Ale Vallecchi

MUST READ AND COMPLY Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 7:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/aeqCoTn97u8ZbjZv7 Action Plan: As summer approaches, most drives are moved up earlier and earlier in the morning, to make sure that drivers and (most of all) cars avoid the summer heat. Personally, I have always been fascinated, and loved, the desert's extreme conditions, heat being one of them. I truly feel like I am in the desert when it is windy, dusty, and most of all HOT. For those of you who share the love for extreme conditions, this will be the perfect drive. Temperature at 6:00 AM, on average, are presently around 28 degrees, rising to 38-39 around 11:00 AM, with a gradient that should still allow a reasonably normal drive. Of course, we'll have to manage our driving style to fit the conditions of the sand and avoid overheating. The area where we'll be driving is quite mixed, with nice bowls, long range dunes, some technical patches, and very few sabkhas. Not always, in the course of explorations or expeditions one can drive in the comfort of cool weather, so this drive may be a good challenge and opportunity for those who may be thinking of experiencing long-range drives. If you like it hot, you should be joining. 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: 11:00 AM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 10 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Wednesday - 5 PM. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list. 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

MUST READ AND COMPLY Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Fewbie Plus and above (all levels) Meeting time: 3:00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Nahil Deflation Point https://maps.app.goo.gl/etEMS1sU4Y9y3Cvi6 Action Plan: Last month I had found the deserts in and around Dubai and Sharjah transformed into gardens, or even jungles, covered with grass and bushes that made driving quite challenging, in a non-fun way. So, I set up a weekday drive to explore and find real sand in the Sweihan area., And indeed, fresh, clean, sand we found. This time, the goal will be to trace back the track driven the last time, from Nahil to Nagrah Dune, and beyond all the way to our planned exit along E16. Once more, as with most of my drives, the goal will be to cross as much terrain as possible, aiming for famous off-roading landmarks, but mostly searching for clean tracks, less travelled sets of dunes, and cover as much ground as possible. The previous drive saw a short 3-car convoy take the sand, while this time hopefully a longer convoy will make the drive more challenging. 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: Limited to 10 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Wednesday - 5 PM. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list. 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

Dear @Pavel Pashkovskiy, dear @Ahmad Nerat, thank you for your kind gesture to let @Rk ram in the drive. Upon reflecting about it, I prefer to keep the convoy at its present size, since I only have 1 Support Team member to assist, and 14 cars would make it a bit too long, in my opinion, to insure a smooth and seamless management of the drive. So, @Rk ram, you're in, taking the spot generously left open by Pavel (and Ahmad, after Pavel). I look forward to driving with all 3 of you guys together at the next available opportunity.

Dear Desertnauts couple more things about the drive tomorrow. Please reach the meeting point a little before 3:00 PM, so we can enjoy a timely start. You may refuel at Qudra Last Exit's ADNOC station. Carry some refreshments, as you please, as we'll try to have a last stop just before sunset, somewhere around the last traces of our Zarzora "lost oasis". The convoy order will be as follows: @Senthil Kumar in Second Lead @Gautam Banka at #3 @Cristian at #4 @Marketa Dobesova in place #5 @Pavel Pashkovskiy at #6 @Pacific in the Center @PETELCZYC PAJERO - luke at #8 @Juan R #9 @Zubair at #10 @george charbel #11, and @Amr Aydin in Sweep. We'll be communicating on Carnity Channel #2 (446.031). Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow afternoon.

MORE ABOUT ZARZORA Possible location of Zarzora, in Egypt's Gilf el Kebir plateau, as identified by Count Almazy and the Long Range Desert Patrol's explorations Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/yggikaYoqQofZyd96

Dear Desertnauts @Senthil Kumar @Gautam Banka @Cristian @Marketa Dobesova @Pavel Pashkovskiy @Pacific @PETELCZYC PAJERO - luke @Juan R @Zubair @george charbel @Amr Aydin The meeting and deflation point has been posted, as below: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/WPggnLH2weo54A637 Worthy of note is the fact that there is a Lake of rainwater obstructing the usual entrance to the track. Do not attempt to cross it: just stop at the posted position and start deflating. Some of you know it from last week. Do not think the drive will be the same: we'll reach the pylon track (as last week) and then we'll divert in search of Zarzora !! Final drive's briefing to follow ASAP. MORE ABOUT ZARZORA There are myths and legends about a lost ancient oasis hidden in the Sahara Desert. Its name is Zerzura and it's supposed to be located somewhere deep in the desert west of the Nile River in Egypt or Libya. An anonymous 15th-century Arabic treasure seekers guide, "Kitab al Kdnuz" (The Book of Hidden Pearls) describes Zerzura as..... see below https://www.ancientpages.com/2020/06/10/zerzura-lost-ancient-sahara-oasis-guarded-black-giants/ Could it be looking like this? (Mandara Lakes, in the Libyan Fezzan region)

