Afternoon Newbie Desert Drive - Lisaili - Dubai - 26 Nov 2021

[Foxtrot Oscar]

Drive Report

We met promptly at 2pm at the Fort in Lisailli , everyone deflated, fixed their flags and after a short briefing we were headed along the track that would lead us to the dunes.

The beginning of the drive was a fairly tame route and it allowed everyone to get used to their desert wheels as we made our way to a small technical patch.  Once at the technical patch we had a couple of stucks, which were easily handled with some digging. I have to say I was very impressed by how the convoy handled the technical dunes, it is a different type of challenge but a very worthwhile one.

As we exited the technical area the wide open long range dunes of Lisailli opened out in front of us. As is always the case with Carnity drives we try to push you as much as you will allow us at each level. We had a small slide sloping tutorial and I watched avidly as each member of the convoy completed the side slope with aplomb .  I pushed the side slop level a little more, and again watched as our newbies tackled the fresh challenge. Once again, you all coped admirably, with not a fish tail in sight. That was my green light, YALLA!

We had so much fun on those great dunes, side sloping our way through to Solar Park, we even managed a mini criss cross, which again, each driver again handled brilliantly. I was very very impressed. We should treat our cars gently, if we’re kind to them they in turn will be kind to us, and you all did, you followed the instruction perfectly, and smoothly criss-crossed that small dune.

We had some steep up and overs to deal with too, and everyone coped brilliantly , in fact I think the only time we had to get the rope out was when I drove into a pocket, haha! Aside from that everyone had great drives.

As the sun began to set we gathered on the dunes and the last photo op was taken advantage of. The temptation to drive back in was high, but for once I was able to resist and we headed from the dunes towards the track and gathered to re inflate 

Special mentions to the Newbie Newbies at the front of the convoy @Suresh K @Omar ElGamal @Dinesh Kumar A @Simon Claes – I thought you all drove really well, some great self recoveries too. Well done all of you. Just a  couple of pointers, and you know who you are, stay on the tracks I create, I do this for a reason, I know where you can go safely; try to keep up;  if you are losing sight of the car in front, announce it on the radio, there’s no issue with that, I’ll wait.

To the more experienced drivers, and by that I mean you have had a couple of more drives, @Belal Aldaour @Patrick van der Loo @khurram.k @Super Safari Girl @Pieter Potgieter @Morshedi, you all had a really good day out there. I know it’s more difficult as the sand gets churned up, so well done for handling that as well as the slight increase in level, ‘Newbie with added vitamins’.  This doesn’t apply to you all but it is worth reminding everyone at this level that,  if you are losing momentum and fishtailing for whatever reason, be it the car in front or the sand being too churned and soft, please please please don’t fight gravity and steer down immediately.

To the entire convoy, comms are vital on a drive, it's good to talk, never be embarrassed, just shout out, especially if you have a refusal at the bottom of a steep up and over 😜

Many thanks to my great support today, to @Larry Cadden , who was fantastic as my 2^nd lead , following my instruction and holding when I needed him to.  He saved us on a few occasions when I drove into an area that would have required intermediate level of skills to get out of. Thanks @Ahmad Shaker for holding it down in the middle .Also  huge thanks to the ever present @Jeepie who was there to guide us all, when we were stuck or reattempting.

Thank you all for indulging me, for listening to and following my instruction and for making it such a fun afternoon in the sand. 

Until our next adventure.
😎

[Dinesh Kumar A]

Had an amazing drive - Thank you @Foxtrot Oscar and @Jeepie for guiding us through the technical dunes and the ones on the side slopes and the crossings on top of dunes - they were adventurous. Also learnt a lot on shoveling techniques - "Keep hitting the Single spot". This was my first afternoon drive - the setting sun was harsh on some angles but it was completely worth it - the golden hour was picturesque. 

Also thank you @Simon Claes - for picking my suction flag pole on our way back. I need to work on a clamp solution for the flag pole.

[Foxtrot Oscar]

1 minute ago, Dinesh Kumar A said:

Had an amazing drive - Thank you @Foxtrot Oscar and @Jeepie for guiding us through the technical dunes and the ones on the side slopes and the crossings on top of dunes - they were adventurous. Also learnt a lot on shoveling techniques - "Keep hitting the Single spot". This was my first afternoon drive - the setting sun was harsh on some angles but it was completely worth it - the golden hour was picturesque. 

Also thank you @Simon Claes - for picking my suction flag pole on our way back. I need to work on a clamp solution for the flag pole.

Haha I had forgotten about that. Yes, dig the same spot , let gravity do the work for you. Thanks for the help when we needed shovelling.

 

also sorry for constantly confusing you with Omar 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Patrick van der Loo]

Thanks again @Foxtrot Oscarand @JeepieFor a great ride. For a relative newcomer to dubai it is amazing to see how different the dune ‘scapes’ are from one area to another. And what a wonderful sunset spot! 

[Larry Cadden]

Thank @Foxtrot Oscar for a great drive. Despite being a newbie drive it was fast paced and nicely challenging in places. Also much appreciated for stopping to enjoy one of the best sunsets I've seen in Dubai. Thanks @Jeepie and @Ahmad Shaker for the support. Looking forward to the next drive already. 

[Suresh K]

Thanks a lot @Foxtrot Oscar and @Jeepie for the wonderful drive and fun.  I gained lot of confidence & knowing my car better…looking forward to joining for more adventure rides.

Well noted your comments..

[Jeepie]

 

@Foxtrot Oscar @Larry Cadden @Suresh K @Omar ElGamal @Dinesh Kumar A @Simon Claes @Ahmad Shaker @Belal Aldaour @Patrick van der Loo @khurram.k @Super Safari Girl @Morshedi @Pieter Potgieter

Pictures in the gallery

[Ahmad Shaker]

thanks a lot