Day 12 - Dakhla (Rest & Repair day)

(Why is it that we always seem to spend rest days fixing the car rather than out having fun?)

There are two poorly-sick cars to be nursed today, Bob needs to find a body shop to do some welding before Banjul Baby finally comes apart at the seams and Andrew and biker George take Phoebe to the friendly local mechanic at the Garage Al Masjid. To be honest we would have been satisfied with a quick bodge, but within a short space of time they have totally dismantled the entire suspension, wheel hub and brake assembly to their component parts and have welded a new thrust flange on to the shock absorber strut.

After a quick test drive he identifies that something doesn't quite sound right, a rubber gearbox mounting bush is split so he cuts and shapes a new one by hand from a block of rubber with a knife he sharpens on a lump of breeze block and about 10 minutes later it is fitted. The whole process from start to finish took 3 hours and cost a total sum of £38. If you are ever in Dakhla and happen to need an old banger patching up, they can be found on Rue Taraf Al Azrak.

Mid afternoon and the temperature in Dakhla is 40+ degrees, but a strong cooling breeze coming in from the bay means that it is perfect weather for a stroll along the deserted promenade (I have to keep reminding myself that it is mid-winter, what must it be like here in peak season?) and a drink in a seafront cafe when by chance we happen meet up with yet more Banjul Challenge teams, some of whom we haven't seen since Rabat. Strolling around we notice yet more team cars parked up so it looks like everybody is here for the run down to the Mauritanian border tomorrow and GB registration plates are like a rash all over town (a fact that is commented on to me by a French couple in the bar at the hotel later in the evening) - what must the locals make of this annual invasion of crazy Brits in beaten up old cars?

We had decided on our arrival in Dakhla to pamper ourselves by staying at a 4 star luxury hotel (at £35 per night per person half-board it seemed rude not to!) so we head back there now for the more mundane task of washing dirty clothes accumulated after 12 days on the road as by now they are threatening to get out of the car and walk home by themselves. Throw them in the bath with some Persil and hot water, jump up and down on them for 15 minutes, leave to soak for a bit, rinse, job done!

Andrew is now so tuckered out by the day that he needs a nap, so I head for the roof terrace for a dip in the infinity pool and with beer in hand watch as dusk falls over Dakhla.