Popular Post Wrangeld Posted May 17, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Like a bunch of giddy (but caged) teenagers we arrived at our deflation point on Friday anxious to dip our feet once more into the creamy sands of Al Qudra. I will not pretend for one moment that it's a bit surreal that we cannot greet each other, chat, socialise and see how things have been for the last weeks in lockdown - that has always been one of the great pleasures and differentiators of Carnity. No doubt, because it is so deeply embedded in the DNA of the group it will return as soon as we can, but it does mean that the start to a drive has a different feel to it. Nonetheless, just about everyone rolled up on time and started to deflate their tires, set up flags and turn on their radios. It was starting to feel like we would soon be on our way. After a quick visual check on the convoy to make sure tow points were all in place (we will be making a lot more towed recoveries now due to COVID) and convoy numbering and a quick additional brief from @Srikumar we were actually on our way. Cautiously at first, as if slowly feeling the sand under our tyres again for the first time we ventured out. Our convoy was an excellent mix of experienced and less experienced drivers. @Emmanuel playing Centre Forward, @Brette sweeping and myself and @Jeepie as second lead with @Zed @Chaitanya D @Vanessa8580 @J J all delighted to be back behind the wheel of their respective rides. @Nikhil Saju Paul and @RohanH made up the rest of the convoy. And with those quiet words "OK, I am moving", we were off. As @Srikumar had promised, we started very gently, as we all got a feel of the sand again: Not only because it's been a few weeks since we had a convoy, but because in the last weeks the sand has changed. The sun is drying out the sand and it's softer, less forgiving and with the bright sun a tiny bit more challenging to read. And then, there's the dual effects of cloud seeding and mapping the shifting sands. The desert is green - there's no other way to put it. Grasses sprouting everywhere, bushes in full leaf, tree resplendent and green against the golden sands. Sounds idyllic, until you need to navigate across a dune an avoid the risks of the sand staying firmer than expected because the roots are holding the sand in place, or finding a clump of grass that throws the weight and balance of the vehicle off. In the Netherlands, the dunes at the beach are deliberately seeded with grasses to keep them in place as a barrier from the sea (as more than 40% of the Netherlands is under sea level that's quite an essential task). As @Srikumar said 'Welcome to the Al Qudra Jungle!' Thanks to excellent navigation noone had a problem due to this. As we ventured deeper into the dunes we did have our first refusals: nothing that a little bit of good avice and coaching could not handle. Confident that everyone was back into the groove, after navigating through the tecnhical dunes, we moved on to an area known for wide open spaces to allow for some nice slope sliding practice ... except, it wasn't there any more. It's easy to forget that the dunes are a living, changing environment. How they looked yesterday is not guarantee of what you'll find today. And so it ws that we had to go insearch of a new area where we could play. As we found our play area we also suffered 3 stucks in exactly the same place, with some of the longer wheelbase vehicles cresting at exactly the same point one after another. It was clear, both drivers and cars were a little 'rusty'. Too much time away has dulled our and our cars responses. The clever technology in the cars had re-learned that the speed bumps in the supermarket car park were the most challenging obstacles they needed to overcome. The drivers, well - we are only human. We had our most challenging stuck as we started the journey out of the drive. @Vanessa8580 has given a whole new meaning to the word sandblasting. It took a little bit of time and some digging to get her out, but she ws by no means the only one who found the new softer sand beguiling. Glad to say, we all made it out to reinflate safely and from our resposible distance between us wave adeiu until the next time. It's great to be back. It's great to see everyone again (even in these stranger, restricted circumtances), and it's wonderful to ahve seen the beautiful desert scenery again. I am looking forward to getting back into the weekly swing of up early on a Friday ...until it's too hot to handle in the day and we move to night drives. Have a great week ... and if anyone picked up @Zed's deflator kit for safekeeping it would be great if they are reunited. See you soon in the sand. 9 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Vanessa8580 Posted May 17, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 I was at the meeting point at 6.30 sharp on Friday morning, ready to get started at 7 ! So excited to get back to the desert in my own big blue 😁 The summer dunes are so much more tricky and softer than the winter dunes and because I am quite used to driving the little blue of @Frederic I struggled a little bit more than usual. The big Pajero is not the same as the little Pajero, that's for sure !! I got stuck quite bad at the last stretch out but with the help of @Srikumar@Brette and @EmmanuelI was able to get my big blue back on track. Sorry guys for the sand shower I gave you, I really didn't mean to. It's so difficult to keep your foot steady and turn the wheel left to right to try to get yourself out ! I had quite a workout ! But I learned something and that's a good thing. @Fredericalways says it's not a shame when you get stuck, at least you learn something then and I have to agree with that .... I had a blast again as always and if I could I would be driving all weekend, definitely got the off road bug and I hope to see you all next weekend !! 4 2 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rahimdad Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 What a pleasure to be able to read your trip report again @Wrangeld. Really took me to the soft stuff and now I am craving it even more. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J J Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 2 minutes ago, Rahimdad said: What a pleasure to be able to read your trip report again @Wrangeld. Really took me to the soft stuff and now I am craving it even more. Where have you been ! Hope you well ! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rahimdad Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 @J J just not the right time for me. Every time I want to join something goes wrong. Unfortunately i am dealing with a family emergency and will be back to the sands as soon as all is in place for me. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmanuel Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 @Vanessa8580 It was so nice to see you driving, after all this time... and to see how much you became confident as an off-roader ! Even with the big Pajero. I saw you doing very nice sideys as I was just in front of you in the convoy. Impressive ! Forget about the stuck, we all have been there — and we will always enjoy a good sand shower from time to time ! 3 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanessa8580 Posted May 18, 2020 Report Share Posted May 18, 2020 Thank you @Emmanuel ! Always nice to read such comments from an experienced driver ! I love off-roading and I enjoy every drive. I was happy to finally be able to do a drive in the same convoy as you ! I am looking forward to join a drive with you as a lead 😁 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RohanH Posted May 21, 2020 Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 On 5/12/2020 at 9:01 AM, RohanH said: 1. Please see the images (1 to 4) of bracket attached to rear door edge. I don't know what is the name of this bracket. Also attached the shop visiting card. I am not sure it will survive or not. But giving a try as pole which I have purchased is pretty slim and very much lighter than the one available in ACE. 2 .There is 1 more cheapest solution which I found out yesterday in ACE. I have seen the parts but not tried it fixing to my car. May be I will try it if my existing bracket dosen't work. There are U Bolts and various angle connect's available in any hardware. See picture 5 & 6. Which can be connected to roof rack or door handle. Need to choose the U Bolt which is matching the size of handle or roof rack. Also choose the suitable connect which can be easily fixed to U Bolt screw. Once these are connected and fixed it handle or roof rack then we can anytime attached or remove the flag pole to it. P.S. I didn't thought that how will it look like on our beautiful cars. Surely it wont look good. Hello Everyone, Please see this simple arrangement to hold the flag pole. Its the cheapest one. It made by using the U bolt and an angle. I am sure it will hold the flag properly. It is less than 10 AED. There are flag pole and flag available at 50 AED in dragon mart. Please see the shop photo It is just opposite the S & D shop mentioned earlier by Frederic. The flag is light weight and very slim. It is 2 mtr/6.5 ft.So total cost will be less than 60 aed for all this. Please see photos below. The spring in photo comes with Flag pole. I had fixed this to U bolt and angle so I can just screw and unscrew the flag pole. Hope it will help 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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