Ale Vallecchi

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: 2:30 PM (departure time) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9BK1uN6nYfLneZqt9 Action Plan: During the upcoming Eid al Adha weekend, we will celebrate a 3-day trek across the main UAE emirates of Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The trek has been broken into 3 separate drives, all posted at Fewbie Level to make them more accessible to most members. As per Carnity's rules, you'll be able to only sign into 1 of the 3 drives as your drive of choice. But if you wish to do more than one drive, please wait list yourself into the other dates, and by Wednesday evening I will do my best to add members to more than one drive, so they may complete the full trek, or 2 of the 3 segments. The plan for Day 1 is to focus on Sharjah's better known off-roading paradises, going from Nazwa toward Pink Rock, then across to Big Red, across to Badayer, through the main bowls and possible going as far as Area 53 (or Bezhad Ranch), in Al Madam. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 07:00 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, last minute tips for tomorrow's drive. The meeting will be at Badayer Shops (see newly posted meeting point). Let's try to leave as close to the meeting time as possible (that being 2:30 PM). The cobvoy order will be the following: @Amr A in Second Lead @Nicolò at #3 @Talal H at #4 @Bravoecho in the Center @RiadJL at #6 @lucas amat at #7 @Hani crest king at #8 and @Stumpy in Sweep. First objective is to reach Super Bowl in the shortest possible time, with the most climbs possible while getting there. Then we'll start the exploration of the passage to Faqa, moving through lower and tighter dunes, close to the fenced off protected nature reserve. Finally, if darkness has not fallen yet, we mat proceed to reach Dubai via sand tracks, sabkhas and some low cordons of dunes. Looking forward to a nice start of the weekend.

Dear Desertnauts @Nicolò, @RiadJL, @Hani crest king, @Deepak Eswar, @Abhilash Kottakkal, @lucas amat, @Stumpy and @Amr A, I am thinking that in case we reached Faqa in good time, it would be fun to go back to the city via off-road tracks, for those who wish. Based on the time of daylight or dusk left, we can use the tracks driven by locals and some sabkhas to reach Solar Park. It will not be a proper night drive, as we'll be coming from a few hours of off-roading already, but it would be a fun way to get closer to home than the highway on the eve of a weekend. Let's see ....

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: 2:30 PM (departure time) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/z6CZmajiH6w3byLb6 Action Plan: We'll start with a pilgrimage to all the "star" dunes and bowls from Badayer to Super Bowl, climbing each of them as much as possible, before switching the drive to an exploration for the best route to cross into Faqa, through lower dunes, and a few camel farms. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 07:00 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

@Zak_ we meet here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qcGbNJmeBSkAfsrJ9

Thamk you @Zak_. You'll be Second Lead and Sweep 😅

Hello @zak. Are you still OK to drive even if only with a 2 car convoy? 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: 3:00 PM (departure time) Meeting Point:https://maps.app.goo.gl/qcGbNJmeBSkAfsrJ9 Action Plan: A fast moving pilgrimage to all the star dunes and bowls from Badayer to Area 53 (AKA Ericcson Tower AKA Bezhad Ranch). No plan other than joining the dots, from tall dune to tall dune, climbing as much as possible, before the sunset makes this area's red sand even more on fire. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 07:00 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 @Andrew John Melvill, @Dariush Eghtedari, @Martin Schwaiger, @Talal H, @Vijay Cowlagi, @Matt - monkeywrench, @Nicolò, @Ahmed Wagdy, @Guido Ferriani, @Abdul Hanaan, @Damian @Luke K P and @Frederic, as some of you already know, please come with as full a tank as possible. Search on your navigator for the gas station nearest to the meeting point, based on your place of origin. For sure, coming from Dubai there are very few convenient refuelling stations close by. Thanks and see you this afternoon

Dear Desertnauts almost time for the beginning of the weekend, and for our opening drive. The meeting point, just posted, will be just past an underpass on E95 Nahil Rd.. We'll briefly follow the track, before turning right into the sand, with a plan of reaching a couple of nice bowls and star dunes, on the way to our possible exit along the Sweihan-Al Ain Rd. Not much else to say about the itinerary, other than it should be around 65 Km long, and that as we cross sabkhas and taller dunes we should remain very vigilant, looking to avoid any mud patches, collapsed ridges, and breaks or holes on the dunes' slip-faces. Safety first (in case we'll encounter any of those situations, we'll keep going, speeding up the pace, and using speed as a substitute for other adrenaline-generating passages). The convoy order at the moment should be: @Marek in Second Lead @zak at #3 @lucas amat at #4 @Brett Eicher at #5 and @Hani Howeedy in Sweep. See you all tomorrow, a little before 3:00 PM. Enjoy the end of the week.

