Ale Vallecchi

Dear Desertnauts a few appetizing bits before this Sunday's raid on Sauron's kingdom. As every well-fortified location, Dubai's Solar Tower (aka Eye of Sauron) stands surrounded by tricky terrain, meant to cause difficulties and hardship to any who wishes to approach its walls (in this case, metal fences). In this case, as we'll get closer to the blazing tower, we should expect to find closer and closer sets of dunes, with relatively low ridges, but quite sharp descents into soft sand bowls, that will require skills to exit, navigate and cross. This is the terrain where our Master Desert Sorcerer @Gaurav tests the leading (and following) abilities of future Carnity Leaders. All have returned from this mysterious and magic land, but most still remember it as one of the more tasting experiences of their off-roading lives. Hence, we'll take it with an increasingly challenging approach, by starting in Faqa Town, to warm up while navigating its long-range open dunes, until we'll descend from Faqa Plateau into the sabkha just south of the Eye of Sauron's first ramparts, and from there we'll circle the fortress in a counterclockwise direction, first toward the north, then toward Lisaili's central area. The patch between the sabkha and the Lisaili central segment will be our testing ground. As far as the meeting place is concerned, please take the Faqa Exit, where it also indicates the local Police Station, then immediately make a right on the tarmac (as if going back to Dubai), and follow the road almost to its end, to where the meeting place has been set. The convoy will line up as follows: @Gregory in Second Lead @DanielN at #3 @Krishna R at #4 @Ahmad Nerat #5 @Bashar Beasha at #6 @Pieter Potgieter at #7, and @salah2u in Sweep. The Carnity Radio Channel we'll be using is #2 (446031). Looking forward to seeing all of you this coming Sunday. In the meantime, enjoy the end of the week.

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the below information and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquettes and responsibilities. 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 When: 5 February 2023, Sunday Meeting time: 7:30 AM - Sharp (Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/U1GKp1vQpbCmaVU47 Action Plan: Most visitors to Dubai deserts have noticed the tall tower dominating the landscape, from Qudra to Lisaili, from Murqab to Faqa. Occasionally, more often recently, the tower shines at the top, with a bright, blinding white light, reflecting its glow on the nearby clouds. We'll use this beacon as our landmark for the drive. Approaching Dubai's "Eye of Sauron" from Faqa's side, getting close to it with a westerly loop, then around it, all the way to Solar Park via Lisaili. This last segment in particular will be most treacherous. The quadrant just above the Eye of Sauron has become infamous during Carnity's Leaders Lead training sessions, as "the" place to test a leader (and his/her followers) ability to navigate tight dunes, plunging into soft bowls and emerging from them with a combination of finesse driving and engine power, requiring excellent control of one's car, and good skills in ridge riding and criss-crossing. This will be the place where the "Eye of Sauron" will try to scare and hypnotize the convoy, which will nonetheless manage, somehow, to escape its grasp 😉. Approximate finish time: 11:30 AM 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, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Mandatory off-road gears: Tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Thursday - 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 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 CALENDAR