Yes @Jona, for @Krishna R's benefit, I confirm that one is the gas station where you may refuel. See you later.

Dear @Jona dear @Krishna R, just a few words, first to confirm that the drive is still on, even with a super short convoy. It should be quite a fast paced one. Please note that you may refuel at Sweihan's ADNOC station, opposite the wedding hall. The meeting point is on the other side of the road from Sweihan, so be careful to take the right turn-off. We'll decide the convoy order on the spot, with plenty of opportunities to switch positions. See you all tomorrow. Have a great night.

MUST READ AND COMPLY Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 3.00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/WPggnLH2weo54A637 Action Plan: Zarzora was long rumored to have existed deep in the desert west of the Nile River between Egypt and Libya. In writings dating back to the 13th century, the authors spoke of a city which was "white as a dove" and called it "The Oasis of Little Birds" (the meaning of Zarzora). The first European reference to Zarzora is in an 1835 account: the Oasis called "Wadee Zarzoora" abounded "in palms, with springs, and some ruins of uncertain date". The legend persists still to this date: just before WW2 several European explorers, such as the legendary Bagnold, Almazy and Clayton, made forays into the desert in search of Zarzora, but never succeeded in finding it. We will keep looking for it, although in a different part of the desert. Who says we will not be able to run into the fabled remnants of date plantations and ruins of uncertain date? 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: Limited to 10 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Wednesday - 5 PM. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list. 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

MUST READ AND COMPLY Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Fewbie Plus and above (all levels) Meeting time: 3:00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/wwXtQPfQGK8hDd776 Action Plan: With great personal surprise, after a couple of weeks of absence, I have found the deserts in and around Dunai and Sharjah incredibly rich with vegetation. Sometimes jungle, sometimes gardens and lawns, most of the sand seems to have recently been covered by greenery. So, it seems appropriate to go searching for some sand, hoping to find it in the Sweihan area, The goal will be to meet along E16, head toward Nagra, drive past it and on to Nahil, to hopefully reach, if all goes well, an exit somewhere either on E95 and E20. Once more, as with most of my drives, the goal will be to cross as much terrain as possible, aiming for famous off-roading landmarks, but mostly searching for clean tracks, less travelled sets of dunes, and cover as much ground as possible. 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: Limited to 8 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Wednesday - 5 PM. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list. 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

Day 8 - Tabuk - Tayma via The Red Sea at Al Humidah (673 Km) Excited and energized by the exhilarating off roading of the day, over dinner we started toying with the idea of extending the trip to the ultimate arrival point: a small village on the Red Sea, just a few kilometers south of the Jordanian border. This would materialize a true "coast to coast", from the shores of the Arabian Gulf to the beaches of the Gulf of Aqaba. Unplanned, thus even more satisfying. It would take a detour of around 150 Km round trip, on Road 394, after a couple more hours of off-roading needed to reach the tarmac from our campsite, inside the Tabuk red sands. After waking up at the entrance of the canyon where we slept, we took a short trip to explore its depths. The gorge got tighter and tighter, with the red walls closing in above our head. About halfway through its length a bottleneck blocked the passage of the car, but a few steps beyond the gap the tunnel fanned out, ending up in a small oasis, full of trees and flowers, reachable by car from an entrance on the opposite side. After less than an hour enjoying the coolness of this miniature paradise, we finally decided to head to the coast. Off we went, to the Red Sea. A long climb took us to the top of the plateau on which, further to the south, one of the Neom project's landmarks will soon be developed (Trojena, on the slopes of Jabel al Lawz). From there a gentle descent took us to the rim of the mountainous area, and as soon as the road begun to descend more steeply, it revealed, firstly through the haze, then clearer and clearer the blue stripe of the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, and the dark cliffs of the Sinai Peninsula, just a few kilometers beyond. At the end of the road laid the small village of Al Humidah: going right we would reach the Jordan border (just 38 Km away), while going left we would follow the coast, all the way to the southern tip of the gulf. Left we went, to reach a rocky and sandy beach, where we enjoyed a quick lunch, feet in the water. The stop was more symbolic than anything else, but it really gave us a sense of accomplishment. Going back home would entail driving a direct distance of 2,485 kilometers. With this daunting task in mind, we started to head back to the initially intended rest area for the night, in the town of Tayma, which we would reach just after dusk. As memories of this so far fantastic trip started to flood back, we happily turned around, heading for the center of the Arab peninsula, and to our final destination, back home.

