Ale Vallecchi

Amazing @Andrew John Melvill !! There were never more than 350 LRDG commands. You must have had a super grandpa!!

@Julien Recan, you have been added automatically to the drive after Haneef's drop out. Do you confirm the participation? Thanks

Dear Desertnauts. After some deliberation, find below the meeting and deflation point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vvS1S3mdsbHBsMaA9 From here we'll head to Lisaili, then down toward Faqa (via the infamous Chimney Route), and on to Little Sweihan before heading either to Solar Park or Ghantoot (TBD). The itinerary plans to minimize areas of sabkhas, which with the rains would have become quite muddy and treacherous. For the Sweihan lovers, that will be my next weekend's objective. See you all tomorrow Hi @Haneef Thayyil. Sorry to chase you. Do you confirm your joining tomorrow? If not I'll free your spot for the next WL in line. Thanks a lot.

@Haneef Thayyil, you have been automatically signed up for tomorrow's drive. Do you confirm? Thanks

Dear Desertnauts I am looking forward to returning to the sand after a few days of absence and following the rains of the last weeks. It is in consideration of the latest heavy precipitations that I have not yet published the meeting and starting point for the drive. Considering its length, and the fact that I have been travelling for a while, I'd like to evaluate the situation of the various areas and terrains, before deciding where to drive. I will publish the final meeting point by Saturday afternoon. The choice will be between the souther part of Dubai's desert (Lisaili/Faqa and/or Solar Park/Qudra areas) or Sweihan's section closest to Dubai (say from Pac-Man dunes to Nagra/Nahil). In the meantime, the convoy order that I'd like to line-up will be the following: @Aser in Second Lead @Sviatoslav at #3 @RiadJL at #4 @Zak_ at #5 @Andrew John Melvill at #6 @Batuhan Kulac at Center @Johannes Roux at #8 @Mahmut at #9 @Hani Howeedy at #10 and @Luke K P in Sweep. Let's reconvene here on Saturday to share the meeting point. Enjoy the end of the week.

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquettes Emergency details for all off roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 7:30 AM Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vvS1S3mdsbHBsMaA9 Action Plan: After the cancellation due to the apocalyptic weather of 2 weeks ago, we'll try once again to follow in the footsteps of the long, long, long treks' tradition establish by yours truely. We'll study an itinerary that we plan to cover in 4 segments of 25 Km each, within a timeframe of 4 hours. Stamina, patience and concentration are the skills required to complete the drive. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 12:00 PM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. RECOMMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR: Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge Compressor (MANDATORY) Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY) Off-road flag (MANDATORY) Shovel, Tow Rope & 2 Shackles First-aid kit Fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 12 PM. If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list. Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned - Without any exceptions. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

Dear @RiadJL, @Wilfredo Perez, @Andrew John Melvill, @Sandeep Nayar, @DTG and @Abhilash Kottakkal, just to clarify any doubt, today's PM drive IS CANCELLED. I have waited as much as possible before cancelling, but just the length of the drive itself makes it too dangerous to carry it out on surely damaged and uncertain terrain. Most of all I wish you all and your families are safe and have sustained no damages to your health or your properties. See you out there at the earliest opportunity. Stay safe!!

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquettes Emergency details for all off roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 1:30 PM (Departure no later than 2:00 PM) Meeting Point: TBA Action Plan: Following in the footsteps of the long, long, long treks, we'll study an itinerary that we plan to cover in 4 segmemts of 25 Km each, within a timeframe of 4 hours. Stamina, patience and concentration are the skills required to complete the drive. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 6:30 PM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. RECOMMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR: Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge Compressor (MANDATORY) Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY) Off-road flag (MANDATORY) Shovel, Tow Rope & 2 Shackles First-aid kit Fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 12 PM. If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list. Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned - Without any exceptions. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

No worries @Mark B. See you another time.

Hello @Misha Puskar. We should finish around 12 noon. There are several exit points we can take all along either the Sweihan-Al Ain Road (E16) or the AD-Sweihan Road (E20), but surely make your own calculation as far as how much time you'll need to drive back. Fell free to decide as you feel more appropriate. Thanks a lot Hi @Sreenath G. sure I will add you to the convoy list. See you toimorrow.

Dear Desertnauts Eid Mubarak to all of you. Let's prepare for tomorrow's trip. We hope to start as close to 8:30 as possible, so please try to reach the meeting point a few minutes before the meeting time. Fuel can be purchased at Sweihan's ADNOC gas station. The plan is to drive westward along the third cordon of dunes visible from Sweihan along the Al Ain Road. It's a quite lengthy cordon of dunes, at the end of which we may loop back, or more likely, given my propensity for long range drives, we may cut across a couple of sabkhas and farm areas (fences permitting0, to reach the Sweihan's Pond, and from there return to the town itself across the Tilal area. The convoy order looks as follows (with higher ranked members "planted" every couple of Fewbies, to better tutor them: @Emanuel in Second Lead @Andrew John Melvill at #3 @ZakWarah at #4 @Marek at #5 @Misha Puskar at #6 @Sandeep Nayar at #7 @Rob S at #8 @Mahmut at #9 @Hani Howeedy at #10 @Mark B and @munkybizness will alternate in Sweep. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning. Enjoy your Eid feast.