Blind Date: No Maps Drive - Drive Report "Today, let us swim wildly, joyously in gratitude" - Rumi Let's start the report by being joyously grateful that @Vanessa8580 escaped a roll-over healthy and in one piece, with no bruises other than on her X-Terra's body. The accident, clearly shown by the Second Lead's on-board camera, was a freak one, that could have happened to anybody. Its dynamic was the same as that of a tire bursting on tarmac, with the X-Terra having a pop-out upon reaching the flat top of a tall dune, and pivoting on the damaged wheel, spinning once, twisting 180 degrees, and landing on its right side, facing backward. The pop-out must have been caused by an irregularity on the hard, almost cement like, and corrugated surface at the top of the dune, resulting from the 4 days of rainfall that preceded the drive. The guys in Convoy #2 can refine this reconstruction, having seen the accident in person. When Convoy #1 arrived at the scene, having seen it from the opposite ridge, we found Vanessa recovering her composure, with @Islam Soliman and @Lawrence_Chehimi, well assisted by the rest of the drivers, intent in studying and preparing the recovery. As the car was resting on its right side, leaning away from the wide ridge, toward a bowl on what would have been the slip-face, it was suggested and agreed that to bring back the car on its 4 wheels the tug should be given from the tall dune's hard face, and from its bottom (tugging away from the rim of the ridge would have risked the pulling car to slip down the slope, and getting stuck without any more traction to either get back up, or to complete the job). Another concerted decision was to use towing ropes, in place of the kinetic ones, linked together in a number sufficient to reach the towing car almost at the bottom of the hard face: the intent was to make sure the tension would be continuous, and avoid that the ropes give some slack while the X-Terra was being pulled to the ground. Finally, a third decision was also to anchor the X-Terra from its back side, which was leaning heavily toward the slip-face's bowl below, to make sure the pull would be even, and no slipping down toward gravity would take place. With all this orderly arranged and put into place by the whole convoy, Islam proceeded to tug, while @Dodi Syahdar provided the anchor, resulting in an almost effortless recovery of Vanessa's X-Terra to its 4-wheel position. A second tug ensued, to bring the dead weight of the car from its slightly inclined resting place (leaning toward the slip-face's bowl) back onto the flat surface available at the top of the ridge, with the goal of fixing the pop-out that caused the incident in the first place. This took place from the front, courtesy of Dodi's, with Islam's anchoring the car from behind. With the pop out rapidly fixed, all that was left to do, while Vanessa finished to recover her poise, was to scout a track, unobstructed by dunes, that would allow Islam to tow the car out to the location of our starting point, next to Murqab's mosque. Towing the car's dead weight became unavoidable, as after waiting sufficient time to make sure it was possible to try and turn on the engine again, this stalled and did not give signs of being able to function at all. Luckily, the whole thing had taken place with an easily accessible sabkha in sight, and it was not difficult to find a local's sand track leading out to Murqab's mosque. @Islam Soliman, @Lawrence_Chehimi, @Ahmad Nerat, @Yaseen87, @Krishna R, @Murtaza Bhuria, @Sebb, @Andrei S, @Shahid Mehmood and @Naim Aoun from Convoy #2 (especially those driving closer to Vanessa) are welcome to add to this reconstruction with any observation they find would be useful to understand the incident's dynamic, and to work as educational material for any future reference, in similar cases. Once the situation was back under control, Convoy #1 continued the blind drive, using all visual landmarks in sight, to eventually reach its final destination. From Murqab's sabkha we moved in a north-easterly direction, crossing a technical area, toward the sabkhas between Margham and Lisaili, and from there first toward the pylons to the west, and eventually to the south-west, keeping the Solar Tower (a.k.a The Chimney) to the south of the convoy, a group of trees located amidst a well know technical area just to the left of the convoy, and aiming at a gap between the pylons and the Innovation Center's "pyramid" often visible from the higher positions. It was a phenomenally fun drive, with all drivers behaving greatly, and enjoying the compact sand, that allowed to ride on ridges for extended periods, as well as lots of criss-crossing. Having reached the "Three Trees" exit, at the roundabout between Solar Park and Qudra, the convoy was partially extended, with @Ishak, @Gary F, @Sunil Mathew and @Frans M continuing with me toward the Qudra's exit, still "blind", while @Jaro Tuzinsky, @Stan, @Bravoecho, @Abdul Basit Khan, @Adam James, @Stumpy Paj and @Dodi Syahdar ending the drive as scheduled. Altogether, including the Qudra extension, the drive covered 74.3 Km (more likely 70, as a few Kms were driven by me to scout Islam's exit route), completed in 2:25 hours of driving time (with 4:28 hours in total), at an average moving speed of 31 Km/h (and 17 Km/h total average). Thanks to @Jaro Tuzinsky for the Second Lead, to @Sunil Mathew for anchoring, and to @Dodi Syahdar for sweeping, as well as thanks to the whole Convoy #2 for coming to the rescue of Vanessa's, ensuring that she was unharmed, and making the X-Terra's recovery a safe and successful one. @Vanessa8580's generosity, enthusiasm and competence will be missed while the X-Terra is brought back to its original condition, while I am sure that she will be looking forward to getting back in the saddle as soon as possible, unshaken by the knowledge that this unfortunate incident could have happened to anybody, and it was certainly not due to any "mistake" on her part, but rather to an invisible glitch in sand caused by the unusual 4 days of rainfall.

