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Finally, the much awaited Liwa drive. Absolutely looking forward to it. It seems that Emmanuel is so excited that he is already been camping in Liwa for the past 3 weeks. So that's where you have been buddy. 😁

This whole love story actually started with me looking for a small off-road car that I could also use as daily driver. My previous dear colleague that was my mentor during my first year in Dubai drove a nice 2004 Pajero SWB, and I kinda fell in love with that little quirky thing. So I went looking for a nice Gen 3 SWB Pajero until I saw that little blue Gen 2.5 '99 one for sale. I threw my common sense overboard and bought it while knowing that it would take time, money, and work to get it in the shape that I really wanted. After googling all the information I needed but coming back with little answers, I joined Carnity and came across a guy who literally knew everything there is to know about this generation of Pajero. His name is Gaurav and thanks to him I came to realize this little blue Pajero was actually pretty solid and suitable for some serious offroading, but I knew at the same time that the 3.0 was definitely not the same as the 3.5 you hear roaring every weekend on Carnity drives. On the picture below you see me on my very first offroad drive in October 2018. I clearly remember that drive like it was yesterday. We all got stuck multiple times, were shoveling the whole afternoon, and my friend who joined me that day had no clue why people would spend their Fridays goofing off in the Sharjah deserts shoveling away and toiling in sweat. But I drove home that day and felt that this was an amazing day where from the start till the end I was guided, supported, and felt part of a family that looks after each-other. I felt a bit like Brian when he joined Dominic his crew in F&F and realized that this was a group of people that have one aim in mind: making you a better version of yourself. Were there times where I thought that I reached the limit of myself or my car and could probably not make it to the next level ? YES almost every week.... But at the same time after every drive I learned something new and went home with that little bit more baggage. And that confidence, support, love, and care that the Carnity family gave me, was the thing that kept me coming back every week. As my buddies @Srikumar and @Gaurav mentioned on the last briefing, we all leave our egos at home and enter the desert with a curiosity and a keen desire of leaving our daily worries behind us for a few hours and enjoy each other's company. @Gaurav your dedication and hard work to bring Carnity to this level has paid off already and will continue to pay off in the future. I cannot put in a single list how much I have learned from you...it would take years to jot that down. Our combined love for the Pajero has created a bond and your love for Belgian chocolates has brought us even closer 🤣 @Rahimdad from the very first hug you gave me, the jokes we crack together, and the sheer love and dedication you put into the Carnity family has created an atmosphere that I have never felt at office, or in any other club that I have been in. You have created for all of us a family away from home and I will do my sincere best as a Marshal to keep bringing that family approach to every new joiner and Carnity member. It is indeed true that we ALL are equals and that lifting each-other up to become a better version of ourselves should be the ultimate goal in life. @Srikumar I have only been with Carnity for a short time, and even in that short time I have you seen taking an enormous leap in capabilities and leadership qualities. It is simply stunning to see how you perform when being challenged with multiple tasks, scheduling, and leading drives, and you deliver every single time. You're a true example for me and I look forward to many more drives to come. @Emmanuel I remember one of my first drives where we took on Faya and I was trying hard to keep in pursuit of your Jawaher with my little oldie. You made it look so easy and effortlessly attacking dunes, and got out of the car five minutes later to smoke a cigarette totally relaxed like Serge Gainsbourg would do. You possess a higher power of being totally in tune with your "jewel" and I truly enjoy your company every time we venture out looking for creamy dunes or stars. @Asif Hussain You were with me on my first drive and I remember that whale you drove very well. I was amazed to see how effortlessly you took it through every dune and quickly realized you had a unique talent. You have been out of the sands for a little while but i am committed to make up for lost time and I am sure there is so much I can learn from you. To all the other members that drove with me for the last year, I truly thank all of you. I hope my story sheds a little light on how I became Marshal and I hope that everyone that has aspirations of reaching this level realizes that Carnity Offroad club is the PERFECT breeding ground to get to that level ! IF I CAN DO IT SURELY YOU CAN TOO !! - Fewbie in Jan 2019 - Intermediate in March 2019 - Advance in Sept 2019 - Expert in Dec 2019 - Marshal in Feb 2020

wow.. most awaited trail "Yellow Truck" see you all soon

The solar park from another perspective.

