first to Taif and then following a mountain route through villages and towns until finally reaching Abha.All was going well, had purchased a detailed "Farzi Map Co." map of Saudi the day prior in a fantastic bookstore in Jeddah and was right on track. I passed around the Southern border of Mecca (another Christian Bypass exit) and began to make my ascent into the mountains. After some time had passed, I suddenly came upon a major road block. There 
were 10-15 large barriers placed to allow only one narrow way thru the blockade. The small passageway was guarded by a gnome-like gate keeper lounging in a small adjacent structure with his hand holding a length of rope which when pulled tight blocked 
the route. Of course, he spoke no English and my demonstrative gesturing yielded no breakthough in communication. I gave up quickly and placed a call to Faiz (Sabre contact in Jeddah), he translated that the road ahead, the few kilometers of mountain highway that would take me straight into Taif, had been destroyed in a landslide. So now, 2+ hours into the journey, I would have to go back, reroute all the way back around Mecca and retrace the path I had taken when entering Jeddah two days before, Argh!
were 10-15 large barriers placed to allow only one narrow way thru the blockade. The small passageway was guarded by a gnome-like gate keeper lounging in a small adjacent structure with his hand holding a length of rope which when pulled tight blocked 
the route. Of course, he spoke no English and my demonstrative gesturing yielded no breakthough in communication. I gave up quickly and placed a call to Faiz (Sabre contact in Jeddah), he translated that the road ahead, the few kilometers of mountain highway that would take me straight into Taif, had been destroyed in a landslide. So now, 2+ hours into the journey, I would have to go back, reroute all the way back around Mecca and retrace the path I had taken when entering Jeddah two days before, Argh!This misfortune added nearly 5 additional hours to my drive time for the day and one other slight disappointment to come.
I now had to bear down and focus. While being familiar with the alternate routing around Mecca I had to try hard to enjoy the journey ahead knowing I was far behind schedule. I also assumed correctly that from Tiaf forward I would not enjoy the benefits of a well constructed, well marked roadway. I will confess the scenery did not disappoint. There were vast stretches of this two lane highway which traversed the ridgeline of the mountain ranges which it followed. The views from high atop this lofty route were at times spectacular. However, I realized soon after leaving Taif that the sun would set still leaving me with a significant drive before reaching my destination that night. That meant some of the most beautiful scenery coming into Adha would elude my vision. My only consolation was the occasional view of beautifully lit villages and towns down the valleys seen as I reached the summit of several peaks along the Assir Mountain range.
The last two hours of my trip were quite treacherous due to extensive road construction, traffic and poorly marked diversions. I have never been so pleased to reach a destination, though sadly did not get to enjoy its full beauty and charm.
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