Dear Desertnauts: @Jaro Tuzinsky, @Gary F, @Sunil Mathew, @Abdul Basit Khan, @Stumpy Paj, @Ishak, @Frans M, @Adam James, @Bravoecho, @Stan, @Ahmad Nerat @FARAZ MOHAMMED, @Andrei S @DanielN, @Sebb, @Krishna R, @Murtaza Bhuria @Naim Aoun, @Shahid Mehmood , @Yaseen87, @Vanessa8580 and @Lawrence_Chehimi For those wondering about the weather conditions, YES THE DRIVE IS ON, rain or shine. The clouds will move East from later this evening. I will post the forecast for the Dubai area below. See you all tomorrow.

Sorry @Senthil Kumar. I mistakenly listed you in the drive 🤓...my bad. Enjoy your weekend.

Dear Desertnauts, latest info in preparation for the drive. MEETING POINT - Will be just past Murqab's mosque, right off the exit on the Dubai-Al Ain Road. Considering the number of drivers, we'll have Convoy 1 lining up on the RIGHTside of the road, and Convoy 2 (@Vanessa8580's) on the LEFT side of the road. As soon as you reach, please start deflating and mount your flags. RADIO CHANNELS - Please set your radios as follows: CONVOY 1 on Channel #2 (446.031), and CONVOY 2 on Channel #3 (446.056). CONVOY ORDER The following are the members signed up with CONVOY 1, who will line up as follows: @Jaro Tuzinsky in Second Lead @Ishak at #3 @Stan at #4 @Bravoecho #5 @Gary F at #6 @Sunil Mathew will be drive as Center @Frans M at #8 @Abdul Basit Khan at #9 @Adam James #10 @Stumpy Paj at #11, and @Dodi Syahdar will take the Sweep's position CONVOY 2, lead by @Vanessa8580, with the support of @Lawrence_Chehimi, will line up according to the order that the Lead will establish, and will communicate on site, prior to departure. The members in Convoy 2 are the following: @FARAZ MOHAMMED, @Andrei S, @Sebb, @Krishna R, @Murtaza Bhuria, @Naim Aoun, @Shahid Mehmood, @Yaseen87, @DanielN and @Ahmad Nerat. It looks like it will be an interesting drive, on an unusual terrain, heavily soaked with the current rains, even though the day is forecasted to be sunny and pleasant. Looking forward to seeing all of you at Murqab. Have a nice end of the week.

@Lawrence_Chehimi you have been added as support to Vanessa's Convoy 2. Thanks for joining.

Dear Desertnauts. A few info about this drive, its spirit, and the possibility of accommodating as many members as possible. After many excursions in the area between Murqab, Lisaili and Solar Park, having acquired (hopefully) enough experience with the characteristics of these terrains, and having driven by a few recognizable landmarks (sabkhas, tracks, groups of trees, camel farms or feeding stations), I thought it may be time to add the element of orienteering to the drive, and proceed to manage the drive "blind", that is without the use of GPS maps. This will mean mostly that we may arrive at some dead ends, and loop back somewhere along the trail, or find obstacles that will need more careful navigation, and in any case, adjust the track according to whatever we'll face, on uncharted territory. Considering the great number of waitlisted members, we'll also do our best to allow as many members as possible to join the drive. With this in mind, I wish to thank @Vanessa8580, who has offered to lead a second convoy, along a similar route, leaving from the same starting point as Convoy #1. Thanks to this possibility, at the moment I will be leading the 10 members who will be signed up for the drive on Friday evening (considering the possibility of some drop-outs from the current list, and the automatic signing up of those waitlisted). At the moment Convoy #1 includes @Jaro Tuzinsky, @Gary F, @Sunil Mathew, @Abdul Basit Khan, @Stumpy Paj, @Ishak, @Frans M, @Adam James, @Bravoecho and @Stan (I will be supported by @Dodi Syahdar). Also at the moment, considering the first 10 members on the current waiting list (signed up for their 1st drive), Convoy #2 includes @Ahmed Wagdy, @FARAZ MOHAMMED, @Andrei S, @Thejas Uthran, @Sebb, @Krishna R, @Murtaza Bhuria and @Naim Aoun, @Shahid Mehmood and @Yaseen87 Givne the above, the updated waitlist includes, from #1 onward, @Rashid Alseeni, @Zubair @DanielN, @Ahmad Nerat, @Dimitrios Kalogirou and @Claudio C. More updates on the drive's details, and the convoys final composition and order in the next couple of days. Looking forward to see you all soon.