Dear Desertnauts in preparation for tomorrow's drive, please notice the meeting point, posted here ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/SmfJjJBJSjvqWtHK6 ) and in the drive's main post. So, be careful, as I have decided to start the drive in the Qudra area, and not quite in Solar Park, as initially thought. The difference is minimal, since you still need to reach Qudra's ADNOC and The Last Exit area, before moving on to the meeting point. You can reach it, after having refueled at Qudra's ADNOC station, by taking the road to Bab al Shams, passing 2 roundabouts, continuing straight, and turning back toward Qudra at the third roundabout (where you'll see an ambulance parking spot to the right, and a mosque just beyond the roundabout). Shortly after the U-turn at the roundabout, make a right across the open barrier, and pass the bike track, again toward the right. From here we'll head down to a sand track that will take us to the first "sabkha", where we'll begin our search for water !! The convoy order will be the following: @Ahmed Wagdy in Second Lead @Emmanuelle Ifrah in place #3 @Pavel Pashkovskiy at #4 @Sami Sleiman at #5 @Marketa Dobesova at #6 and @DP1011 in Sweep. I'll give a more detailed briefing (especially for the benefit of the Newbie drivers) just before leaving. As soon as we arrive. we can start deflating, so we can guarantee a timely departure. The Carnity radio channel to be used will be #2 (446.031). Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow afternoon.

Dear @Emmanuelle Ifrah thanks for the info. We can look into the deflation issue together, based on the type of tires you mount. Don't worry. I am going to post the last drive's info next. See you tomorrow.

Dear @Emmanuelle Ifrah, welcome to the Club and the drive. I will post the meeting point ASAP, on the drive' post's main page. I will re-confirm it when I'll send all the drivers a final brief. I can see that both @Frederic and @DP1011 have provided the necessary links, info and comments (thanks a lot guys!) to get you ready for the drive. Please, read carefully. I'll also give you another briefing prior to starting the drive. See you tomorrow afternoon.

Day 7: Wadi Deesah - Tabuk (419 Km) By far, the most spectacular day, with the most astonishing views (that no photo can encapsulate), and with the most off-roading of the whole trip. After leaving our shelter, in the farmstead at the entrance of Wadi Deesah, we had the pleasure of taking our breakfast under a sunny sky, in a small palm grove just on the side of an imperceptible sand knoll, between the red canyon's walls, surrounded by oleander flowers, chirping birds (and the occasional bleating goat). Omelette and coffee, brewed with our faithful Bialetti moka, put us in the right mood to start the day, blessed by yet another crossing (the third) of the fantastic wadi, to finally exit on a narrow road, climbing the heights of the plateau that divided us from the Tabuk plain. In the outskirts of Tabuk we did the last shopping of fresh eggs and drinking water, before heading West, along Road 8784. Just before reaching the village of Bajdah we turned right into the sand and tried to proceed undeflated (as we had managed to do most of the time, so far, on the wadis floors and on the hard, rain packed sand) only to discover a super soft, almost powdery yellow sand, that got us stuck, and demanded deflating to not more than 11 Psi. From here, first stop the so called "Two Arches", a pair of rock arches on top of each other, at the top of a short climb, through which an immense expanse of red rocks, strewn on yellow, red and white sand, opened up as if from a spaceship's viewing deck. We had a quick lunch at the bottom of the Two Arches, on their wind protected side. With that done, we begun an exhilarating cavalcade on the vast plains, into a red sand canyon snaking its way through a vast plateau, then out again around succeeding sets of very tall slip-faces, each hugging the side of one of the plateaus that seemed to come at us, one after another, separated by white, very flat, mud-cracked plains, lurking past the hard-faces of each giant dune. Safety required that we drove our way around these huge dunes, and yet this took nothing away from the thrill of the drive. Occasionally we managed to drive the ridges of fatter, flatter dunes, descending sharply from them onto the mud-cracked plains. After four hours of this marvelous adventure, we found a magic site to camp, just at the entrance of a deep, very narrow canyon, protected from the wind by the warm sides of a red cliff, and still with a perfect sunset view, through the canyon's entrance, looking onto a dune to the west. With a sense of wander and awe, we cooked, chatted, and prepared to go to bed under the stars, in the deep, deafening silence that only the desert can offer.

