Finally, progress. After sundry faffing about with de-registering her in Dubai, Bumblebee the Camel Trophy Discovery is now almost legal here in Fujeirah. She passed the local equivalent of the MoT this last weekend, and now is ready to be registered and plated in about ten days. I have to pause the process as I’m heading for Nepal again in a couple of days to catch up with Miles, Tom, Raj and Tek and the guys at Land Rovers Overland in Kathmandu – we are hoping to take two or three Defenders up to Muktinath and the Thorong La Pass in the Annapurna range.

This in itself should be a fascinating trip – I’m hoping to find some ammonite fossils from the Kali Gandaki riverbed. By Hindu custom these are said to be symbols of Vishnu and are sacred stones known as Shaligrama. Muktinath is sacred to both Hindu and Buddhists and is the site of many stupas and holy buildings, so the human interest side of the trip will be huge – not to mention the fact that we are home-staying with local families – but I’m also looking forward to seeing snow on the mountains and feeling a chill in the air – a relief from here in the UAE! The catch of course is I haven’t got any cold weather gear here – it’s all back home in Britain. So I’ve been scrabbing round trying to find the few fleeces and windproofs that I do have – plus of course the ever-present desert boots!

Managed to find a roof tent to go on Bumblebee too. She has an Oztent at the moment which is fine, but I prefer roof tents. This one is an ARB Simpson, a new experience for me. Watch this space, as ever….