31-Dec-2006 -- The little dune ruffles looked so smooth and inviting on the satellite image. We had left behind the last of the Gilf's rocky escarpments the day before, on the way to bagging our first confluence point 25N 26E. The next target, 26N 27E, was 105 km away as the crow flies across the dunes, near an area well known to Maḥmūd. After an unhurried morning packing up camp, we glided out across the sand.

Six hours and many, many dig-outs later, we approached the confluence area, a former lakebed. By this time the wind had neared gale force and the sun was setting. Frank and Mike battled blowing sand and indecisive technology as the others huddled in cars and dreamed of hot soup. As a final step, a bottle of Shiraz was buried, marked with a cairn, to be enjoyed by other thirsty confluence hunters (please send us an email if you retrieve it). Mission accomplished, our heroes drove off into the sunset to ring in the New Year.

Questions on the site, the route, or the wine may be directed to Mike or Frank.