Ale Vallecchi

Hello @Alexander Alcala. Nice to hear from you, and thanks for your message. I totally understand your interest. On one hand, the good news is that it's possible we'll offer a trip like this one at Fewbie level, soon. We found the area has a lot of tracks, made by locals travelling between camel farms, which can make the going easier and more accessible to many more drivers. On the other hand, when we plan these kinds of trips (first ever exploration drives) we usually open them to no less then Intermediates (and more likely Advance drivers), since we may encounter situations that will require a great command of the car and more sophisticated skills (we did encounter a couple of such situations yesterday, which would have proven tricky to Fewbies). In any was, being promoted from Fewbie to Intermediate will only require a bit of time and dedication, which I am sure will be even easier in your case, given your experience. In fact, with our current ranking structure, you can apply for promotion, which will be certainly taken into consideration. Looking forward to meeting you.

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 in order not to jeopardize someone's health, and to ensure we can keep organizing these drives safely. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: BAN POST Two Way Radio Guidelines Every Off-roader brings his own radio, programmed to the frequencies described in below advice topic. We will not share spare radios or program your radio on the drive. If you need assistance in programming the radio, post a topic on the Carnity website with your questions and we will help you out. Make sure your radio is fully charged. It will be your only way of communication while driving. Before buying, please carefully read below advice so you are informed properly on which model / cost / shops... No radio = No drive. It is an essential tool and you should make sure you bring it on every drive and learn/practice how to use it. Drive Details Level: Intermediate and above When: 17 October 2020, Saturday Meeting time: 6:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) ACTION PLAN: A faster paced drive, from Pink Rock to Big Red and beyond, into the kingdom of bowl riding Meeting Point: 2 December Cafeteria https://maps.app.goo.gl/E3cQ1iFYLPkmytnV9 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), face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 10:30 AM THIS IS A COMPRESSOR ONLY DRIVE. WE WILL END THE DRIVE AT A POINT WHICH IS NOT CLOSE TO AN AIR LINE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMPRESSOR, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS DRIVE. IF YOU ARRIVE AND HAVE NO COMPRESSOR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE DRIVE. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 10 Intermediate and above drivers. 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. 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 BELOW 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 strictly follow these guidelines in order not to jeopardize someone's health, and to ensure we can keep organizing these drives safely. MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: BAN POST Two Way Radio Guidelines Every Off-roader brings his own radio, programmed to the frequencies described in below advice topic. We will not share spare radios or program your radio on the drive. If you need assistance in programming the radio, post a topic on the Carnity website with your questions and we will help you out. Make sure your radio is fully charged. It will be your only way of communication while driving. Before buying, please carefully read below advice so you are informed properly on which model / cost / shops... No radio = No drive. It is an essential tool and you should make sure you bring it on every drive and learn/practice how to use it. Drive Details Level: Newbie and Above When: 16 October 2020, Friday. Meeting time: 6:00 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) ACTION PLAN: Navigate around and through some long range dunes, with opportunities for straight crossing and some side sloping. We may cross occasional technical dunes, where more precision and finesse will be required. The pace of the drive will be leisurely. Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/X2wqrqwm1fWTZzpk8 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), face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 10:00 AM THIS IS A COMPRESSOR ONLY DRIVE. WE WILL STARTING AND ENDING THE DRIVE AT THE SAME POINT, WHICH IS NOT CLOSE TO AN AIR LINE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMPRESSOR, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS DRIVE. IF YOU ARRIVE AND HAVE NO COMPRESSOR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE DRIVE. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 12 Newbie and above drivers. 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. 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 BELOW CALENDAR

Congratulazioni @Asif Hussain, Master of Sweihan. Can't wait to drive with you soon.

Middle-Earth: the land in between - Drive report Always with the idea to bring our convoys in less crowded areas, it was impossible not to zero in on that stretch of desert between two often driven Solar Park and Faqa. This is an area that can be reached following the southernmost Qudra bike path, through a set of very technical dunes, and that continues, between sabkhas and long cordons of more or less open dunes, all the way to the boundary with the last phases of Solar Park's project (look for a very tall "chimney" to identify its limit). Initially with quite a lot of vegetation, it then opens up to a 100% sandy desert, presenting occasional feeding stations for gazelles and oryxes, which abound in this area. The drive was designed to introduce @Tbone to his first lead, with me taking the convoy out to the middle of Middle-Earth, and TBone taking over at the beginning of this area's heart (Little Sweihan), to guide the group through its canyons, and the adjacent more open dune field, all the way to the exit point. I must admit that what may have seemed as a daunting task at first (this area can be quite tricky, with an abundance of sand bowls, sharp ridged dunes and some very tight technical sectors) was marvelously overcome and mastered by TBone. With a minimal number of refusals (mostly due to very soft patches of sand), the whole convoy was led in unison, surfing with controlled ease up and down the bowls' walls. My only disappointment with this segment of the drive was not recognizing @Emmanuel and @Kalahari's convoy, which we saw in the distance, coming from Faqa in our opposite direction (sorry guys😊). Absolutely fine performances by all members: @Islam Soliman, @Rajeevan Vickneswaran, @Nabil Bishara, @Heisem, @Ilya Golubinsky, @Jeandre Bezuidenhout and @Gregory Perkin were impeccable, considering the challenging level of the terrain, with @Janarthan smoothly supporting the convoy from the center, and @marksproviding calm advice during all refusals, from the sweeping position. Well done to all, with a special loud applause going to TBone for completing very successfully his first lead!! For the stats' lovers, the drive covered 70.4 KM, driven in 4:13 hours, at an average speed of 17Km/h (25 Km/h while moving). Have a great week, and see you all in the sand soon.

