570KM FROM MUSCAT
by IAN GREASBY
The first of eight days around Oman on dirt bike
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NAM OF OPAL
Heading against the clock
Four dirt bikers set off from Muscat in December 2007 on what they called the Nam of Opal, or Lap of Oman spelt backwards because they planned on going around the outer reaches of the sultanate in an anticlockwise direction. Over the next eight days Ian, Scott, Sean and Roeland would clock 3,560km through desert, mountain and every kind of terrain available between. This is their diary.

DAY ONE
570km from Muscat to Lekhwair
We started from Bausher roundabout at 4am, an hour when Roeland is usually found sipping on his favourite cocktail. Our friends waved us off and went straight home to bed. We set off up the highway, in the dark.

Up near al Sawadi we turned onto our first graded road and followed the course of the dunes, and through the mountains to Rustaq. It was an eerie ride along this dusty trail in the dark, and although we had ridden it many times in daylight it came alive with the threat of obstacles in the night. Rolo discovered his rear light didn’t work, and with no spare he shrugged his shoulders in his very Dutch fashion, re-assembled the mass of Vidal Sassoon hair under his helmet, and carried on.

Past Rustaq, it was freezing in the mountains, and we made our way along the new road to Ibri. Although scenic, it was also dull riding, and at the first opportunity we pulled off and headed on
the smaller road by-passing Ibri to Yanqul, and then on to Jibal and finally to Safa.

The dunes were, as always, absolutely awesome. We’d all been here before so knew what to expect. The temperature was relatively cool, the dunes huge and rolling. We loved it. After 570km of fabulous riding we were heading for our place of rest. We rode free over the dunes and sabkha flats till darkness approached.

The decision was made for us, and we headed to Lekhwair, where we would spend a most comfortable evening. We were brought a delightful dish of chicken and chips, and we drank tea with our hosts, before wandering across the road for a couple of pleasantly surprising yet surreal swift nightcaps, to end our most extraordinary day.