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Thanks @Ale Vallecchi and @Gauravfor organizing this drive through a beautiful landscape - was looking for a relaxed outing and calmness of Qudra (off the usual areas) early in the morning offered exactly that.. We started around 6:05am, was good to have a briefing out in open after a long time, reviving back the little humor and interaction during briefings. Overall in our course to explore Water points across Qudra, we drove around 50km in 2.37hr of moving time. This is surely a good pace for newbie. The convoy did really well. We had couple of crests and minor refusals however in general it was a smooth drive by all in convoy. @munkybiznessyou were a perfect SL maintaining right distance to Gaurav and responding nicely to all his instructions. @Joji varghesevery nicely driven. Doubt (in where to go or on ones car's ability) is the most common reason for refusal and stucks . Your refusals and crests had Doubt written all over them. I am sure with more rides you will rock your Fortuner through these dunes. @kiranshinde @Savio Fernandes you guys handled the Patrols very well. Just don't shy from giving some more gas - a bit more gas would have ensured much more smoother sails through those side slopes. @Hilal Sharafudeen and @Damien Ranjit you guys rocked your Patrol and pathfinder with confidence.. very well done. Rest as i could see @Richard Franks @Adam James @Gilbert Khalil@Naim AounAoun you all had almost perfect drive, other than a small refusal with Naim, a case of just letting go a bit early. @topgear thanks for being there and ensuring convoy was always in order. Thanks all for the lovely time, hope to see you all soon.

Post Drive Report Was close to simply writing 'what he said'. Thanks everyone for the awesome drive today. For the few fewbies on the drive, because everyone did so well, we were at Fewbie Plus level for the majority of the drive. The ridge riding, criss-crossing and climbing was fantastic. Convoy discipline, particularly on the hills and where we did have problems was incredible - that last point where the route was lost as we were in complex Big Red dunes in particular: You told us that the track had been lost immediately you had any doubt. You did not go looking for it thinking that you could find us. The instruction on how to find the front of the convoy was followed to the 'T' Immediately we got back into the sight the convoy went back into order. I know when people are enjoying the drive: it's usually the point at which someone asks if the radios are working because nothing has been heard for a while. There was a lot of radio silence today. My apology to the WL drivers. In the end, there was a now show which would have left the door open for increasing the numbers in the convoy. The reason we ask for people to let us know early if there is a chance that you will not be there is to avoid situations where we could have added more people to the convoy. Thanks for the support as 2nd lead @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil CF @Watteau and Sweep @Hisham Masaad and each of you for making this such an enjoyable convoy @Larry Cadden @Javier Lucero @Tareck @Will Seivewright and @darren thompson sorry you had to leave early. Hope you sort it our quickly. See you soon in the sand.

Here's the convoy list for tomorrow morning. 1.Kailas- L 2. @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil-SL 3. @Sunil Mathew 4. @JeromeFJ 5. @Chinthaka Ruwan 6. @Nivin-CF 7. @Pacific 8. @Darren Brooke 9. @Russ-SW We will be on channel 2. Please note that I have updated the time to 5:15 AM. Please be aware that there is Richard's Absolute newbie starting point in the same area. I have moved the starting point a bit further in, so please follow the google map location. See you all tomorrow. Cheers!

Dear @Ranjan Das @Dodi Syahdar @Watteau.. an exciting opportunity to visit this area with a short convoy which it's always a booster for what can be done around these magnificent terrains. Pre-drive details below: 1- It is already hot and we want to have an early start hoping to cover majority of the track by 9:00am before heading to the exit to inflate by 9:30am before we get roasted. 2- This requires prompt presence at the meeting point by 5:00am and be ready to move max by 5:30am (deflated, flag erected, 4H on, radio on and set, airbags/traction/abs all set....) 3- Please ensure your radio is on, fully charged, and set to the right frequency: channel 1 (446,006.25) upon arrival to do a quick radio check 4- briefing will be done on on the sand before we start moving 5- please ensure you come with a full tank (as much as possible) in addition to all necessary gear for this drive level Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/U1BncNak2mMf2dfs6 See you all on the sand 😎 Convoy order: We will decide together during the briefing

It was a wonderful and relaxing drive with no stucks and least refusals and at same time the boys at the back had their playtime as well thanks @Srikumarfor your excellent guidance. All absolute Newbies and newbies performed well. In and out of the drive with full charge not even a single drop of sweat was lost from the body.

