How green was my valley?

Took some UK visitors up to Hatta Pools to show them some desert, and ended up going rather further afield than intended.
'Our' picnic spot, a secluded little canyon branching off the main road beyond the pools, was occupied, so we carried on hoping to find an alternative. After some fairly challenging ascents and fords we arrived at a village called Ray, the furthest extent of previous expeditions. Still no suitable spot, so carried on into new territory. Eventually found a place we liked, sheltered enought to light the bbq, and mercifully unnoccupied. Lunch was duly had.

But then the decision - do we slog all the way back to Hatta over some fairly tough roads, or keep going and see if we can find the Al Ain road on the other side. Turned out we were almost three quarters of the way through the mountains, and only another 5kms or so would see us on flat and easier ground. On it was.

Adn then the magic happened. We had been pointing out to our guests just how green the desert has become following recent rains, but nothing could prepare us for the vista we encountered. We are now in Oman, heading North East along a broad valley, and the landscape is some of the most serene and beautiful wehave ever seen. And so green! Flowers everywhere, trees bursting with life, and the whole landscape carpeted with a sort of jade haze, absolutely stunningly beautiful. A low afternoon sun only heightened the effect, and drove along empty roads in slack-jawed awe. Definitely going back, with tent and camera. Soon!