Sand Everywhere!

So quite an adventure yesterday afternoon. After having lunch with Uncle Bob at possibly the nicest hotel I have ever seen ("The one and only Marriot" I think), Barb and I were off on another adventure. Nelson picked us up at the house in his Lexus SUV and we headed out to the desert. We stopped at this place on the side of the road, where I swear there were at least 50 SUVs, all white, mostly Land Rovers. Everybody was out for a ride in the dunes. Now Robin, I know what you think of mud-bogging, but I tell you, this was fantastic. So we were off to the big dunes, no small dunes for Nelson (well actually it was Barb that insisted on the big dunes. I was sure we were going to fall over the side of one of them, but Nelson was a fantastic driver. He was funny too, his daughter just graduated from Med school in the Philipines and you can tell he is one proud dad. Anyways, we stopped a few times for pictures and to watch some of the tour companies adventures (one guy got stuck). Then we pull up to the edge of another dune and Nelson announces we are going sand boarding. Well I tell you, this ski girl is terrified of the thought of any type of boarding, be it on snow, water or sand. I just can't do it. Well, we soon found out, I am actually quite good at sand boarding (key is you don't turn, just go straight down). So Barb and I both had a go at it. I fell on my first run, more out of fear then anything. Barb had a good bail at the very end of her first run. She had sand everywhere. The hike back up was horrific (every step you sink in and down), but I still went three times, although the last one, Nelson met us at the bottom with the truck. Then we were off to the camel farm. When we got there, people were everywhere, but because they were all with tour companies, they were on a much more strict time line. So Barb (who loves camels), and I were right in there.
Apparently camels are a lot like dogs, they really like having their ears scratched and under their chins. So that was great, then everybody left and Nelson talked to the guy who took care of the camels and he said we could go in the pens with them. Nelson apparently knows everyone and everyone really likes him. So in we went. There were baby camels (but we couldn't go very close to them). But the other camels were right up with us, fighting for our attention and ear scratches (just like Ginny and Peggy). So yes, it was fantastic. I tell you, camels are making their way up my favourite animals list. Then we were off again, but Nelson made Barb drive. I was a little nervous, but he had her on the small dunes and she was pretty good. Finally after one hell of an afternoon/evening we were back home and had burgers for dinner. A very good day indeed.
For those of you who are a little concerned that I kissed a camel, don't worry, it's an illusion, I was actually up near its ear and a couple inches away, ah the glory of photography!