Welcome back to Dubai ! The weather is slowly getting cooler, so hope to see you soon in the sands !

All, I know it was said on the radio, but just to reiterate that was an awesome drive. Everyone drove brilliantly and where necessary executed great self recoveries. Your convoy discipline and radio comms were exemplary and it was a real pleasure. Thank you everyone.

DRIVE RSVP IS NOW CLOSED 1) Frederic Pajero SWB Blue - Crew 2) Lakshmi Narasimhan - Pajero LWB - Intermediate 3) Savio Fernandes - Nissan Patrol Y62 - Newbie 4) Farook Veettil - Toyota Landcruiser - Newbie 5) Munkybizness - Nissan Patrol Y61 - Fewbie 6) Rizwanm2 - Xterra - Support Team We will be using Channel 2: 446.031 Mhz Please be ready to go (deflated, flag, etc) by 8PM so we can cover some nice terrain. NO FLAG OR RADIO = NO DRIVE PS We will be exiting by 11PM sharp, as some of us are attending the Lens Lovers Club event and we need to reach there in time. Thanks for your understanding. See you guys tonight !

My apologies Islam. Fell for the oldest e-trick - auto Suggestions and not checking the suggested!

see you in the morning guys, looking forward to it

Yes 11:50. @Gauravwill be there little bit earlier, and I’ll be reaching there hopefully before midnight as I have an evening drive in Maleiha area.

Hey no worries at all and I really do appreciate this tip! If I had just sent this the night before maybe I would have received the okay… so my slacking! Nov and Dec I look forward to the shows and maybe we do these in AD at the spot you shared! have a great evening!

Tough luck @Niki, I didn't know they would reject people cos my friends said theirs were accepted... maybe lots of people already applied hence they enforce some limit on the permits... let's hope next time bro: Leonids in Nov and Geminids in Dec 😊

Hey all - super excited about tonight's shooting! I just checked the clouds and it seems that we'll have very clear skies most of the night until we near the peak of the shower after 4:00. That sounds like bad news I know, but honestly it's not - there will still be plenty of meteors before the peak in shaa Allah 😊🤲🏼 and by the time we reach the peak it may be getting a bit to bright in the early morning sky to see many clearly anyway, so it's better we have clearer skies during the darker times. Anyway, a forecast is just that but we have reason to be optimistic!

Drive RSVP is now closed. Convoy order below. Please go through the tutorial videos and make sure your cars front and rear tow hooks are in order. Hope all of you also have the required gear for the Newbie level drives. See you all tomorrow morning at 5:00 AM and we will be using Radio channel 1, 446 006 25. 1 Brette JGC Lead 2 @Tareck Y62 2nd Lead 3 @kiranshinde Patrol 4 @Ramandbx Wrangler 5 @Joji varghese Fortuner 6 @Rsjiv Samuel FJ 7 @Nikola Bozovic Pajero Silver 8 @Daniel Yang Y62 CF 9 @Nafiz LX 10 @Peter Hager Wrangler 11 @Gilbert Khalil FJ 12 @Jason Grima Grey Wrangler 13 @Michael Glavanis Discovery 14 @Tbone Vinod Xterra Sweep

Thanks for a great adventurous ride. Those technical dunes were great even though at times it felt like Sheikh Zayed Road at rush hour Can't wait to join you all again.

Hi , the drive was excellent , thanks to @Srikumar and the entire carnity team for organizing this drive ,it was a wonderful experience. I have learned a lot today.