For every off-roader going to Liwa is like a holy pilgrimage and much awaited moment to mark their off-road progress. As much as Liwa is fun, thrilling and mind boggling with humongous dunes and vast desert, it is indeed very tricky, scary and challenging to test all your off-road skills in one drive. More than the skills and your vehicle capabilities, you need to be very sharp, calculative and attentive to understand the convoy movement with patience and level head at all times. We plan to explore Liwa - Bu Hasa area this time and head toward Liwa Oasis direction while passing through "Tropic of Cancer" and visiting the famous "Liwa Yellow Truck" buried in Liwa Desert since so many years. As this will be the first Liwa drive of 2020, so we aim to vet Intermediate and above level off-roaders for the second Liwa drive which is going to be more challenging and tougher around Moreeb dunes area. So, if anyone wishes to join Moreeb dune in March, please sign up for this. As it's a 3+ hour drive from Dubai so ideally well rested body will enjoy this whole day drive without fatigue, so reaching a night before and camping or sleeping in the car at meeting point would be ideal, but completely optional for everyone. When: 14 February January 2020, Friday Drive start: 6:45 AM, the convoy will move at sharp 7:00 AM Where: Maraba Al Dhafra Petrol Station, Zayed City, Abu Dhabi Meeting point: https://goo.gl/maps/3TNYZFbBztR93Yo76 Level: Intermediate and above - STRICTLY. Type of Car: Proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 10 inches of ground clearance. Well serviced and thoroughly checked to be in pristine condition without any flaws, warning light, mechanical or electrical malfunction. Plan: Explore and drive till about 06:00 PM What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks, smiles, stories, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Extra fuel jerry can - at least 20 liter, more the better. Spare tire should be in good working condition. Drinks & ready to cook food for lunch and dinner Snacks or nuts to munch while driving All spare fluids for your car Firewood (20 kg) / Car Optional items if you have them bring them with you (no special purchase needed) Binoculars Sand track/mat Tie-down straps Tool kit, Ratchet, socket set Essential spare parts for your car Axe, Saw, Heavy duty Hammer etc. Approximate finish time: 6:00 PM Camping and bonfire: 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM - (Optional) Sleep over: 11:00 PM - 6:00 AM - 15 Feb 2020- (Optional) Head back to Dubai after breakfast: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - 15 Feb 2020 - (Optional) MUST READ: First off-road drive checklist Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Off road Driving Etiquette's Off-road Convoy Rules Off roading - Everything you need to know Please RSVP on the below calendar.

I am the whole month on standby, but who knows, maybe the rostering gods have something good for me.

The ultimate test of your ride, skills, patience, helpfulness and family support. I'm in with full support.

Wow @Frederic you have me in tears, crying this time. Your writhing skills are only second to @Wrangeld and hold a lot of weight. Your journey so far in Carnity is a dream journey. You've been quick to learn and grow for your enthusiasm, spirit and helpful attitude. Glad to have you on our team and over the moon to see you as a Marshal. Your dedication to the sport and willingness to share your knowledge is what makes a community. Looking forward to many such individuals learning and growing in this sport under your capable wings.

Ideal situation for any sort of offroading. Both. Then you can also add rear wear steering, bash plates, lift kits, body armour etc etc and turn your car into a tank. Or let common sense prevail and suggest to learn how to drive properly in the desert first. Get good at it, while you are doing this you will also get familiar with how to tow properly and then if you must get one one installed at the front. I'm in disagreement here that winch is a necessary piece of kit for offroading. If it was you would see majority of the off roaders having one. But it's a rare sight. It's a great thing to have but not a must and not very practical for many either. First the costs involved, then most cars requiring some kind of modification to have it installed, then maintaining it and keeping it in good working condition supercedes the odd and rare occasion when you really really do need it. This is my take on this whole situation, take it or leave it and feel free to disagree.

Looking at all the fun the Carnity family is sharing - we are fine to be a toddler and play around - after all “who wants to grow up” 🥳😝😉😉

@Pickey Singh next time we meet, I'll install google maps on your phone with quick 1-1 session to navigate. I remember we use to have offroad navigation session for new Intermediate drivers, now we can add road navigation too in that. You can easily replace Fredy availability with that in 5 minutes.

