Ale Vallecchi

Dear @Shiju Raju @Nicolò @Giacomo @nithish468 @Shaun J @Gurcharan Mehta, if drives had a soundtrack, while a fast overland drive would be best accompanied by a Heavy Metal tune (some may remember my "Deep Purple" series), a technical drive like tomorrow's should be best paired with a Rythm & Blues tune. Hence, in preparation for tomorrow, please listen to the following great track by the Blues singer Beth Hart and the very talented rock guitarist Slash: Please listen at high volume, both before and during the drive

Dear Desertnauts. in preparation for tomorrow's drive, I ask you to pay the utmost attention to the conditions of your cars. It will probably be one of the hottest days of the summer, and quite humid, so please make sure that your engine fluids are optimal, and your 4x4 is overall in good working conditions. I hope we can start as close to the meeting time of 3:30PM (so please reach a little earlier), so of course the first couple of hours of driving will be quite torrid!! Also, bring as much water as possible, to drink at any possible opportunity (dehydration arrives unannounced). The drive will be conducted at a slower, but steadier pace, than other less technical drives. The principle of a "technical" drive is to cross complex areas of very tight, irregular, close and soft dunes, which usually abound near sabkhas, and that cannot be avoided (save the presence of a beaten track) if one wants to drive long distances. All elements of off-roading come into play: engine power is important, but with short burst, rather than sustained ones, as well as climbing (short but very soft slopes), ridge-riding (prolonged ones, with a lot of steering involved), as well as criss-crossing (often after very short climbs). We want to manage these skills with patience and endurance. The current convoy order is the following: @Shiju Raju in Second Lead @Nicolò at #3 @Giacomo at #4 @nithish468 at #5 @Shaun J at #6 and @Gurcharan Mehta in Sweep. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Dear @Batuhan Kulac you are welcome to join. Just please check with @Frederic if it's OK, in case he needs more support. Thanks a lot.

Sure @Abhilash Kottakkal. Will do

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquettes Emergency details for all off roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Fewbie and above (all levels) Meeting time: 3:30 PM (departure time) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ToyncWjScCaFenc77 Action Plan: A drive studied to perfect your skills in a so-called "Technical environment", that is where dunes are tight, irregular, close to each other, with soft pockets in between. This terrain does not call for spectacular maneuvers, nor will favor super-charged motors, but requires the driver to know how the car responds to short bursts of acceleration, how she or him manages a great deal of steering on tight or sinuous lines, and overall, what we call "finesse" driving. The chosen track is a challenging one, where our Crew takes the prospective Leaders to train for leading a convoy in the "Leaders Lead" series. hence, we will be tested in terms of endurance, patience, and very fine skills. If a member does not command these kinds of skills, it only knows half of what off-roading is all about. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 7:30 PM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. RECOMMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR: Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge Compressor (MANDATORY) Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY) Off-road flag (MANDATORY) Shovel, Tow Rope & 2 Shackles First-aid kit Fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 12 PM. If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list. Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned - Without any exceptions. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

Hi @Victor Socaciu. On a Newbie level it should be fine, if your dog is used to being in the car. The choice us yours. HOWEVER, BE SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT DISTRACTED BY IT. Prioroty goes to the driving. Thanks

Thanks @Batuhan Kulac. You are welcome. See you tomorrow.

Dear Desrtnauts last minute inputs for the Last-Minute Drive. It has been designed to provide a leisurely afternoon, pursuing gazelles in the new green pastures of Qudra's natural reserve, and oryx, if lucky, in one of their major feeding grounds, near to the National Guard's barracks close to Abu Dhabi's border. We hope to drive until 30 minutes prior to the sunset, across a relatively easy terrain, save a few technical areas, with closer and tighter dunes. We'll enjoy some tea and coffee near one of the many palm groves. If you choose to bring family and friends, please make sure they do not suffer from seasickness (especially little ones), as the terrain will be quite uneven in places. If anybody usually does suffer from it, please have them take a remedy. The meeting point will be just after exiting the Qudra Last Exit's ADNOC gas station (where you may refuel), in the parking area in front of the Spicy Village restaurant. The convoy order below has been designed to have a more experienced member in front of each Newbie, so that the Newbies may be tutored in terms of lines, approaches and speed by the higher ranked drivers: @Andrew John Melvill in Second Lead @Emmanuelle Ifrah at #3 @nithish468 at #4 @J-P L at #5 @Giacomo at #6 @Victor Socaciu at #7 @Abhilash Kottakkal at #8 @Jon L at @9 and @Ishak in Sweep. See you all tomorrow afternoon, in time for a quick departure after 4:00 PM.

Hi @Jon L. Here's the meeting point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7tENPX1DJipTeggb7

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Environmental Policy Offroad Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquettes Emergency details for all off roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Drive Details Level: Newbie and above (all levels) - No Absolute Newbies Meeting time: 4:00 PM (departure time) Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7tENPX1DJipTeggb7 Action Plan: A LAST MINUTE offer, to fill up the weekend with an unexpected extra all-levels drive. A relaxing route, for families and friends, to leisurely search for gazelles in the grassy low cordons of Qudra, then proceed toward Ghantoot searching for Oryx in the sandier golden dunes along the Abu Dhabi border. Bring your tea or coffee mugs and snacks, to enjoy while watching the sunset at one of Ghantoot's small palm groves. We'll exit along the road which connects Qudra and Bab al Shams to Abu Dhabi, an easy way out toward both cities, What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 7:30 PM P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive. RECOMMENDED OFF-ROAD GEAR: Tire deflator & Tire pressure gauge Compressor (MANDATORY) Walkie-talkie radio (MANDATORY) Off-road flag (MANDATORY) Shovel, Tow Rope & 2 Shackles First-aid kit Fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 12 PM. If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list. Latecomers will be returned - Without any exceptions. Members without RSVP will be returned - Without any exceptions. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month. PLEASE RSVP ON THE CALENDAR