MUST READ AND COMPLY Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Newbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 3.00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/SmfJjJBJSjvqWtHK6 Action Plan: We'll drive from Solar Park's tarmac road toward the Bab al Shams's road, crossing the southern Qudra area, in search of .... water, that is either the remnants of its presence, or the still active and maintained water springs and lakes that characterize this part of Dubai's desert (not the well known, "touristy" ones, but the truly natural bodies of water, springing and flowing amidst the sand). We'll cross all sorts of dunes, tall and low, open and tight, mostly in a south to north direction, working on our side-sloping and dune crossing (mostly straight, with first rudiments of easy criss-crossing, when possible, with absolute safety). I will have a Geologist with me in the car, who will point out the causes, and/or the significance, of the phenomena linked with the past and present water bodies that we'll see during our drive. 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: Limited to 12 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Wednesday - 5 PM. If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list. 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

Day 6: Al Ula - Wadi Deesah (263 Km.) After waking up in The Tent with a View, we headed further North-West, toward Tabuk province, with the goal of reaching a fabulous wadi, located just past the small village of Al Deesah. The two-lane road climbs a plateau, on very uneven surface. From its top, as the road descends, a dramatic scenery unveils one turn at the time: successive mountain ridges outlined against the light, fronted by a wide wadi dotted with savannah-like vegetation, and a thin, low lying, layer of dust, lifted by the blowing winds. A stunning, wild view, of a prehistoric, scorched land awaits us at the bottom of the plateau. At the bottom, we follow wide riverbeds, cross a few patches of sand, and finally reach the last of the canyons, before its ending just at the beginning of a narrow opening, from which palms trees and flowered bushes loom colorfully. That's where the tarmac turns into gravelly sand, and the track dives deep into the canyon, with walls getting closer and closer. It's a scene from Jurassic Park, or Indiana Jones, with the scenery that changes at every turn of the road, alternating palm groves with reed fields and pink oleanders. The surface of the track goes from wet gravel to soft dry sand patches, to water filled pools and narrow lanes. The wall of the canyon, orange red in the sunset light, open up just before closing in again, at some points forcing the car into narrow tunnels, almost completely covered overhead by protruding rocks. While one could expect a small dinosaur to pop out of the papyrus at any moment, we only manage to encounter the occasional goat herd. At the end of the Wadi, the road opens up into a much wider riverbed, quite rocky and devoid of vegetation. At this point we turn around, trace our tracks back to the village of Deesah through the magic tunnel, that manages to show yet another version of itself, thanks to the light striking from the opposite angle as before, thus changing all the previously soft hues into sharp contrasts. As the clouds started to fill the sky again, and raindrops started to fall, we decided not to camp, and found refuge in a local farmhouse, where locals usually rent 2 spacious rooms to stranded (or lazy) travelers. With that, we ended a very relaxing day, filled with the memory of this primitive yet exotic wadi still very vivid.

Day 5 - Al Ula Exploration (114 Km.) As one of Saudi's most developed tourist destinations, with direct flights reaching it twice a week from Dubai, it'll be much easier to find a commentary on Al Ula's beauties, natural, archeological and architectural, on guidebooks, or traveler's blogs. I'n terms of off-roading, Al Ula is no longer the "free for all" paradise that apparently was until just a few years back, as most of the areas surrounding the old town, the archeological sites and many of its monumental rock formations and canyons are now fenced off. Therefore, our day was spent mostly visiting the UNESCO Heritage Site of Hegra, with its Nabatean tombs, and the ancient city, which is the twin sister of Petra, in neighboring Jordan. We enjoyed a relaxing lunch in the gorgeous Habitas Hotel, splendidly located in the secluded Ashar Valley, with a guarded access, where 3 luxury facilities are nested between the red canyons. The afternoon went quickly by, with a very leisurely off-road drive dedicated to finding a nice camping spot in one of the canyons north of Al Ula. The whole area is an amazing labyrinth of red rock cliffs, made of extremely weathered and oxidized sandstone, with honeycombed walls, where the alternation of wind and rain erosion has carved niches and ledges alternating throughout their length. Wadis, mostly dry in spite of the recent heavy rains, have cut their way through the rocks, while the winds have created dunes on the windward side of the canyons. We finally decided to stop on one of these dunes, overlooking a small "oasis" at its bottom, the wadi just beyond, and the opposite walls of the canyon starting to glow red from the sunset's light. An idyllic campsite, where we took all the time we needed to stretch, relax, set up camp, and prepare a light but succulent dinner, next to a crackling campfire. A most relaxing day indeed.