Dear @Bjoern, I am not sure what may have happened. Perhaps you may have been accepted into the other drive you had wait listed yourself. I am sorry about this inconvenience.

Hi @Dodi Syahdar. I will. Thank you

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the below information and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquettes and responsibilities. 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 When: 28 January 2023, Saturday Meeting time: 7:30 AM - Sharp (Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/DPkCWQ1reKNqa8aL9 Action Plan: The plan is simple. an orienteering drive, moving "blindly" (without the use of maps or previous tracks) between Lisaili, Murqab and Solar Park. We'll be helped only by visual landmarks (there are a few, besides the obvious pylons). This will solicit the use of whatever skills the uncharted terrain will present us with, from long range dunes to tighter cordons and bushy bowls, to technical areas. A new challenge, both for me and the members who wish to drive a bit by the seat of their pants, improvising, redirecting, and adjusting to unforeseen obstacles. Approximate finish time: 11:30 AM 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, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Recommended off-road gears: Walkie-talkie radio and off-road flag (MANDATORY), plus tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit and 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 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 CALENDAR

Dear @GeorgeFJ, of course you are welcome to sign up for any drive you wish. Carnity's spirit is to train any desert lover, with any car (only 4x4 🤓of course), and not leave anyone behind. Just practice building your own relationships with your car, as if it was your horse to ride and command! You have a very strong ride.

Camel Trophy - Lisaili Drift: Drive Report "Run from what's comfortable. Forget safety. Live where you fear to live" - Rumi One thing perhaps members didn't know when they joined this outing was that I usually like to scale my drives up a notch, based on the convoy's performance. The fact that I made the above quote from Rumi's my own and ran from what could have been a comfortable drive, should be a testament to the convoy's behavior during the first part of the drive. In fact, after a slightly longer briefing, designed to bring the Absolute Newbies up to speed with the required skills and safety elements (and as a reminder to the Newbie members), the first hour or so of the drive went very smoothly, with minimal issues, all quickly solved by the support team of @Simon D and @Patrick van der Loo. Streight crossing of dunes, side sloping, and convoy discipline were excellent, which inspired me to push to convoy to practice ridge riding, and eventually criss-crossing. Both skills were applied at first to very low and humpy dunes, of which Lisaili is well endowed, especially in the area between the pylons and the tight technical stretch heading toward the Solar Tower plant. Clearly, a few refusals and stucks occurred, but nothing that couldn't be used as a learning exercise by the whole convoy. The only moment of apprehension was when a refusal on a ridge very close to the exit was tackled a bit hastily by @Siby, who reversed down the somewhat steep slope at too fast a speed. Surely the mistake was due to the impression the driver had of being deeply stuck (which was not the case), and the lesson learned by the whole convoy was that 1) one exits the car to evaluate the situation, before attempting a self-recovery, and 2) backing down a slope should be done with minimal throttle, and carefully moving perpendicularly, and/or always toward gravity. With this in mind, I congratulate the Absolute Newbies @Misha Puskar, @GeorgeFJ, @Siby for completing an overall well executed first Carnity drive. My only suggestion, in particular to the FJer's (including @Georges Kazan), understandably shy with engine power, would be to familiarize themselves with the car, which is a powerful and relatively light vehicle, capable of sudden accelerations that will be very useful to tackle climbs, exit soft bowls, and sustaining side sloping and ridge riding, provided the right amount of throttle, and the right choice of gears are practiced, to become second nature with your driving style. All drivers, including @Klaus Pedersen, @Sajan.S, @Rashid Alseeni, @Ron.P and @rohit kumar, did great, navigating the total of 50.6 Km driven, in 2:11 hours of moving time, at a 23 Km/h average moving speed (in 4:13 total hours and 12 Km/h overall average speed). Hoping to see you soon again on the sand, I wish you all a great week.

Hi @Simon D. I will. you will take Center duties. Thanks a lot.

