Morning Fewbie Desert Drive - The Desert Books' Series: "Desert Solitaire". Sweihan to Nahil - Abu Dhabi - 8 Jun 2025

[Ale Vallecchi]

We request that every member joining this drive go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette, and responsibilities.

MUST READ AND COMPLY

• Environmental Policy
• Offroad Flag Guideline
• Two Way Radio Guideline
• Off road Driving Etiquettes
• Emergency details for all off roaders
• Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities

Drive Details

Level:  Fewbie and above

Meeting time:  08:00 am (departure time)

Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eHfFcszn2f8UGJ7e6

Action Plan:  Many books have been written about the desert or have been telling stories where the desert has been a protagonist, rather than just a backdrop. There is definitely a top 10 of desert books that we'll try to count down as the theme of our drives. We start with "Desert Solitaire" by Edward Abbey. A former US Park Ranger, he explores his experiences in the Colorado Plateau's region, ranging from vivid descriptions of the fauna, flora, geology, and human inhabitants of the area to firsthand accounts of wilderness exploration, to a reflection against development and excessive tourism in the national parks. 

The track chosen for this drive, although the farthest from Colorado's deserts, will take us through an aera where the desert has been greatly modified by the presence of humans. While we can still consider the area to be wilderness, there will be occasions to meditate on how mankind and deserts (its geology, flora and fauna) interact, and how we should best approach our experiences with this vast landscape.

In an attempt to distil the best of the book, and to build up to the day of the drive, I'll try to post a book's quote each day. 

Let's try to find inspiration in this Desert Books' Series to truly appreciate our interaction with our favorite element of nature. 

What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face masks, rubber gloves, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 12:30 PM

P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive.

RECOMMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR:

• Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge
• Compressor (MANDATORY)
• Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY)
• Off-road flag (MANDATORY)
• Shovel, Tow Rope & 2 Shackles
• First-aid kit
• Fire extinguisher.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

• This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 12 PM.
• If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list.
• RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list.
• Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions.
• Members without RSVP will be returned - Without any exceptions.
• Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others.
• Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month.
   

PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

 

[Ale Vallecchi]

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself.”

[Diego]

I’ll join you with a verse of a poem as we Latin have hot heart! 

Out come the shovels, gleam of silver bright,
Like warriors armed, prepared for this sandy fight.
Sweat drips and gleams, a desert, glistening dew,
As we scoop and dig, a tireless, determined crew.

 

[Ale Vallecchi]

"Water, water, water....There is no shortage of water in the desert but exactly the right amount , a perfect ratio of water to rock, water to sand, insuring that wide free open, generous spacing among plants and animals, homes and towns and cities, which makes the arid West so different from any other part of the nation. There is no lack of water here unless you try to establish a city where no city should be."

[Frederic]

In silence vast, the desert lies,
Beneath the blaze of endless skies.
Its golden dunes in stillness keep
The secrets buried, dreams asleep.

A whisper stirs — a stream once near,
Now memory in the thirst of year.
Yet when the moon spills silver light,
The sand recalls the water’s flight.

Alone, it sings in tones austere,
A hymn of longing, sharp and clear —
Of solitude the sun can’t dry,
Nor time erase, nor wind deny.

ChatGpt....😝

[_luke_]

35 minutes ago, Frederic said:

In silence vast, the desert lies,
Beneath the blaze of endless skies.
Its golden dunes in stillness keep
The secrets buried, dreams asleep.

A whisper stirs — a stream once near,
Now memory in the thirst of year.
Yet when the moon spills silver light,
The sand recalls the water’s flight.

Alone, it sings in tones austere,
A hymn of longing, sharp and clear —
Of solitude the sun can’t dry,
Nor time erase, nor wind deny.

ChatGpt....😝

I'm stumbled into a strange corner of the internet... desert offroading inspired poetry.
I'll be honest @Frederic, this was not on my bingo card for this week 😅   but i am enjoying it.....

Edited June 3, 2025 by Luke K P

[Mike M.]

2 hours ago, Frederic said:

In silence vast, the desert lies,
Beneath the blaze of endless skies.
Its golden dunes in stillness keep
The secrets buried, dreams asleep.

A whisper stirs — a stream once near,
Now memory in the thirst of year.
Yet when the moon spills silver light,
The sand recalls the water’s flight.

Alone, it sings in tones austere,
A hymn of longing, sharp and clear —
Of solitude the sun can’t dry,
Nor time erase, nor wind deny.

ChatGpt....😝

@Frederic You got the big guns at least go all the way . Here is my twist on the ChatGPT version of things (You cracked me up when i was reading your poem btw!): 

Ode to Carnity: Guardians of the Dunes

Across the golden endless sea,
Where whispering winds roam wild and free,
Carnity rides with hearts ablaze,
In desert’s dance, they forge their ways.

Engines roar, the sand takes flight,
A thrilling chase beneath the light,
But safety guides each daring run,
Respecting dunes, each rise, each sun.

Together bound by trust and cheer,
A brotherhood that knows no fear,
Through every drift and sudden slide,
The team stands strong, close side by side.

With steady hands and watchful eyes,
They conquer dunes, embrace the skies,
Yet never lose the common thread—
The care, the bond, the paths they tread.

Carnity’s spirit, fierce and true,
In every grain, in every view,
A family born of sand and speed,
Where teamwork blooms in every deed.

So here’s to rides beneath the stars,
To safe returns from desert scars,
A tribe united, wild and free—
Forever proud, the Carnity.

Edited June 3, 2025 by Mike M.

[Ale Vallecchi]

"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view."

[Ale Vallecchi]

"We need wilderness whether or not we ever set foot in it. We need a refuge even though we may never need to set foot in it. We need the possibility of escape as surely as we need hope...."

[Ale Vallecchi]

"I find that in contemplating the natural world my pleasure is greater if there are not too many others contemplating it with me, at the same time."