Leaderboard

Thanks @Davie Smooth_Operator for putting on the twilight drive and superb lead. Thanks @Mark B for your super sweep and support during my god awful turn into a ditch … I may have shouted a few expletives at myself 😂 … and thanks @ChrisW for adding me to your long line of “winch” customers. First time is FOC I hope 😜 … thanks for the support guys. to everyone else sorry I delayed the drive a little with my excellent driving skills, I blame it on the FJ’s key feature … poor visibility … and my new window tint … just kidding, it was my own fault I should have known better but we all make mistakes. still one happy customer despite ripping off my rear mud guard, denting my beautiful plastic bumper … and the car is shaking like a sh***ng dog … maybe an engine mount issue … I’m sure I’ll be back next weekend to do it all over again. All the best guys have a great week!!!

Thank you all for joining this morning! Due to the short convoy, we managed to cover quite some ground with no ropes involved. All minor refusals were dealt with by the respective drivers. Hats off to @Bhaskaran Ramaswamy who was on his first club drive but drove fantastic! Same goes for @Danie who navigated his Rubicon superbly through the flowers and bushes. Great help on my side as well from @J-P L and @Richard Franks. We first headed to one of the famous watchtowers of Falaj Al Mualla. The watchtowers in Falaj Al Mualla were constructed in the early 19th century by Sheikh Abdullah I bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, who ruled Umm Al Quwain from 1816 to 1853. They were built at the same time as the nearby fort, which dates back to around 1825. 1. Defense and Surveillance The primary role of the watchtowers was military and defensive. They were strategically placed to monitor and protect the surrounding area from potential invaders or tribal conflicts. Positioned to provide a clear vantage point over the valley and oasis, they allowed guards to spot approaching threats early. 2. Protection of the Falaj Irrigation System The towers also helped protect the falaj (ancient irrigation system), which was vital for agriculture in the arid region. Ensuring water security was critical, so the towers guarded the channels from sabotage or unauthorized access. 3. Communication The towers could have served as early warning and signaling posts, possibly using smoke, fire, or flags to convey messages across distances. 4. Symbol of Authority The presence of watchtowers also reinforced the power and control of the ruling family or tribe over the region, showcasing their ability to protect and govern. These towers are a key part of the UAE’s architectural heritage and reflect the historical importance of water, security, and tribal leadership in the area. Wikiloc | SHJ-3 Emirates Trail Some uploaded photos here. Feel free to add yours: Newbie - Scenic Views of the North - Sharjah - 22 Jun 2025 - Carnity.com See you all soon in the sand again!

Great job @Luke K P, very well executed. You set the standard high, so I need to work hard 😅. Thanks for the 🍉🍉🍉 @fred_ 😋. Good to see good friends @Johannes Roux @Humi @JC_E @Zubail and the one who enjoyed a bit more at the back @Andrew John Melvill 😁. Thanks @DP1011 @Gaurav who made this drive happen. How come the colour so purple?

My pleasure mate and don’t beat yourself up we’ve all been in that hole shouting profanities at the car 🤣🤣

@Frederic @J-P L @Danie @Richard Franks thanks a lot for this wonderful drive. I thoroughly enjoyed the drive

Awning and cool watermelon- it was top!!!

First off, thankyou everyone for a great drive this morning. We managed to hit our ride objectives and move through Fayah as a tightly knit team.. no shovels, no ropes, no problems 😍 We got to play in the long range dunes, staying high where possible to get the best morning views looking across towards sweihan, play in a few side slopes, and most importantly, SHARE A GIANT WATERMELON 🍉 🍉 🍉 🍉 @fred_ and @Humi, very nice driving was good to check out your lines and see you taking some of the higher lines in the Sidies 💪 @Ishakthanks for helping reroute the convoy where I needed to change the plan on the fly 🙏 @JC_E @Johannes Roux and @Zubail perfectly executed drive as usual, zubail was great to see you again after over 6months! Great sweeping @Andrew John Melvill making sure no one was left behind and v helpful with the status updates from the rear. @Gauravgreat work as second lead finessing my lines.. and thanks for taking DP drive over today.🙏🙏🙏 Great Sunday morning picnic, enjoy the rest of your Sunday and hope to see you again soon.

Thanks again for the great drive @Davie Smooth_Operator Thouroughly enjoyed my first night experience. Will ensure to check my CANbus controller for next time!

Dear Desert Wanderers @Glenn W, @Jason M, @Steve Farmer, @Krinesh, @Wayne Momsen, @khurramm, @ChrisW, @Myrko, @Sam Selim, and @Mark B, first of all thank you all for being on time for the drive and making the drive such a memorable one. I had a blast and really enjoyed leading you through the somewhat bushier than usual Al Fayah desert. You all drove amazingly well and that was evident with the number of refusals and stucks we had. A few of you indicated that it was your first venture into the desert at night, so I hope the experience did not put you off and you all learnt a little about night driving in the sand as i did, every drive is a learning drive A special shout out to my second lead @Glenn W you did an awesome job of reacting to my last-minute call outs for a track change, or a stop don't follow request, this is so important to keep the drive flowing and the team behind safe. You also provided us with a stuck or two to get Chris some practice Great Sweep from Mark, helping out at the back with a few refusals and assisting with the couple of stucks we encountered, always a pleasure to have you on the drive mate as it means I do not have to worry about the rear of the convoy or the refusals etc. you always handle them with a calm professionalism. And our newly promoted Support team member @ChrisW, what can i say mate, fantastic first outing as a Support driver, you did everything right and with composure and calm that shows us that you will make a great support member. So a very big thank you to both the support guys this makes leading so much easier when you have this level of back up. If you want to relive where we went click on the link below. Have a great rest of your week. https://www.relive.com/view/vrqDyVgJowv

Favourite pic of the day

Great drive yesterday! Love a night drive thanks everybody and well done on the fantastic driving! I’ll post some images

Amazing drive!! Loved every second of it! Awesome lead @Luke K P, great flowing lines, exciting rollercoaster turns, and just all round fun!! Looking forward to many more amazing drives!

Hi @Frederic just seeing your message. Sorry for the late response. my car Toyota 2023 ; this is my first drive after the 4 hours training from Gaurav; car has the hooks by default; Radio and all must to have gears in place. look forward for tomorrow’s drive.

@M.Seidam Indeed yesterday was one of the greatest drives not because there were no stucks or refusals but because everyone was at military level from adherence to instructions which made supporting and guiding much easier. It was a great convoy yesterday and It is very promising to see how the Newbies had the courage to tackle the last stretch with no hesitation. Kudos to all! We need to decide on a name, should it be: 1- The Night Club or 2- The Knight Club (Pun intended) Enjoy your weekend everyone !