We were only stopped once at a checkpoint - the police wanted my details, and baksheesh which they did not get - but Tayib had already been stopped several times on his outward journey with his cod-river. (I should go back and shift that pesky hyphen, but you know what I mean). We stopped at a rest area about 1/2 way to Qena, a toilet area with a small café
area.
At Qena we looked for petrol. Several garages had it for locals only, but an Esso garage on the Corniche was more tolerant (I think that Tayib had filled there also on the outbound journey). The West Bank Desert Road seems to have deteriorated over the summer, and was quite bumpy in places. So I was glad when we got to the RRH (Ramesseum Rest House - I won't spell that out again) for a break before reaching Gezira village and my hotel.
Sheherezade is also quiet, although I think that a couple of rooms are in use as there were keys on the front desk. I had the garden to myself except for a group of locals watching the TV (that was not there this spring!)