Thank you @Frederic for the great idea. It'll keep all of us at Carnity motivated and curious, as well as providing an even greater sense of community. I am greatly honored to be "inducted" into 2 categories for this term. I always have fun planning the drives and will take up the challenge of being even more creative in the future. Congrats to my fellow inductees @Bjoern, @Tharun Kumar V, @Santoso Marjuki, @JeromeFJ, @Davie Chase, @DP1011, and @Benjamin . Well done to all !!!

First of all, yes ..... I am still alive. Simply, I had not expected to have such hectic days, so packed, and going through relatively remote areas, that I would not have time to recount the events of the day. Now that I am finally back, I have the time to relive, with you, the highlights of the past days. Day 4 - Al Hait - Al Ula (537 Km) A sunny start of the day saw us driving across a huge field of lava stones, clearly announcing the approaching of a significant group of volcanoes, strung along a semi-circle, just a few kilometers off a secondary road to Al Ula. As the stones turned to gravel, under the effect of prolonged erosion, the plains at the foot of this ring of volcanoes revealed itself, reddish black as the color of lava, and stunningly green as the color of the thin grass that carpeted the valley, after the heavy rains. After a coffee break on the lush yet barren plain, we launched on a 60 Km. off-road exploration of the volcanos. As we were driving in a clockwise direction around the edges of what appeared as different lava flows, we realized that the lava was actually all part of a giant eruption, that may have lasted years, if not decades, coming from the tall black volcano looming to our right. The goal was to reach and climb the most "advertised" site in this area, the so called "White Mountain", which we reached just as the black crusts of lava ended at its base. It was indeed a whiteish looking mountain, with a flat top, and no lava whatsoever either on its slopes or near its base. As we climbed to the top of the plateau, we actually landed on the rim of what appeared as a volcanic crater, with a small hilly outcrop at its center. The color of the rocks was white with pink hues, in stark contrast with the black mountains surrounding this site. A closer, even though hasty, analysis of the mountain's material and layout of its visible layers, completely devoid of any volcanic origin, led to the conclusion that this must have actually been an impact crater, pre-dating the volcanic activity which laid at its feet, in relatively more recent times, the huge lava field we had just crossed, originated from the huge black volcano. Done with the geological survey, we proceeded to complete the drive of the entire rim of this incredible White Mountain, drawing a perfectly circular track on the map, before descending its slopes, and crossing, once again, the huge black lava field. Just before exiting on the original dirt track, we detoured toward a gap between two tall hills, where we found a beautiful herd of black camels enjoying the fresh green grass, pasturing on the rims of another beautiful, smaller, crater, hidden from the view from below. Another spectacular site, with an unspoiled, almost pre-historic look and feel. Back on the main road, just in time to avoid yet another burst of rainfall, we headed toward Al Ula, a couple hundred kilometers away. After refueling, having noticed the first signs of the red, boulder shaped, outcrops that have made this area famous (actually, common to a great deal of the vast expanse from here to Wadi Rum in Jordan), we detoured, to enter one of its canyons, beginning what turned out to be almost 100 Kms of off roading, along the wadis and small valleys separating the broken massif. Having spent the last part of the afternoon off-roading just south-east of Al Ula, we reached our destination well after sunset. Another day full of surprises, the highlight of which (and with hindsight, perhaps of the whole trip) was the huge black volcano's immense lava flow spreading its wings and hugging the base of the incredible White Mountain. An unreal testimonial of ancient times of upheaval and dramatic change, and a stunning reminder of Mother Earth's immense power.