Shropshire's desert trekker finds life at home 'difficult'
After 49 days spent in the wilderness of the desert, Shropshire-born explorer Mark Evans says he is finding it tough returning to life indoors.
Mr Evans, 54, spent more than a month travelling by camel and foot across the Rub' al Khali desert between Salalah in Oman and Doha in Qatar.
Now he is back home in Oman, Mr Evans – originally from Pontesbury, near Shrewsbury – said it has been tough getting back to normal life.
"The team are slowly re-adjusting to civilisation," he said.
"Sleeping in a bed has proven difficult after 49 days lying on the sand under the stars, and none of us have slept well since we arrived."
Last week, Mr Evans spoke about the gruelling conditions, high temperatures and life walking alongside his team of camels.
He took on the challenge with Omani friends Mohammed Zadjali and Amer Al-Wahaibi – making the trio the first people to complete the coast-to-coast journey, from Salalah in Oman to Doha, in 85 years.
The team followed the route made by British explorer Bertram Thomas who took 60 days to cross the sands with a Bedu guide.
Mr Evans said: "Our final day proved to be a stark contrast to the previous 48, most of which had been spent in total wilderness.
"Guided by our Qatari hosts, our group of camels ignored the noise and bustle of the roads and we wove our way through first industrial and then residential areas on the outskirts of Doha.
"After two hours we got our first glimpse of the modern towers that today dominate the skyline of modern Doha – a city busily preparing for the World Cup in 2022 and a city very different to the Doha seen by Bertram Thomas on February 5 1931."
During his trip, Mr Evans said daytime temperatures were typically between 77F (25c) and 86F (35c) during the day, but were known to drop to below freezing at night.
Having finally arrived in Doha, Mr Evans said it was no easy feat and would have been much more difficult for the team decades ago.
He said: "They were doing the same journey as us in terms of direction and end point, but in the middle it would be so difficult for them.
"It is so much easier for us with the technology we have today."
Mr Evans has said he has some fantastic memories of his time in the desert.
He said: "I think the highlight was the environment at night.
"I grew up and had a wonderful childhood in Shropshire so I was lucky to live between Pontesbury and Minsterley and had the hills, so I always loved the outdoors.
"During the trek we often had discussions about whether we preferred the desert in sunrise or sunset.
"It was always sunset for me because the temperatures dropped and the light is just beautiful and the desert stars are fantastic.
"I was able to share the whole journey with the team and real Bedouin people who remember the first journey in 1930."
He is now hoping to get back to normality for a while.
"It is just relaxing now, I run the risk of being divorced if I start planning something else," he added.
The group began on December 10, finally reaching Doha in Qatar ahead of schedule on Wednesday last week.
Speaking after the expedition, his mother Audrey Evans, of Pontesbury, said she was very proud of him.
She said: "He has been doing this type of thing for a long time now so each one doesn't get any easier for me, but he rang me this morning and it was wonderful to hear his voice."
