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It's been one year since I started a new chapter in desert driving hobby; leading drive with @Carnity, and last week it was my 50th when I took over @Islam Soliman's drive. It was also my 238th drive I have actually driven. These are some quick numbers to look into: Most of them as usual have been Fewbie drives but I find my sweet spot at FB+, I have been doing a lot of FB+ to balance overall ratios. -------------- These numbers below mean shared drives. Given means, I posted a drive but someone else also took a part of the convoy, taken means someone else posted a drive I took a part (or as in last week whole) of convoy. -------------- I really can't see in the dark. So, no night drives for me. I do not see any drives posted by me in the night. This chart also shows the number of drives I have done per month. Till December 2023 I was averaging 13 drives a quarter. This year however has been less due to my frequent travels. -------------- This list is the locations where I have driven. & following are some stats of those locations: Faqa'a (Includes both Dubai side and Abu Dhabi side) might seem to be my favorite location as most drives are done there. Actually, it is not, as I hate all the bushes. I have been doing this to find the best way of doing it. Now that finally have found the most optimal track, which is to start from Abu Dhabi side to go towards Little Sweihan and then to Solar Park. I might now do some drives on the reverse side. Qudra includes drives that started at Qudra Roundabout towards Lisaili, Bab al Shams and Solar Park. Liwa drive is my drive to Yellow Truck. It grouped in others to keep it up with the forum; the convoy was an Intermediate and I had spilt it for a FB+ convoy with @Kailas.

Normal shovel. This is basically our most useful tool in desert driving. In 95% of recovery situations in the desert, a sturdy shovel will get you out. I know in the US winches are used along with tree straps etc to self-recover. Winches aren't very prevalent here as a self-recovery tool since we very rarely have something to strap on to in the desert. Land anchors for sand tend to be large, heavy and impractical and I've only ever seen a handful of people with one There are quite a few people who have winches on their rigs here but they are mostly used to help recover someone else

someone put @Looper in Fred's hall of fame already. The man deserves it hahaha.

He is a data scientist. Well done @Looper. Keep inspiring all of us with your drives, route, data and beautiful videos.

Interesting… What you are saying is that you were able to hear me but not the guys at the back; while I was able to hear what they are saying. I could often hear and understand their displeasure with my radio 😝. It could be some kind of solar flair interaction with our radios. @Simon D would you like to weigh in?

to be fair, @Looper was often replying to you guys while my baofeng (with antenna) was only receiving static. And I was in 2nd position: - [somebody]: shhh shhs shhs - [Looper]: copy that, slowing down - [somebody]: shhh shhs shhs - [Looper]: it's OK, standing by

Just a regular shovel. it is used to remove sand from under the car. Mine is AOR extendable shovel. I disassemble it into 3 pices and store it in the bag with ropes. I find it nice and tidy. While it is not large but it does work most of the times. Ideally you want to get one with a long handle so that you can reach underneath the car from all directions.

Congrates @Frederic118

Interested to see if recovery kits vary for the desert troopers... coming from a rock crawler background... we have trees and large boulders that give us an advantage to use our winches during recovery. What does your recovery kit include, and why? What are the most common recovery strategies you have found on the dunes? My Personal Recovery Gear includes: 3 snatch blocks with synthetic shackles light weight aluminum style pulleys 1 steel snatch block 2 aluminum shackles 4 soft shackles 1 long soft shackle 2 tree savers 2 chafe guards 2 line dampeners Kinetic recovery rope Tow straps Fast fid rope (rope splicing tool) Gloves (we use gloves at all times, I have had to recover someone's finger off a trail to the hospital/assist with a Member that accidentally spliced their finger too) Hand-held GMRS radio Well-functioning winch/winch controller/free pull available & synthetic line

Congratulations @Frederic118 enjoy the new level 😀

I have following. Bag 1 - 1 kinetic rope, 2 soft shackles and an extendable shovel that I keep in one toolbag. Bag 2. It’s a Amazon Basics tool back pack. In this I have sets of compbination spanner’s, screw drivers, wrench set, adjustable wrench, ratcheting wrench different types of tapes, epoxy etc. a mechanics kit if you will. Bag 3. with air hose, air nozzle blow gun, air pressure gauge. Gloves. Bag 4 This is used for long duration drives, (where I go for overnight camping + drives) this kit is not a camping kit but has ancillary items I would need for emergencies or general purpose use, This kit includes garbage bags, heavy duty zip ties of different sizes, some paper towels, flag suction cup. Portable air pressure kit. Fluids (wd40, coolant, some engine oil), vacuum and some other items. 2.5 ton Jack, Jack Board and water bottle. one flag, 2 rechargeable radios. One torch light. a cool bag with water and energy drinks and some cool drinks. Action camera kit + mounts & dslr

Welcome to the world of sand Dunes, the empty quarter is one of the most vibrant desert in the world.

Congrats @Frederic118 great job mate! Enjoy the challenge I’ll see you on the next one

Congratulations @Frederic118 ! Well done and more learning ahead!