This Time Last Year

Want to know what I was doing this time last year? If you saw my teaser post from yesterday, then you already know.  I was riding a camel through the Sahara Desert.  Just one year ago.  Its amazing how fast time goes, and how different my life is just one year later. We went from working together, traveling for our job, to now where we have to use vacation days to leave Fayetteville and our lives are quite separate during "business hours".  Both sweet seasons of life, both with their ups and downs.  This time last year I was using the bathroom in sand and wearing socks with sandals!
Anyway here is a little about our trip (its going to be quick, I am tired!)
Michael and I were in North Africa for 3 months last fall, during that time we both got fairly sick with a parasite, but Michael much more than me.  So, when it was time for the trip into the Sahara he wasn't allowed to go.  The doctor said he wasn't healthy enough.  I left for about 7 or 8 days- we didn't even get to talk the whole time! It was a 10 hour grueling bus ride in the middle of the night through mountains, I don't get motion sickness, but this trip did me in.   Anyway, we trekked on camel back through the desert for several days.  We stopped each night to stay with different nomadic families.  People, whole families actually, live out there, real life nomads.  They have tent like houses, and all of their stuff can be packed up and moved easily.  It was a great experience, and it was so beautiful out there.  The thing I really didn't care for was the camel ride.
I am only 5 ft 2 in, so I was one of the smallest people trekking on our team.  I was assigned to ride the camel that was already carrying all of the water.  For the whole team.  In the Sahara Desert.  That is a lot of water.  You know how it carried the water?  In a saddle bag.  You know where that saddle bag was?  Right in my leg space.  So, you know how I sat?  With both legs straight out in front.  Now think about this, where is the balance or the muscle to hold on?  Camels are not a smooth ride, especially going down hill.  By the end of the first day my hands were blistered from holding on so tight.  And I was sore and bruised.  Great to laugh at now, but each morning sure was hard when it was time to mount the camel.  Now on to the pictures.