Dear Desertnauts. Ready to explore an area never seen before!? Do not forget to bring along your adventurer's spirit, as we truly do not know what we'll find in this "Sea to Mountain - Part 2". In fact, while Part 1 had already been tested before the actual drive, this second leg of the itinerary has not been driven, ever. So we may either be satisfied with what we find, and be anxious to bring another convoy along, or disappointed, and never think of driving here again. In any case, mystery awaits us. We are not even sure if the meeting point is the right one to enter the desert. We do hope so, but we'll have to check tomorrow morning, after deflating. Our convoy order will be the following: @Wrangeld will take Second Lead position @Yousef Alimadadi at #3 @Jun Zamora at #4 @Pancho will start at #5 @Desert Dweller will be #6 @Najeeb Mohammed at #7 and @Kalahari will Sweep the convoy Upon arrival please tune in to Carnity Channel 2 (446.031). Make sure you arrive with as full a tank as possible, and with all the necessary gear for this driving level. Each car will be responsible for recovering the cars just in front and/or behind, depending on who's in the best position to assist. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning, I wish you a nice Friday evening.

No worries @Biju Abdul. See you next time soon

Dear Carnity explorers. Let's get in the "Middle-Earth" frame of mind by giving out the convoy order. @Tbone will start as my Second Lead @Islam Soliman will occupy his (by now) usual place #3 @Rajeevan Vickneswaran will follow at #4 @Nabil Bishara is going to take position #5 @Heisem will drive in #6 @Janarthan will anchor the convoy at Center Forward @Ilya Golubinsky will follow him at #8 @Biju Abdul will line up at #9 @Jeandre Bezuidenhout with jersey #10 @Gregory Perkin will be starting at #11 @marks will be responsible for closing the convoy's lineup. As mentioned in the drive's preview, we will be facing a variety of terrains. After an initial approach from a sand track, we will enter in this little visited area between South Qudra/Solar Park and Faqa. This area contains sabkhas, technical dunes, as well as longer range, but taller and sometimes tight dunes, which form canyons and bowls, that will test the Fewbie Plus skills. We will be driving mostly to the East: the good thing is that reading the dunes will be easier, as the sun's reflection, that "whites out" depths and perspective, will be mostly at our back, but, at times, the sun may be kissing our faces 😅. Eventually, we'll double back toward the West, until we'll find the exit track toward Solar Park, where our drive will end. Upon reaching the meeting and deflation point, please tune into Carnity Channel 2 (446.031). Please keep in mind that the meeting point is along the dirt road, just past the Solar Innovation Center (the "crystal pyramid"), going further in toward the West. Enjoy the end of the week, and see you tomorrow.

Hi @Tamas Hoffmann. Understood. See you next time. Have a good flight. Hi @David Ortells. Sorry to hear that. Hope to see you next time.

Thanks @Nivin. Hope to see you again soon.

Hello @David Ortells. You are IN this Friday's drive. Please confirm. See you soon. Dear @Rajeevan Vickneswaran you are also IN this Friday AM drive. Please re-confirm. See you soon.

Very well done @sertac. I was impressed by your lead in the last Leaders Lead drive. You will do great in your new position. Enjoy it!!

Hurra @Brette !! Well done, with hard work and perseverance. Looking forward to your drives as Leader.

Very well done @Najeeb Mohammed. You have progressed tremendously. Glad to have you Saturday for the Exploration drive, to celebrate your new rank.