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquettes Emergency details for all off roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 8:30 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HA6PD3e9oK3ue8ff6 Action Plan: One last drive in one of the more pristine parts of Sweihan's desert. We'll explore another large cordon of dunes just to the right of the road leading to Al Ain, north to a big farm vaguely resembling the shape of Africa, also known as .... "Africa". As in our previous drives in this area, we'll move through more unspoiled surroundings that offer just as much variety of dunes, bowls, and scenery as the more driven Sweihan's section. We may loop back to our starting point, or try to cross all the way to the Tilal area. Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 12:30 PM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. RECOMMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR: Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge Compressor (MANDATORY) Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY) Off-road flag (MANDATORY) Shovel, Tow Rope & 2 Shackles First-aid kit Fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 12 PM. If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list. Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned - Without any exceptions. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

Dear Desrtnauts, ready for tomorrow's drive? A couple of pointers: Please fill up the tank at the nearest gas station, at Sweihan, past the roundabout along E20. We'll try to leave as close to 8:00AM as possible. Be also prepared to extend the drive, if the situation will call for it, until around 12:00 noon. The convoy order at the moment is the following: @Emanuel in Second Lead @Andrew John Melvill at #3 @Pascal at #4 @Aser at #5 @Mahmut at #6 @Hani Howeedy at #7 @Luke K P at #8 and @Stumpy in Sweep. Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow. Have a great Friday night.

Hi @Luke K P. Yes, it's a typo. Start is at 8:00AM and finish around 12:00PM. BTW. which car are you coming with? Thanks

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquettes Emergency details for all off roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 8:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uSSuoGtrzEcxrKvW6 Action Plan: One more drive in one of the more pristine parts of Sweihan's desert. The area most driven in Sweihan, just left of the road leading to Al Ain, and close to a big farm vaguely resembling the shape of Africa, is also known as .... "Africa". The side of Sweihan on the right of that same road, just opposite, and south of "Africa" is much more unspoiled, and offers just as much variety of dunes, bowls, and scenery. That's what we'll explore, either exiting at the camel drome just north of the Talal Resort, or perhaps going all the way back to Darzood (along the road from Al Ain, and closer to our starting point. Don't come in a hurry to return home, as we may take some time exploring this almost virgin area. Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 12:00 PM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. RECOMMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR: Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge Compressor (MANDATORY) Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY) Off-road flag (MANDATORY) Shovel, Tow Rope & 2 Shackles First-aid kit Fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 12 PM. If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list. Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned - Without any exceptions. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

Dear Desertnauts quick word about this drive, kindly organized by @DP1011. It wishes to be the kind of drive where we leave our thoughts behind, and simply relax and enjoy the nuances of Dubai's desert. As Abu Dhabi's side presents its more challenging features in the form of tall dunes, deep bowls and huge stretches of unspoiled desert, Dubai's side offer a subtler type of challenge, mostly in the form of complex technical areas, with dunes arranged in a haphazard order, which require patience and finesse. This drive will take us to that infamous area of technical dunes which became known, at first, at the track to "The Chimney", where most of us Leads have been tested and tried by @Gaurav during our Leaders Lead sessions. The goal is to bring back happy memories, and at the same time fully enjoy the intricacies of this location. Bring also some refreshments, as anybody who wants to stay can hang around after the drive ends, likely at the 3 Trees area. The convoy order at the moment will be the following: @Islam Soliman in Second Lead @Imran Asghar at #3 @Rob S at #4 @Srikumar at Center @Benjamin at #6 @Cha at #7 @Senthil Kumar at #8 and @DP1011 in Sweep. We can play with the order as we go along. We'll pick the radio channel at the meeting point, from which we plan to leave as close to 8:00 AM as possible. See you all tomorrow.

Dear Desertnauts, One more drive in the rather pristine dune field west of Sweihan. Long range dunes, some of them also quite tall, separated by rather open areas, we'll driving in the direction of the sunset until we'll veer south, toward the small oasis surrounding the Sweihan's Pond. Once we reach our drive's intended objective, we'll consider extending to Faya, or taking a turn back to Sweihan, across a different set of cordons. I plan to start gently, to get comfortable with the terrain, then speed up to reach one of our planned exits. At the moment the convoy order will be the following: @Abhilash Kottakkal in Second Lead @Vijay Cowlagi at #3 @Jessica Lambert at Center @Shaun J at #5 @Hani Howeedy at #6, and @Anish S in Sweep. Please reach the meeting point as close to 2:00 PM as possible. You may refuel at Sweihan's ADNOC station. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Enjoy your Friday evening.

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquettes Emergency details for all off roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 2:00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rmHmGKSReYNbxkWH8 Action Plan: Another drive in one of the more pristine parts of Sweihan's desert: its western sector. One can find here beautiful sets of long-range dunes, sometimes as tall as on Sweihan's eastern sector (the one usually driven, where Bahil, Old Lady and Nagra dunes are located), but more open and separated by beautiful little valleys and occasional deeper bowls. In the middle of these cordons there is a small oasis, surrounding a green pond of water, around which we'll build our itinerary. Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 6:30 PM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. RECOMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR: Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge Compressor (MANDATORY) Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY) Off-road flag (MANDATORY) Shovel, Tow Rope & 2 Shackles First-aid kit Fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 12 PM. If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list. Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned - Without any exceptions. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

Dear @Xavi Moyano. Thanks fot the reassuring update. We are all reliieved to know that you are OK and recuperating. Good thing that nobody attempted to do anything to the shoulder at the moment, and that we decided to head back to Dubai ASAP. Rest well, and get ready to join the next drive in the beautiful Tilal area. Enjoy the weekend and the week ahead.

Hi @Julien Recan. Just posted. Thank you.