Two Day Fewbie Plus Overlanding Expedition - Tracing The Tropic Of Cancer - Abu Dhabi - 18 to 19 Feb 2023

[Frederic]

Drive Description

The Tropic of Cancer is one of five major circles of latitude.  

The TOC crosses the UAE, completely within Abu Dhabi Emirate, for a distance of 337kms approx. in a straight line.

While in 2016, Max Calderan has completed this crossing on foot, we will be using our 4x4's, which will be challenging enough as is  

Extreme explorer becomes first man to walk 211 miles across world's harshest unexplored desert - World News - Mirror Online

Drive Details

Level: Fewbie Plus and above.

When:  18th Feb 2023 Saturday

Meeting time: 7:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions).

Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/9k8wQu8WrkNmwbNk8  In front of the mosque

Type of Car: Any  4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance.

What to bring along: Offroad tools as per your level, plenty of water (5l per day), snacks, packed lunch. Extra petrol as per below requirements.

Approximate finish time: 6 PM Sunday 19th of Feb

 

Action Plan

In this overlanding expedition, we will head out with our convoy and meet up in the town of Ghayati on Bad Al Mutawah Road: https://goo.gl/maps/9k8wQu8WrkNmwbNk8 

From there we will need to venture Southwards towards the closest point with the KSA border, and that is our official starting point on the TOC line: https://goo.gl/maps/ngDp4GykpaLirFQJ9 (this would take approx 1hr).

The plan is to stay within a maximum of 500m of the TOC line, except in areas where we would need to cross the road or go around fences. 

Preparations

As this is an overlanding expedition, specific attention for recovery equipment, fluids, and car maintenance checkup will be essential. Furthermore, as we will be moving in a straight line mostly, we will need to avoid play areas or bowls, and save our fuel as much as possible. This drive will test your endurance skills and patience immensely. In other words, this is not a dune-bashing experience type of drive.

 

Our end point will be in Al Quaa, near the border with Oman: https://goo.gl/maps/X6eyi1oHu1SvLeji7

As per our planning, this would be in total close to 500km, of which we will be avoiding tarmac as much as possible. 

In Day 1 we plan to cover about 240kms (from Ghayati to Madinat Zayed E45) of which 160km Offroad.

In Day 2 we plan to cover about 260kms (from Madinat Zayed E45 to Al Quoa Town). 

We will be crossing the following main roads, these can be used as exits and refuel points. Below an overview of the several waypoints:

Day 1: Meetup at 5AM at the ADNOC GHAYATHI  (approx 3,5hrs driving from Dubai)

First Fuel point: ADNOC AL GHAYATHI: https://goo.gl/maps/QrxbAANtUTJehn4h9

Possible Top up Point on the way to the Start: ADNOC BEDA AL MATAWA  https://goo.gl/maps/EMVP9nbhswbo5XbR7

We will camp overnight and refuel nearby the E45 Maraba Al Dhafra:  https://goo.gl/maps/sAVNFJrhQPLNy6HA9

Waypoints TC1....TC31 will be covered

Day 2: Start from Camping Spot nearby ADNOC Maraba Al Dhafra (see above)

Arriving late in the evening at Al Quaa, we can find a nice camping spot and camp overnight, or drive back to Dubai (approx 2,5hrs from Dubai).

Waypoints TC32....TC62 will be covered 

 

Emergency Exits from Start till End

1) Back to Starting point: 23.44876, 52.36444

2) 9km north of TC15: 23.53445, 52.86615

3) TC Gate1: 23.45305, 53.04735

4) Nearby TC21: 23.44898, 53.20913

5) After TC22: 23.44910, 53.26388

6) After TC23: 23.44919, 53.30497

7) Before TC24: 23.44902, 53.33877

8- After TC24: 23.44904, 53.35698

9) Between TC27 and TC28: 23.44887, 53.52299

10) After TC28: 23.44898, 53.55785

11) TC31:23.45187, 53.68827

 

END OF DAY ONE

12) Refuel at Maraba al Dafra E45 :  23.61479, 53.71834

13) Between TC33 and TC34: 23.45180, 53.88534

14) TC36: 23.45385, 53.99607

15) TC42: 23.44912, 54.29460

16) TC43 near E65: 23.44935, 54.38828 

17) At TC44: 23.44926, 54.43787

18) Before TC46: 23.44921, 54.52618

19) Before TC50: 23.45031, 54.72900

20) TC52 till TC57 are on a dirt track.

21) Final Exit: 23.44849, 55.44548

Considering its seriousness to keep you and your vehicle safe, these strict rules will be applied to all participants:

• If you were away on a long break (more than 2 months), then your RSVP will be rejected.
• Maximum of one passenger allowed - No exceptions and trip lead will send you back.
  • Make sure that passenger has no fear of heights, motion sickness and have been to full-day off-road drives before.
• Everything in your car should be strapped and secured - All vehicles will be checked by the trip lead.

Drive Preparation: 

• Your car should be in 100% pristine working condition, so double or triple check everything.
• Full-size spare tire with a lug wrench to match your wheel nut size and its depth.
  • For aftermarket rims - Your lug wrench also needs to match the wheel nut depth.
• 5-10 liter of water per person per day.
• Snacks for breakfast, lunch, dinner and next day breakfast.
• Keep your car as light as possible by packing what is truly essential.
• 2 Fully charged radios with spare battery and all other required off-road gears.
• Gas tank and required number of jerry cans should be full upon arrival.

Fuel requirement:

• 6 Cyl cars = 100 Liter (Minimum) - 120 Liter (for more fuel-guzzling cars)
• 8 Cyl cars = 120 Liter (Minimum) - 140 Liter (for more fuel-guzzling cars)
• Carry an additional required number of jerry cans based on your car fuel tank capacity.

 

RSVP ON BELOW CALENDAR

 

 

 

 

toc-route-v2.gpx

TOC Waypoints.gpx

[Jaro Tuzinsky]

I’d loved to join you, but my wife would kick me out:)

[ASAD.]

@Frederic that is some serious drive and planning. I only wish i was able to join had it not been work and family commitments (have used up all my free coupons for liwa crossing 😅). But i can already imagine an epic drive for those who will be able to join.  
 

[Harshal]

What a drive...my co pilot has exams else I was in. 

@Frederic- I see lot of efforts in planning and attention to details. Hats off to u. 

I am very happy to be part of the Carnity family 

[AlexM]

whoa.. I am so in for this one since I missed both yellow truck and Liwa this year.. depends on the speed of my sweaty fingers when registrations are open ))

Edited February 8, 2023 by AlexM

[Gaurav]

48 minutes ago, AlexM said:

whoa.. I am so in for this one since I missed both yellow truck and Liwa this year.. depends on the speed of my sweaty fingers when registrations are open ))

Finally, we got some overlanding interest. Looking fwd to seeing you, Alex.

[munkybizness]

There is a hidden "easter egg" in this drive too... Well done @Frederic🌘

[Bravoecho]

Amazing looking drive@Frederic.

Will have to focus on getting my promotion to Fewbie Plus and take part in the next trip.

I’m sure the Patrol would have loved this trip (minus the amount of fuel it would take 😁)

[Ranjan Das]

29 minutes ago, munkybizness said:

There is a hidden "easter egg" in this drive too... Well done @Frederic🌘

@munkybizness crtl+shift+9 please

[munkybizness]

7 minutes ago, Ranjan Das said:

@munkybizness crtl+shift+9 please

Unfortunately, even Excel can't unhide such a large object. Only the universe perhaps...