight desert road is too dangerous for long distance travel and the desert road is known as “Death Road” because it is so unbelievably straight, and flat for the most part, with undulating terrain.

The glaring desert sun is hard on your eyes as you squint, and the shade temperature reaches 40c forming mirages. These play a trick for your eyes and your mind is working to remind itself that what you see is not what it is. The camber of the road is quite pronounced so you are straining to keep the car straight and not veer off, holding the steering at a very odd angle to keep it straight and putting a lot of strain on the overheated tyres.

Absolutely bugger all to see too.

It makes me tired after about 10minutes of driving on it.

People who drives on it are paranoid that the oncoming vehicle is not paying attention, so they flash their lights and if no response, they slow right down. A good technique.

Below image: close up of the desert by the roadside, not much to see…