Ale Vallecchi

This drive is organized in full compliance with the COVID19 guidelines. We expect every member that joins this drive to go through below information and and strictly follow these guidelines. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions Ban from Carnity Off-road Club Two Way Radio Guidelines Drive Details Level: Newbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 5.30 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZZLZV5xcjEXpwsp9 Action Plan: There is a stretch of desert, running parallel to E66, from Murqab to Faqa, which offers a challenging terrain, with all kinds of dune formations and occasional sabkhas. We'll make our own way along this route, our own Desert 66, where members' technical skills will be tested, alongside with the need for patience, concentration, and resilience. It will be first time, at Newbie level, on this track. 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: 9:30 AM 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

Dear Desertnauts, I'll fill you in on tomorrow's PM drive in the same way I'd like to manage our long trek: fast !! Meeting point - see below, as well as in the drive's post: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JmktsxXrpfie3SgLA WARNING: the meeting point is a bit tricky to find, when following Google Maps. I'll try to explain better. From Qudra's Last Exit, please take the road to Bab al Shams Resort (first right at the Qudra roundabout, coming from Dubai). Upon reaching the first roundabout, take the second exit, to reach this point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oeXzNh6zySDJZ7Hf9 Once passed the bike track, please reach the meeting point by taking a right dirt track through the sabkha, until you reach a construction camp, where I will be parked. In case of need, please text me on +971.522163122. Planned itinerary - entering from northern Qudra and exiting at Murqab (Inshallah) Meeting time - 3:00PM (not later, please, as we are hoping to cover as much ground as possible, racing against the sunset) Convoy Order - as below: @Lakshmi Narasimhan will be in SL @Nihal17 at #3 @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil #4 @Sunil Mathew at #5 @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ will be Center Forward @Chinthaka Ruwan will follow at #7 @Ashok chaturvedi at #8 @Humayun Ghias will be #9 @Russ #10 @Darren Brooke at #11 @Christian Andras will Sweep the convoy. See you tomorrow, at 3:00 PM. Have a great Friday.

Searching for Water - Drive Report "We can't help being thirsty, walking toward the voice of water" - Rumi Water must be in high demand during this hot and dry summer, as what was expected to be a 12 car convoy, driving around Qudra "Searching for Water", eventually became a 26 car affair. First and foremost, thank you very much @Gaurav, for taking the lead of the second half of the convoy, which made it possible to open the drive to all the many and enthusiastic waitlisted members. It was a pleasure to see @kiranshinde, @Joji varghese, @Savio Fernandes, @Adam James, @Damien Ranjit, @Gilbert Khalil, @Naim Aoun, @munkybizness, @Hilal Sharafudeen, @Richard Franks, @topgear and @varunmehndiratta, and I hope you enjoyed the drive as much as I did. As planned, we launched the drive along the bike track, cutting across central Qudra, exploring first the long range white dunes between the bike track and the pylons, where a great deal of slip faces end on flat surfaces, studded with mud rock formations, remnants of old sedimentary deposits of silt and clay, and testimony of a relatively recent past when surface water was available in this area. Water can still be found at 3 different locations, just north of the bike track: one is a natural set of fresh water pools, fed by a spring just above, the other is a small stream originating from the sand just below a tall dune, and the third is a the "famous" man made crescent shape lake that has recently seen headlines in the local press. North-west of here, just beyond a set of tall dunes and deep sand bowls, and past an area of technical dunes, the presence of water can first be guessed by the presence of numerous trees, feeding themselves with subterranean humidity, and then it becomes manifest with the appearance of a large lake, surrounded by a palm tree plantation. From here on, the terrain is made of the well known and navigated northern Qudra long range dunes, where the 2 more small bodies of water that we found, also in their still natural state, are the preview of the much bigger and landscaped Qudra Lakes. In all we managed to find and drive by 7 lakes or springs, and at the same time managed to quench our thirst for desert driving and exploration. A very well executed drive by all members. @Zixuan Huang - Charlie at SL, @Islam Soliman at CF and @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ executed with precision and care their respective roles, providing an extra feeling of safety and control to a relatively inexperienced convoy. @Mahesh Khatry, @Alexanderrr, @Nibu Venu, @Ferl Brown, @Tom V, @Pieter Potgieter, @Ajit John, @Ramandbx and @Rsjiv Samuel, all drove very well and smoothly, certainly exceeding my expectations, responding with ease to the increased level of difficulty that the drive presented, especially toward the end. The couple of stucks and refusals that occurred in the final part of the itinerary, were likely the product of fatigue and loss of concentration, which is understandable considering the length of the drive. We ended up covering 63.3 Km, in 3:59 hours (including two long stops for briefing and relaxation), at the fast average moving speed of 28 Km/h (16 Km/h total). Thank you all again, from both convoys, for joining our search for water in Qudra's desert. See you all soon out there.