Dear Desertnauts, some points of interest, in preparation for tomorrow's drive. For those drivers ( @Misha Puskar, @GeorgeFJ and @Siby) who will do their first drive with Carnity, once again, please review all the videos linked at the top of the post, as well as the Absolute Newbie Briefing, attached to a couple of posts just above). Secondly, the meeting point is located on the road between Qudra and Solar Park. To reach it based on Google Maps directions, you do NOT have to go to Solar Park and then get back to the meeting point. It'll be enough to turn around at the roundabout located just past the meeting point (to head back toward Qudra) and reach it through the gaps in the guard rail that are visible just next to the pylons. You should find my car already waiting there. Please, try to reach the meeting point a bit earlier than 7:30 AM, so that you may already start deflating for the drive. I will give a technical briefing before, or immediately after, the start of the drive. This is intended to bring the "newest" Newbies up to speed with the necessary skills required for the drive, and as a reminder to the more experienced drivers of some of the convoy formalities we'll have to follow. The drive will take us into Lisaili's area, from the proximity with Solar Park hopefully to the actual Lisaili village. We'll navigate mostly long-range dunes, crossing a couple of technical areas (with closer, lower but tighter dunes). If all goes well, we may escalate the drive to a bit more difficult level, but in general we plan to enjoy our Camel Trophy day, looking for camel tracks and camel trains, until we reach the camel racing tracks close to Lisaili. The convoy order at the moment is the following: @Sinol in Second Lead @GeorgeFJ at #3 @Siby #4 @Misha Puskar at #5 @Klaus Pedersen at #6 @Sajan.S #7 @Quresh. will Center the convoy @Georges Kazan at #9 @Rashid Alseeni at #10 @Ron.P #11 @rohit kumar at #12, and @Patrick van der Loo will Sweep the group. We'll be communicating through Carnity radio channel #3 (446.056). Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow morning.

Dear @Siby, since I've noticed this would be your very first drive with Carnity, I'd like to ask if you have had other previous experiences in desert driving in particular, or off-roading in general. Also, make sure your car has proper tow points both front and back, to allow any potential recovery to take place in a safe manner. Finally, kindly make sure you are carrying a flag and a radio. In preparation for Saturday's outing, please make sure to watch the 5 videos linked at the top of the drive's post, and review the following link: Let me know of any questions you may have regarding the drive and/or your car, etc. I'll be giving a technical briefing prior to our departure on Saturday, so that everyone in the convoy will be up to speed with the necessary skills and safety procedure that will ensure a successful drive. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Dear @GeorgeFJ, since I've noticed this would be your first full drive with Carnity (after the New Year's celebration), I'd like to ask if you have also had other previous experiences in desert driving. Kindly make sure you are carrying a flag and a radio. In preparation for Saturday's outing, please make sure to watch the 5 videos linked at the top of the drive's post, and review the following link: Let me know of any questions you may have regarding the drive and/or your car, etc. I'll be giving a technical briefing prior to our departure on Saturday, so that everyone in the convoy will be up to speed with the necessary skills and safety procedure that will ensure a successful drive. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks @Misha Puskar. Will be nice to have you join. Also, please viee this link: See you in Saturday.

Dear @Misha Puskar, as I've noticed this would be your first drive with Carnity, I'd like to ask if you have any previous experience in desert driving in particular, or off-roading in general. Also, kindly make sure your car is equipped with sturdy tow point or eyelets, and that you are carrying a flag (a radio is also recommended). In preparation for Saturday's outing, please make sure to watch the 5 videos linked at the top of the drive's post. Let me know of any questions you may have regarding the drive and/or your car, etc. I'll be giving a technical briefing prior to our departure on Saturday, so that everyone in the convoy will be up to speed with the necessary skills and safety procedure that will ensure a successful drive. Looking forward to hearing from you.

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the below information and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquettes and responsibilities. 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 When: 21 January 2023, Saturday Meeting time: 7:30 AM - Sharp (Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/3QWYGUMdyn6WG2Lz8 Action Plan: Lisaili is the home of Dubai's race camel farms, as well as the place where they train, on the circuit track, or the straight track. All along most of the Lisaili's plateau one can easily find camel tracks or run into herds or trains of these lanky animals. Inspired by a famous off-road race (The Camel Trophy), we'll exploit this wonderful area of camel farming and training to do our own training and racing across the dunes. As camels do, we'll move along, up, and over the yellow/white dunes of Lisaili, steadily and patiently overcoming all obstacles, until we'll be satisfied that we've had our fair share of "pasture". After two previous "Trophy" editions, with higher ranks, this session will be dedicated to challenging Newbies with exploring the deeper reaches of Lisaili. Approximate finish time: 11:30 AM 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, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Recommended off-road gears: Walkie-talkie radio and off-road flag (MANDATORY), plus tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 12 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 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 CALENDAR