Dear Desertnauts, A few words about this exploration drive planned for next Saturday. Few words is all that I can use, since I have never been in this area at all. The idea to develop a "Sea to Mountain" route came to me after driving the first portion of this itinerary (before joining Carnity). That drive seemed nice at the time, and indeed it still is extremely interesting, even though the vegetation in the area has exploded since more than 1 year ago, changing the look and feel of the area. That first route was then tested a few weeks ago, and driven by an Intermediate convoy less than a month ago. We managed to go from the seaside (next to Barracuda Resort) to almost E611 (even though the access has been sealed off since 2019, and we had to exit back on E311). Hence, the second leg of the "Sea to Mountain" starts where we left off, at the end of E611, heading in an easterly direction, toward the foothills of the Ajar Mountains. The area we wish to explore, roughly from the entrance of the new Ritz-Carlton Resort to the industrial outskirts of Al Ghail town, is relatively large, and is criss-crossed by several tracks, leading in and out of it, connecting what seem to be farms with the major tarmac roads surrounding the area. Other than this generic information, there is nothing else that I can add: from satellite maps the area seems to be made of rather clean dunes (not much vegetation, apparently), but we know that with the latest cloud-seeding this may have changed quite dramatically. In spite of not having done a test drive in this area, and knowing that Part 1 of this route was quite challenging, we have chosen to open the drive to Intermediates (rather than Advance) drivers. This is to give all of you the opportunity to experience the double-edged sword of an "absolute first" drive, where the excitement of the exploration may be balanced by the disappointment of finding the area not as exciting as initially expected. Nonetheless, as for Part 1 of this RAK double route, all off-roading skills will be tested (finesse and control in particular), and at the end of the drive each should have gained a little more experience and knowledge about themselves, their relationship with their car, and the nature in which we'll be driving. The only thing that I'd like to advise, due to the unknown nature of the terrain and the obstacles we'll face during the drive, is to limit the number of passengers as much as possible, so that all the driver's concentration may be directed to the track in front of each car. Please advise if you plan to bring more than 1 passenger along. @Pancho, @Yousef Alimadadi, @Najeeb Mohammed, @Desert Dweller, @Nivin, @Jun Zamora, @Wrangeld, @Jeepie and @Kalahari, you will receive more info on Friday. In the meantime, have a great week.

Dear Desertnauts. Time to present next Friday AM's Fewbie PLUS drive. First of all, just to further clarify the meaning of this unofficial rank, Fewbie Plus refers to those Fewbie drivers who have had more than 5 drives at this level with Carnity. This sub-category intends to offer drives at a level between Fewbie and Intermediate, with a few more challenges, in order to provide an opportunity to hone one's skills toward a future promotion. Consequently the Fewbie Plus drives will be be conducted on more difficult terrains, at higher speed, and will require more refined skills, that should have been developed during the first Fewbie drives. This drive in particular will venture in what I have called the "Middle-Earth", the land in between Solar Park and Faqa, where one can find a mix of quite technical dunes, long range dune formations and sand canyons, each separated by wide open sabkhas. This combination of terrains will require all kinds of driving skills, from the finesse required to navigate technical dunes, to the momentum, and sometimes the power, needed to sustain going in and out of sand bowls, or side-crossing relatively taller and sharper dunes. As drives normally focus on either Solar Park, Faqa or Little Sweihan, this time we wish to explore also what's in between, that is otherwise skipped on the way to or from these locations. @Janarthan, @Jeandre Bezuidenhout, @Heisem, @Ilya Golubinsky, @Biju Abdul, @Gregory Perkin, @marks, @Tamas Hoffmann, @Islam Soliman , @Nabil Bishara and @Tbone thank for joining the trip. I will share more info closer to Friday morning. In the meantime, enjoy your week.

Dear @siddharth maheshwari. I thank you for signing up. However, upon checking your number of drives at Fewbie level, it turns out that you have not completed the required minimum 5 Fewbie drives. Therefore I will have to exclude you from this drive, which, as you can see from the announcement, is limited to Fewbies Plus (as defined by the min. 5 drives requirement). I am sorry for this inconvenience, which is however to insure the safety of each drive, based on the level of difficulty that the convoy is expected to meet. I hope to see you soon on another open drive. @Nabil Bishara, I am adding you to the drive's list. See you on Friday.

@Rajeevan Vickneswaran you have been added on the WL. Thanks a lot.

Hello @David Ortells. You will be #2 on the WL, until I clear the matter of Nabil's precedence to take the drive's last available spot. Thanks a lot.

Dear @jodha singh shekhawat I meant 5 Fewbie drives alone, not counting the Newbie drives. From Fewbie drive #6 (included) it's possible to register for Fewbie Plus. Even though this is an unofficial rank, some drives are reserved for more advanced Fewbies, due to the more difficult nature of the itinerary. I am truely sorry for this inconvenience, and will be happy to see you in the next open drive.

Yes @Nabil Bishara. I will sort it out. Do not worry. Will confirm to you ASAP. Thanks for your patience.

Hello @Nabil Bishara. You are #1 on the WL.

Hello @Islam Soliman. I see you found your way into the drive after a spot opened. Thanks for joining. See you Friday.