Dear @salah2u, I see you have signed up for this Saturday's afternoon drive. I cannot see your current rank, so I kindly ask you to confirm it, please. As this drive is marked for Fewbie Plus and above, I am afraid you may not be able to join, if you are not Fewbie Plus Thanks for your prompt reply.

Yes @varunmehndiratta (and all drivers) the meeting time is 5:30 AM. The sunrise is at 5:51 AM and light will break at 5:27 AM, so no need to meet too early.

Dear Desertnauts. A few important info about tomorrow's drive. FIRST - Please note the new meeting point is the following: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5nVsM5gJRN6EYMWP8 This is just a couple hundred meters further ahead than the old one, and on the left side of the tarmac (in the direction of Solar Park). The location has been changed due to the ongoing roadworks next to the original meeting point. Once you'll reach, line up according to the arrangement below: CONVOY ONE - with Ale Vallecchi will be made of: @Zixuan Huang - Charlie @Mahesh Khatry @Alexanderrr @Nibu Venu @Ferl Brown @Tom V @Pieter Potgieter @Ajit John @Ramandbx (please confirm) @Rsjiv Samuel, and @Islam Soliman with @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ in support PLEASE LINE UP JUST NEXT TO THE TARMAC, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD (look out for oncoming vehicles while crossing). This convoy will be on Carnity Channel #1 (446.006) CONVOY TWO - With @Gaurav will be made of: @kiranshinde @Joji varghese @Savio Fernandes @Adam James @Damien Ranjit @Gilbert Khalil @Naim Aoun @munkybizness @Hilal Sharafudeen @Richard Franks @topgear, and @varunmehndiratta in support. PLEASE LINE UP TO THE LEFT OF CONVOY 1 (MORE AWAY FROM THE TARMAC) , ALSO ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD (look out for oncoming vehicles while crossing). This convoy will be on Carnity Channel #2 (446.031) Once reached the meeting point, and verified you are with the right convoy, please start deflating. Each convoy will be briefed separately by myself and Gaurav, and we'll move a few minutes apart from each other. The drive will take us in search of water (or remnants of it), first in the southernmost parts of Qudra, south of the bike track, then slowly northward, toward the more technical areas of central Qudra, and eventually west, closer to the Bab al Shams road. We expect to exit at the manmade Qudra Lakes, just next to the Last Exit. We have prepared an itinerary of just under 60 Km, so we'll focus on more open terrain, to practice mostly side sloping, and straight crossing. Looking forward to seeing all of you tomorrow. Enjoy the end of the short week.

Hello @Ramandbx. I am about to close the drive for good. Do you wish to participate, or can I let another member in? Thanks a lot for your prompt reply. Hi @Zixuan Huang - Charlie. I can sign you up if you wish to confirm. Thanks a lot.

Yes, sorry @Joji varghese. My mistake. I will add you as well, if you confirm. Thanks

Dear @Russ, @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil, @Sunil Mathew and @Chinthaka Ruwan the drive is now open. You can add yourselves to the drive. Thanks.

Dear @munkybizness, @Ramandbx, @mkhatry, @Alexanderrr and @kiranshinde if you please confirm I will add you tp tomorrow's drive. Thanks

Dear @Ajit John @mkhatry @Savio Fernandes @Adam James @Gilbert Khalil You have been added to the drive. We will have a double convoy, one of which will be lead by @Gaurav. For the moment @munkybizness, @Ramandbx, @Joji vargheseand @Alexanderrr you will be from #1 to #4 in the waiting list, until the drive will open up again also to "second drives". Thanks to all for your confirmation and participation.