Subaru rocks 👍

Welcome back buddy, looking nice with off-road lights. Just make sure they are installed nicely and secured too, as recently I heard a new story that one of the expensive LED bar was stolen from the car. It's very rare to hear such story in Dubai where security is top-notch but it happened. Another guy reported of stolen hitch receiver with shackle from his Ford D150. I was like that's way too much for such small value item to be missing overnight.

Beautiful desert, fun drive. Thanks all!

This was a fun morning 😁👍

Don't say that too loud. You might regret it 😂 Congratulations....

With @Rizwanm2behind me, I'm going to bring my sunglasses and leave my lights in low beam 😎☀️

Back in Dubai! Doing parking garage installations before I move to my new parking spot. New spot will have no secret basement mechanic work allowed. Haha Lights mounted , need wiring finished. Covers fit well and should help with inspection and protection. Maintenance items (oil, air filter, front diff oil and bushing change, new prop shafts, and a couple seals for leaks and I should be ready for the desert by the time jetlag wears off in a week.

Super soft sand with low momentum brought our friend @Lakshmi Narasimhan to a halt . However with some shoveling with a hand from @Shehab Alawadhi he was out

Hi @Wrangeld thanks for the exit. On the way home on two wheel power no Problems. Enjoy the rest of the drive.

Hope you get well soon, take care

Thank you @Gaurav, @Frederic & @Nivin! I'm ready for shoveling duty 💪😆

Thanks Ismail, looking forward

Sorry about that @Daniel Yang. It has been corrected.

Confirmed

@S Jacob You have been added to the drive, please confirm the same.

I'll be there quite early since I'm not going on the evening drive and will want to set up etc and do a little MW shooting. I'll probably be there around 9:00

@Brette Hi Marshal, i believe my name was wrong

Dear Ale, yeah I realized the ranking today, I need to undo my attendance as I only joined couple of days ago. Regards,

New tires and new suspension is about to come 😁👍

@Ale Vallecchijust taking a chance.. 1 drive please WL thank you.

Dear @Islam Soliman I may need to excuse myself.. Ashok

Hi @Anish S, I will not be able to attend this drive. Sorry for the short notice. I have removed myself from the drive.

Dear Members, can someone point me to the link which describe the status, as i see some drive are listed as for newbie and others for fewbiee +, is it some sort of status / qualification before you can join the trip. i will be attending my first drive tomorrow and planning to join other trip but not sure what these status means and how to qualify for those trips. Kind Regards,

@Brette yes sure will join you

Thankyou @Anish S

@S Jacob heartiest congratulations

Just an update I am coming with my wife and 6 years old son, hope they enjoy meteor shower too.

Thanks for confirming @Ramandbx, I have added you to the drive calendar.

Longest convey I have ever seen in Abu Dhabi. Looking forward…

Hi @Brette thank you, but i’ve changed my mind- will be joining next week’s drive! thanks for the consideration!

@samamara apologies to you and rest of the gang for hijacking this thread for some more general photo tips. But a couple of quick ones hopefully should be useful info for the others also.... 1. Is there a preferred season in our UAE area for milky way shots as in clear sky or aesthetic view of MW itself (you mentioned october but does it extend into the winter?) 2. As you mentioned post editing is critical. Can you link to any useful website or FAQ for workflow to edit night sky/ high signal noise pics in PS or similar software 3. last one! Any benefit you see in shooting/ editing from RAW data as opposed to in camera processed JPEG, This question is from a hobbyist perspective and not aiming for professional/ large size prints etc Thanks (and hoping for a clear sky tomorrow night as well)

Have to withdraw the driving due to change of schedules, see you next time @Frederic😶

Your 16-35mm will still give you a lovely shot! I Also have a 5DM4 and I use a Tokina 11-16mm on it which, unfortunately, is made for a crop sensor. I can still use it but not down past 14mm without significant vignetting so even at 15-16mm you'll get lovely wide views (which I'm sure you know already ). That lens, by the way, is not so expensive and has given me very clear astro shots (see attachment taken in Rub al Khali last Milky Way season); even if it's for a crop-sensor you may want to consider it. You can give mine a go on Thursday night if you want, once all is said and done with our shoot .