COVID 19 Compliant - Evening Fewbie Desert Drive - Badayer - Sharjah - 22 May 2020

[Kalahari]

Thanks to the marshals who lead this drive through a beautiful part of the desert. A special thanks to @Gaurav @Xaf @Rahimdad @Mels Wolf who had to do quite a bit of shoveling in extreme heat, to get me out of a sticky situation (apologies if I have missed anybody - given the angle of my car I had limited sight of my surroundings). Maybe next time we will have more time to get to the "play area". 

Edited May 24, 2020 by Kalahari

[Denizzalbayrak]

First of all, apologise to everyone for causing drive to end earlier. Secondly, special thanks to @Gaurav and @Xaf for helping me and the Chevy with it's high fever. I've managed to drive the car to the tarmac next day and took it to the workshop. Hopefully it will be diagnosed and repaired after Eid Holiday. Speaking of Eid, Eid Mubarak!

Hopefully, I will join you soon.

   

[desertdude]

37 minutes ago, Denizzalbayrak said:

First of all, apologise to everyone for causing drive to end earlier. Secondly, special thanks to @Gaurav and @Xaf for helping me and the Chevy with it's high fever. I've managed to drive the car to the tarmac next day and took it to the workshop. Hopefully it will be diagnosed and repaired after Eid Holiday. Speaking of Eid, Eid Mubarak!

Hopefully, I will join you soon.

   

Oh that doesn't look good. What happened? Overheated.

[Denizzalbayrak]

@desertdude Yes overheated. As far as I can see, there is a problem with the fan. It doesn't work properly.

[dune jockey]

On 5/23/2020 at 6:47 PM, Rahimdad said:

Trip Report - what a bag of mixed feeling starting up for the drive.  It’s almost 2 months since my previous drive and being locked down in the house with only time out for grocery shopping or a hospital visit. Either ways there was so much nervous energy and the first block in my path was the Bidayer area being completely dug up. As I reached close to our meeting point the area was all dug up and I had to go back to the bridge and come again to the right spot. My second attempt was successful and it was a pleasure to see everybody reach on time and deflating.

as I started to deflate there were a few quick hellos exercised with caution for the respect of rules set for Social distancing. This set my mind to some peace, but it was hot. In normal situations we are more into night drives which are cooler. As we finished deflating the voice of @Gaurav bhai carried instructions for the drive and lots of reassurance. With that we were handed our convoy position for the drive.

it was @Desert Dweller first time as sweep, did she manage to impress, read on to find out. As expected the sand was soft, but for many who started driving in the winters when sand was hard had an experience of the softer sands which had baked all day under the sun, @Gaurav bhai tried to lower the level and we would have a great quick run, but as soon as we would encounter a soft medium dune we would eventually get a stuck or a refusal.

With every stuck and refusal we were challenged and it came with a lesson for all of us, by now my excitement was in total positive note and I had no doubt observing such a civilised crowd to follow each and every instruction as told. just towards the end of the drive and thankfully close to the fence @Denizzalbayrak car started heating up. The  we decision was for me to lead out everybody with @Desert Dweller as my sweep, while @Gaurav and @Xaf would help @Denizzalbayrak with his dilemma.

As we rode through the track to the Tawi Nizwa shops we were lucky to see an Oryx. After a few quick clicks we were on our way out. I was again pleasantly surprised to see everybody parked at a safe distance following the rules set to combat the Current situation. As we inflated we saw @Gaurav bhai and @Xaf ride out and join us for inflation. The Chevy Trail blazer was missing and as I later found out was fur to time constraints. As I headed out and back home, I had to break my fast on my way, lucky for me, my wife had packed some goodies for me.

All in all a wonderful drive with law abiding citizens and long awaited comeback for me. I would like to thank you all for a warm welcome back, specially the weather. Around 6 pm while inflating a realisation crept in as to how we have to go back home at the cooler time e we hen we should be starting the drive practically. And no I have not forgotten, I was keeping one eye on our @Desert Dweller and she did an awesome job at sweeping. Well done, amazing to see you learn and grow, looking forward to one of our First Lady Marshal in Carnity if she’s not the first girl there.

i have posted my pictures in the Gallery so enjoy.

Well done all of you. Missed it  for reasons beyond my control!

[Lorenzo Candelpergher]

On 5/20/2020 at 3:45 PM, Gaurav said:

I'm sorry @Lorenzo Candelpergher we can't do that for your and your vehicle safety primarily.

Whenever you join the next newbie drive, do make sure to inform the trip lead about your 11 drive self declaration, so that he can gauge your driving skills and promote you to the fewbie level after that drive.

Dear @Rahimdad, with reference to the above suggestion by @Gaurav, considering that today's drive at Fossil Rock was my 12th overall ride since I started in Feb '20 (and I went again to Pink Rock this afternoon, so I have now a total of 13 drives), would you consider promoting me to Fewbie even if I did only 2 rides with Carnity (both under your lead - the 1st time with Carnity was my absolute 2nd desert drive) so far? 

[Rahimdad]

@Lorenzo Candelpergher thank you for bringing this to our notice. Our seniors have been very watchful and I am proud of the fact that they have recommended you for a promotion already and I totally agree with them. With your declaration of the number of drives you have done and your skill sets which prove that you are ready for the next level, you will hear the good news shortly.

Once again thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience, we will not be able to surprise you any more.

[Lorenzo Candelpergher]

22 minutes ago, Rahimdad said:

@Lorenzo Candelpergher thank you for bringing this to our notice. Our seniors have been very watchful and I am proud of the fact that they have recommended you for a promotion already and I totally agree with them. With your declaration of the number of drives you have done and your skill sets which prove that you are ready for the next level, you will hear the good news shortly.

Once again thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience, we will not be able to surprise you any more.

Dear @Rahimdad, thanks for the positive feedback, I really appreciate it. I must say I have developed a real passion for desert rides. I keep on thinking how fool I was in the last 13 years in Dubai for not having tried any sooner, now I can't wait until the next ride!!

[Rahimdad]

You are way better than me @Lorenzo Candelpergher, i have been in UAE since 1975 and have a driving license since 1994 but just started off-roading in 2008. Does this mean I am a bigger fool than you. There is a time and place for everything, your enthusiasm is well received and with great enthusiasm comes great power, and with great power comes great responsibility.