Fearless couple Ian and Catherine Sheldrake are forging ahead with a once-in-a-lifetime global adventure, undaunted even as they suddenly found themselves in the heart of the Gulf amid escalating tensions following Iranian attacks on the region.
The middle-aged British travellers left their home in the English Lake District in October 2023 after quitting their jobs, embarking on an ambitious journey across Africa, as part of their global travel plans.
They had initially intended to visit Bahrain and neighbouring countries last year, planning to ship their 2008 Toyota Landcrusier to Oman first. However, they postponed the trip after Iran targeted a US base in Qatar in retaliation for the bombing of its nuclear facilities.
Undeterred, they resumed their desire to explore the GCC last month, only to arrive in the UAE a day before the Gulf states became target for further Iranian aggression, placing them right at the heart of today’s escalating tensions.
“We were not that worried when it first started, but it soon became a bit unsettling. We were at the Palm Jumeirah hotel in Dubai just an hour before it was hit,” Ian told the GDN.
“We could even see missiles being shot down in the sky.”
Although their experience was unnerving, the couple stayed calm and focused on facts. Ian, 59, and Catherine, 56, thought that the strikes were mostly targeting US installations and ports, areas that could easily be avoided.
“We did not want to just run or be scared by what you read in the Western Press,” Ian said, convinced there were a lot of false narratives meant to create chaos and fear.
“The key is to be sensible. Avoid high-risk areas, but continue to enjoy your travels.”
To stay safe and mitigate risk, they avoided certain places, kept sightseeing to the daylight hours and minimised the length of time in any single location. This approach allowed them to enjoy sites such as downtown Abu Dhabi without putting themselves at risk, they believe.
They arrived in Bahrain on March 16 and described the kingdom as ‘wonderful’. Staying with friends in Budaiya, they were unfortunately unable to visit some of Bahrain’s main attractions as museums and the Sakhir Formula 1 circuit, for example, were closed. However, they did tour a local dhow-making facility, where workers shared the history of the traditional craft. They also visited historic Bahrain Fort.
“The biggest takeaway from this trip has been the kindness of people of the Gulf, especially in Bahrain. Everyone we met has been incredibly friendly,” Ian said.
With limited time, the Sheldrakes spent only a couple of nights in the kingdom, before heading to Saudi Arabia. Their journey will then take them to Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Türkiye and west across Europe before returning home to the UK.
Reflecting on the inspiration for their journey, Ian explained that they felt financially independent and didn’t want to wait until later in life to travel the world.
“Life is unpredictable,” he said, adding that they wanted to take this leap while they were both fit and healthy. “We would rather have fewer material things than miss out on these once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Travel, see the world, meet people – that is what matters,” he enthused.
The couple, who have no children, has so far visited 102 countries, including Spain, Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Congo, Libya, Morocco, Kenya, Oman, Mauritania and Senegal. They plan to return to the UK by the end of June.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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