Hi @Pieter Potgieter. I have added you as the 12th driver. @Alexanderrr you are also added to the waiting list. Thanks

So the wait list, based on each member's time of request, at the moment looks like this (considering that precedence will be given to members not already signed up in other drives, this order may be modified to reflect this): @Piotr Kolodziej @munkybizness (2nd drive) @Ramandbx (2nd drive) @Ajit John @mkhatry @Savio Fernandes @Adam James @Joji varghese (3rd drive) @Gilbert Khalil All members who have not confirmed if this is their first or second drive please do so, in order to give the right priority to each. Thanks

Hi @Adam James. Would this be your first or second drive of the weekend? Thanks

Yes @varunmehndiratta, this being a long weekend.

Dear @Pieter Potgieter if this is your only drive of the weekend, I can sign you up, as there is an open spot. Please confirm. Thanks Dear @munkybizness, @Ramandbx, @Ajit John and @mkhatry can you please inform if this would be your only drive of the weekend, or you are already signed up in another drive? Precedence in the waiting list goes to members who still have not signed up in another drive. Thanks.

Dear @Russ, @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil, @Lawrence_Chehimi, @Sunil Mathew and @Chinthaka Ruwan you are all in the Wait List, in the order as above. I am pretty sure you'll all be able to join. Stay ready !! 👍

Dear @Ferl Brown, @Nibu Venu, @kiranshinde, @mkhatry, @AMBATI. In order to move forward with your drives, please follow the instructions below to register with the Club's Whatsapp Notification Number, and to sign-up with your drive of choice: Every Sunday we send two WhatsApp notifications: Morning at 11 AM: Drive plan with all drive details Evening at 7 PM: Drive link with calendar to RSVP All drives calendar will go live at 7 PM, every Sunday, so that everyone gets a fair chance to sign up. Please note that some drives do get filled within a few minutes, so please leave your name in the drive post as a wait list, and trip lead will add your name if anyone drops out. To prevent all drives getting full on Sunday by multiple RSVP. We like to request everyone to pick ONE DRIVE initially and then book your second or third drive on Wednesday onward, please. Sun - Tuesday - Limiting one drive per member Wednesday Onward - RSVP on multiple drives ______________________________________ Please join the Carnity Drive Notification - WhatsApp group for receiving off-road drive notifications. If you are an old member, please verify that you are still part of this WhatsApp broadcast list. P.S. We strictly limit this to drive notifications and critical announcements only.

This drive is organized in full compliance with the COVID19 guidelines. We expect every member that joins this drive to go through below information and strictly follow these guidelines. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions Ban from Carnity Off-road Club Two Way Radio Guidelines Drive Details Level: Fewbie plus and above Meeting time: 3:00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EHRjcHv4SDm6pTbX7 Action Plan: While there have 100 Km challenges at Intermediate level, and occasionally have stretched Fewbie drives to longer ones, this time I'd like to challenge Fewbie Pluses to cover as much ground as possible, crossing from Dubai's Bab al Shams to Sharjah's outskirts of Faqa. We will need to be concentrated at every dune we'll cross, find always the smoother track, minimize and expedite refusals, to cover as much ground as possible, with the goal to equal or better my longest Fewbie drive, of 82Km. 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 Thursday - 9 AM. 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 THE CALENDAR

This drive is organized in full compliance with the COVID19 guidelines. We expect every member that joins this drive to go through below information and and strictly follow these guidelines. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions Ban from Carnity Off-road Club Two Way Radio Guidelines Drive Details Level: Newbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 5.30 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5nVsM5gJRN6EYMWP8 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). 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: 9:30 AM 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

@Bernard Kalaani, @Usman Basit, @Mahmoud ALhamed, it's 5:30AM. We have moved to this point for the briefing: https://maps.app.goo.gl/32GFh82qjioedqZn9 Please reach here before 6AM (follow Google Maps' directions, a couple of Ks from here), if you are on the way. Thanks

@Usman Basitnon worries, we'll provide one for tomorrow. Thanks

Thanks @kiranshinde. Please also inform if you have a radio.