seems like we missed our graduation ceremony amit bhai.. haha

The Offroading season is in full swing, and the Carnity Team wants to deliver you an exciting morning of desert fun! This drive is suited to all first time desert drivers. Our group of trained seniors will guide you in making this a day you won't forget. Also people who have prior offroad experience will definitely continue to learn and embrace our Carnity Culture ! The famous red dunes of the Mahafiz - Fossil Rock area are a sight to behold, and easily adaptable to any level. The drive will start with a detailed briefing where we emphasize on safety aspects, explain the best practices, and make sure you enter the dunes well prepared. After deflating, we will drive 2-3 hours in sand dunes and then take a break for some refreshments over a feedback and assessment session for each offroader. We kindly advise all Absolute Newbies to provide a small introduction on this thread with basic information about themselves, which type of 4x4, prior offroad experience if any, and confirmation that the tow points are in good condition. When: 7 Feb 2020, Friday Meeting time: 6:45 AM, Briefing will start 7:00 AM sharp Where: Al Batayeh - Al Faya Road MEETING POINT GPS Coordinate: https://goo.gl/maps/uwFxCHGBWB37pPNi6 Level: All levels (Absolute Newbie and Newbie). Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 10 inches of ground clearance. Plan: Drive, train and enjoy till about 11:30 AM What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks, smiles, stories, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 12:00 PM - (much before Friday prayer) Friday Prayer Mosque 1: Shabiyat Bin Suhail Mosque Maliha - https://goo.gl/maps/t5W3uphN423z2QFJA Friday Prayer Mosque 2: Maliha Mosque - https://goo.gl/maps/UVtab2zBJTkwAS497 MUST READ: First off-road drive checklist Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Off road Driving Etiquette's Off-road Convoy Rules Off roading - Everything you need to know PLEASE RSVP ON BELOW CALENDAR:

@Xaf super pic... why you went there this is not your route 😄

And here we go telling the people to use a proper mount in the car to take photos, while our buddy here is taking photos while flying an airplane ✈️ 🤪

Congratulations Fred!!! See you soon in the sand.

Hey Man (my savior) from the desert wilderness of the wee hours !!! Congrats once again ... you truly deserve every slice/ bite of it. A quick one ... is this the same terrain which we conquered on 24th. Jan !!! Cheers Man

Unless you are a very seasoned and confident driver with a trustworthy ride it's never advisable to go alone and even then better to avoid it. I know this better than probably anyone here because I went on numerous trips more than I care to remember on my own because I had to because it was part of the job and on quite a few of these trips I had to spend a great deal of time tending to situations which would have taken minutes if I wasn't alone. Like getting stuck in axel hub high newly bulldozed powder sand. Getting ridged or the one out of two times I ever had a popout Popout more a flat actually being the worst because I was driving a company rented bushanab and had nothing but the factory Jack in it.

Hello! 😊 Joining this drive on Friday! It will be my second drive in this group, so still in the newbie -level. I have a modified Wrangler JK, with everything in good working condition. It worked well on the first drive, but just in case got a shovel for the new adventures. 😀Also bought a radio, but have to set it up to the correct frequency that we are using. Cheers!

Congrats @Frederic

Guys !! looks like I missed the big Carnity family this weekend !! but not for long - am coming this Friday !! yeahhh

Look who's talking........Bla Bla Bla, oh no bla bla bla.

It's not meant for grumpy old Crocs like you. You sit back and enjoy a rerun of Sound of music on the old people's grumpy channel

First of all big thanks and congratulations to everyone who participated in this historical drive of 36 cars sign up and 32 cars turn out, marking the biggest convoy we have ever had in Carnity. Last record was of 30 cars but technically it was a family trip and not an off-road drive like this one. Second, big round of applause goes to @Srikumar, @Frederic and @Asif Hussain in managing tons of duties and supporting every little detail to the perfection with sound planning behind the scene to make this drive a great success. Third, congratulation goes to @Frederic for his first independent newbie lead under Srikumar supervision, which he passed on flying colors earning his much deserve Marshal rank. @Wrangeld you actually made my morning, when you ask me if you can ride with me. It was a great opportunity to share lot of professional details and the past of Carnity with an avid off-roader and like minded enthusiast. Just like everyone else, I truly love your trip report and look forward to read it actually few times to appreciate how much time and effort you must be spending behind each expression to sound it so perfect, every time.