Dear Desertnauts Welcome to this Newbia and above drive. First note is for @James Dunlop: as an Absolute Newbie, please make sure you'll have viewed with attention the brifing attached to the drive's post, and below: For all other members ( @Andrew John Melvill, @Dariush Eghtedari, @Martin Schwaiger, @Talal H, @Vijay Cowlagi, @Matt - monkeywrench, @Nicolò, @Ahmed Wagdy, @Guido Ferriani, @Abdul Hanaan, @Damian and @Luke K P), this will (should) be a relaxing afternoon drive. We'll surely feel like we are in a desert (after all, heat is one of deserts' defining conditions), but as we progress into the afternoon, it will get much more comfortable, and we should be able to enjoy a nice sunset. A complete briefing will be given a few minutes into the drive, to familiarize everyone with basic off-roading skills and security guidelines. I will announce the convoy order just before leaving the meeting and deflation point. Please, try to arrive slightly before 3:00 PM, so we may check all the cars' conditions, help with the deflation, and insure a timely departure. Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday afternoon. Enjoy the end of the week.

Thanks @Andrew John Melvill. I will add you. See you on Saturday

Hi @Andrew John Melvill. I can add you to the drive if you wish to confirm you'd like to join. Please let me know. Thanks

We request every member who 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 Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities First time with Carnity Off-road Club: Please share your vehicle details - Make, Model, Color, and Year. Do you have any prior off-road experience? If yes, pls share details. Confirm your vehicle has front and rear tow hooks/eyelets. Advise if you don’t have a programable radio and safety flag. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING Drive Details Level: Newbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 3:00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hz68FrBPfBT2nNm68 Action Plan: A leisurely drive in a perfect location to familiarize oneself with the rudiments of off-roading, or to perfect the skills already acquired. A place usually abundant with wildlife, will give us the opportunity of searching for the oryx herds that inhabit this 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: 7:00 PM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: This drive is limited to 12 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 9AM. 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 back - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned back - 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 below calendar

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: 3:00 PM (departure time) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/h4x8c1nDs37nxiSh8 Action Plan: Another long (but this time not too long) trek from a location between Nahil and Al Ain (known for its livestock farms), to Sweihan (exit TBC) definitely through Nagra and a couple other scenic spots. Looking to enjoy the drive and the sunset on this very diverse area. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 07:00 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

@Luke K P I need to give you the coveted (😉) LRDG sticker. Next drive

@Aser @Sviatoslav @RiadJL @Zak_ @Andrew John Melvill @Batuhan Kulac @Johannes Roux @Julien Recan @Hani Howeedy and @Luke K P (even though you already know the story), for more info about the legendary Long Range Desert Group (formerly Long Range Desert Patrols), please visit Long Range Desert Group - Wikipedia A few notes: Major Bagnold (Ralph Bagnold - Wikipedia) their founder, is also known for studying the dynamic of sand, which explains how dunes and deserts form and "move", as well as he's the "inventor" of tire deflation and dune crossing, discovering the key role of momentum in desert driving. Seems obvious now, but try managing desert crossing in the early 1930's, driving heavy 2-wheel drive cars!! Major Bagnold is also referenced in the movie "The English Patient", as one of the companions of another great desert explorer, Lazlo Almazy. From 1925 to 1935, Bagnold had explored the Great Libyan Desert, 1,100 miles east to west, 1,000 miles north to south, as part of an international group that included the future central character of the novel and film The English Patient, Hungarian Count Laszlo Almasy. “Never in our peacetime travels had we imagined that war could ever reach the enormous empty solitudes of the inner desert, wailed off by sheer distance, lack of water and impassable seas of sand dunes,” Bagnold remembered. “Little did we dream that any of the special equipment and techniques we had evolved for very long distance travel, and for navigation, would ever be put to serious use.” For more, read Nomads of War: The Long Range Desert Group - Warfare History Network

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.