Leaderboard

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.

I guess this applies to 140 litres Patrols too 😄🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️

Don't underestimate the power of the sedan! I've done entire the hatta loop once in a Corolla and then in a Cressida with full 4 passengers! That was a different thing that they were company cars! Lol

Will not be able to join for tomorrow drive due to small medical emergency at home. Sorry for the last minute disappointment guys. Looking forward for next week drive. Drive safe..👍