Congratulations @Frederic for reaching the Marshal level with Carnity Offroad Club. It is one of the most prestigious and sought after title that comes after a lot of hard work, patience, tolerance, and dedication. Just like all the levels in Carnity offroad club is "NOT" only based on driving skills but instead based on the combination of your personality + intelligence + team spirit + adventure. This Marshal title is an epitome for all levels in the offroad grading structure. So if anyone wants to grow, they can set any of Carnity Offroad Club Marshal as a PERFECT example for not only following the driving skills and style but also observing their behavior, teamwork, presence of mind, calculative approach, patience and tolerance to teach and support new offroaders. Frederic has been one of the fastest learner I have come across in my 14+ years of offroad experience from more than 1,000 offroaders I must have trained at family, friends and various clubs level in UAE. And yet he is very humble, helpful and courteous to everyone around. Frederic second best quality is his sense of humor to crack the toughest of situation with a laugh that helps everyone to come forward to join and contribute with a smile and positive spirit. Third is of course his generous contribution of Belgian Chocolates Once again congratulations Frederic and best wishes for your next adventure! Marshal: Number of drives 60+ drives and Committee Decision Level of drives All of the above + Routing and leading in known terrain Off-road gear Flag, deflator, tire gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio, compressor, tool kit, tow rope, floor jack, jack board & GPS trackback + recovery and repair material Drive teamwork Supervise all of the above + drive and convoy coordination Drive posting/joining Post drive on Carnity and share it on Carnity social media Forum participation Post trip report + share route + track and waypoints Social media sharing & inviting friends & family to join offroad club is recommended for faster upgrades at all levels.

And here we go telling the people to use a proper mount in the car to take photos, while our buddy here is taking photos while flying an airplane ✈️ Awesome @Xaf. Do you have more?

Hey @Pickey Singh my lost desert ranger 😀 If you’re referring to my first drive in October 2018, that was in Maliha Fossil Rock area where we came across a bad patch of completely churned up sand. At one point four cars were stuck at the same time and it took at least two hours to get going again. It’s not my intention to scare you, but the desert sand this winter has been very very benign and if you stick around for a few more months you’ll come to understand the kind of terrain we sometimes deal with 😉

Well played!

Adding metal bumper is whole lot another story from 20 kg - 100 kg depending on need and choice. I really doubt that you cannot fit winch in stock bumper, as FJC Stealth comes with plastic bumper and winch option. I manage to squeeze TJM 9.5 ton winch on 6mm plate sandwich between the chassis in my dinky Pajero that has notoriously cramped engine bay. If you really want to do something you will find a way.

Hello everyone We plan on joining this drive. This will be our 2nd newbie drive. We thoroughly enjoyed the first one with wifey’s Pajero. This time we will be testing my LR4 SCV6 in the dunes. Everything is in working condition, have radios and a flag. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

Congrats Fred! 👏 Looking forward for more interesting sand time with you.

Very well deserved, congrats

Hi guys, In case something urgent won't show up, Koleos will be there too. 😀

Hi Guys, Colin here, im brand new to the group and will be joining on Friday. I have a stock Jeep Wrangler and everything is in working condition. looking forward to the trip

Lets do a fast paced drive starting from Fossil Rock to Faya and then further depending on the convoy response. Expect plenty of ridge riding, side slopping, and pushing your car towards the rev limit. This drive is for Intermediate and above only When: 07 February 2020, Friday Meeting time: 01:00 PM, the convoy will move sharply at 01:15 PM Where: ADNOC Service station at Maleiha GPS Coordinate: https://goo.gl/maps/7PnUAmkB5SHZsYay8 Level of drive: Intermediate and above Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 10 inches of ground clearance. Plan: Drive and enjoy until about 11:30 AM, with some small breaks in between to have breakfast and snacks. What to bring along: Some snacks, plenty of water - whatever you like with little extra to share, smiles, stories, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Please RSVP the below calendar event

1 day - 10 Million views Pontiac Fiero with rocket engine, magnetic stealth plane and hope for justice. This seems more promising than the last one, that fail to check many boxes for car enthusiasts.

Oh my God .. on valentines Day..😭😭😭

I think @Pickey Singh is referring to my last week's drive there. Yes it will be the same terrain. But a change in lead and sands blowing around, you'll not recognize the route, you will feel it's the same area, but @Frederic will take a completely different track and approach as compared to my drive. We can speak more about this during our Paratha break.

Totally agreed on risk of driving alone while off roading!!

@Febin Frederic @Jun Zamora Welcome to Carnity Offroad Club ! Kindly share with us the following info: * Which 4x4 are you driving ? * Do you have any prior offroad experience ? If so please where and how long ? * Are your vehicle's towpoints / recovery points in good condition ?

congrats Marshal FREDERIC

congrats @luwaimn👍

congrats @Frederic. Well done.

I like what I see. Back on track.

@Wrangeld you really paint a picture with your kind words. When I'm reading your material I wish it would go on forever. No wonder @Jeepie fall for you, because it's only words and words are all you need to take our hearts away. This time the pics posted by @Ale Vallecchi are the only competition to your words. Both go hand in hand to let the people know what a brilliant time we all had. Special mention to @Srikumar who went to all extremes to balance the 3 convoys perfectly. To @Frederic for taking up the challenge of leading his first newbie drive and succeeding in doing so with flying colours. To @Shamil, @Ale Vallecchi, @Tbone, @sertac, @Jeepie, @tjsingh, @Roshan Abraham and @luwaimn for taking on the extra responsibilities like second lead, in the middle and sweep duties. As the people keep getting added so do the pressures on how to keep all safe, but with excellent team work and understanding from the new entries we are able to carry on with no incidents. Very proud to be a part of such a team with one huge heart. Thank you all.

The CGI really sucks

It is not often we get to see a master is his/her trade close up, but that was my privilege today. More of that later. Here's a question. Can something be a victim of its own success? Valid, because since the start of this year, numbers at the Carnity newbie drives continue to grow. Today, it was close to 40! Could that dilute the enjoyment of the experience? Would a fleet of vehicles in the desert feel less like a challenge and more like a procession? I am not even going to try to name everyone (you know who you are 😁) as I lost count of the numbers driving. @Srikumar how? Simply how ... did you just not bother going to sleep as you caught up with sorting out and leading the drive. Incredibly, or perhaps not, because of the way this great club works @Gaurav @Frederic and @Rahimdad each led a convoy into virgin dunes, which was unique, challenging and exciting and never felt like we were encroaching on each other [yes, we heard some instruction from other drives on the radio from time to time, but nothjng too intrusive] ... and I say that, having experienced the whole thing from the passenger seat! Sand conditioins remain somewhat benign at the moment: a result of a combination of the recent rains and colder weather. This means that the sand is a great training ground. Sufficiently forgiving to help newbies gain confidence, while offering enough of a challenge should the drive leader determine that the group are ready for something more complex. The drives today were 'boring, in that there were a limited number of refusals and the convoys moved on without difficult recoveries. Probably, the only real incident of the day was the shredded tyre of our trusty Wrangler ... for which apologies to all for denying you the chance to watch the repair because the tyre self destructed 600 metres from the deflation point and was replaced quickly before the briefing. (thanks @Srikumar and @Frederic for getting us going again). Effective though this technique might be in quickly deflating the tyre it seems reinflation is not an option afterwards. But boring is good. That towering dune which you felt you would never cross has been crossed. You've learned that the terrifying vertical slip face on the other side is no longer insurmountable and that slip sliding you did across the lower part of the dune was actually great fun. In most cases that happened without your pride (and joy) being damaged and once again, we all made it home. @tjsingh @Tbone honourable mention as number 2 for the first time. @Jeepie first time as sweep. That might not seem much to many of you, until you think, a few weeks ago all three were newbies. Today, I experienced all that in the presence of an artist. Believe me friends, today was a massive learning experience that is going to benefit my capabilities and capacity to learn this skill, and I never even touched the controls. Watching @Gaurav navigate virgin dunes, to plough a safe and fun route for our convoy reminded me once again how this hobby is not all about adrenalin and power (and believe me, I am in no doubt that were he so to desire, Gaurav could conquer just about anything the sand could offer), but about careful considered control of the vehicle. I learned today that leading a newbie drive is substantially more difficult than any of us could imagine. I witnessed today 4 leaders who were all committed to safely taking us into and then back out of the desert, four leaders for whom the challenge is not feeding their ego by demonstrating that they can, but by guiding all of us to believe that WE can. Perhaps the briefing bores you, perhaps it is too long. Maybe, like being on a plane, you think you heard it all before if this was not your first drive. There is no doubt, however, that the next time you go out on the sand, you can put what you learned today into practice ... time and time again. Testament to how successful this formula is are the higher numbers joining and returning each each week. I know, aloo paratha is compelling, however, if many more join, @Rahimdad may need to consider giving up the day job and starting a restaurant. Have a safe week until we meet together again in the sand.