3 EMIRATES WEEK - SUMMARY AND THANK YOU NOTE A heartfelt thanks to all the members who chose to join one or more of this 3-Emirates Eid weekend series. I had a great time, pursuing my passion for overlanding. Over 3 days we planned and executed one drive in each of the main Emirates (yet by no mean exhausting all the possibilities to be found in Abu Dhabi, which would require a full week just on its own). Find below a crisp summary of the places we visited and the drives' statistics: Day 1 - Sharjah: from Tawi Nazwa's farm, skirting Pink Rock, on to "the dune next to Big Red", Big Red itself, across the highway to Badayer, through the main "star dunes", to Iftar and Super Bowl, and onward to reach the exit at Bezhad Ranch (AKA Area 53, AKA Ericson Tower); Driven 85 Kms in 3:28 hours of moving time (total of 4:23 h.), at 24 Km/h moving average and almost 2,000 meters of cumulative climbing. Day 2 - Dubai: from Lisaili's camel track, across to Murqab, onto the "road to The Chimney" (AKA Solar Tower), on to Faqa and west toward Little Sweihan, around the military enclosure, to Ghantoot oryx farms and palm oasis, to exit on the road back to Qudra; Driven 105 Kms in 3:42 hours of moving time (total of 4:29 h.), at 28 Km/h moving average. Day 3 - Abu Dhabi: from Sweihan Tilal's entry, all the way across the cordons, through the sabkha and very technical dunes to reach Sweihan Pond, and onward across beautiful white dunes dotted with palm groves and sculpted clay rocks, to exit at Faya Road. Driven 77 Kms in 2:52 hours of moving time (total of 4:05 h.), at 27 Km/h moving average. Thanks again to all the participants (in order of drives completed): @RiadJL (3 drives), @Andrew John Melvill, @ChrisW, @nithish468 (2 drives) and @DP1011, @Emanuel, @Sunil Mathew, @Batuhan Kulac, @Mohit Gurnani, @Cesar Chacon and @Nicolò (1 drive). See you all soon for another long trek !!

3 EMIRATES WEEK - SUMMARY AND THANK YOU NOTE A heartfelt thanks to all the members who chose to join one or more of this 3-Emirates Eid weekend series. I had a great time, pursuing my passion for overlanding. Over 3 days we planned and executed one drive in each of the main Emirates (yet by no mean exhausting all the possibilities to be found in Abu Dhabi, which would require a full week just on its own). Find below a crisp summary of the places we visited and the drives' statistics: Day 1 - Sharjah: from Tawi Nazwa's farm, skirting Pink Rock, on to "the dune next to Big Red", Big Red itself, across the highway to Badayer, through the main "star dunes", to Iftar and Super Bowl, and onward to reach the exit at Bezhad Ranch (AKA Area 53, AKA Ericson Tower); Driven 85 Kms in 3:28 hours of moving time (total of 4:23 h.), at 24 Km/h moving average and almost 2,000 meters of cumulative climbing. Day 2 - Dubai: from Lisaili's camel track, across to Murqab, onto the "road to The Chimney" (AKA Solar Tower), on to Faqa and west toward Little Sweihan, around the military enclosure, to Ghantoot oryx farms and palm oasis, to exit on the road back to Qudra; Driven 105 Kms in 3:42 hours of moving time (total of 4:29 h.), at 28 Km/h moving average. Day 3 - Abu Dhabi: from Sweihan Tilal's entry, all the way across the cordons, through the sabkha and very technical dunes to reach Sweihan Pond, and onward across beautiful white dunes dotted with palm groves and sculpted clay rocks, to exit at Faya Road. Driven 77 Kms in 2:52 hours of moving time (total of 4:05 h.), at 27 Km/h moving average. Thanks again to all the participants (in order of drives completed): @RiadJL (3 drives), @Andrew John Melvill, @ChrisW, @nithish468 (2 drives) and @DP1011, @Emanuel, @Sunil Mathew, @Batuhan Kulac, @Mohit Gurnani, @Cesar Chacon and @Nicolò (1 drive). See you all soon for another long trek !!

3 EMIRATES WEEK - SUMMARY AND THANK YOU NOTE A heartfelt thanks to all the members who chose to join one or more of this 3-Emirates Eid weekend series. I had a great time, pursuing my passion for overlanding. Over 3 days we planned and executed one drive in each of the main Emirates (yet by no mean exhausting all the possibilities to be found in Abu Dhabi, which would require a full week just on its own). Find below a crisp summary of the places we visited and the drives' statistics: Day 1 - Sharjah: from Tawi Nazwa's farm, skirting Pink Rock, on to "the dune next to Big Red", Big Red itself, across the highway to Badayer, through the main "star dunes", to Iftar and Super Bowl, and onward to reach the exit at Bezhad Ranch (AKA Area 53, AKA Ericson Tower); Driven 85 Kms in 3:28 hours of moving time (total of 4:23 h.), at 24 Km/h moving average and almost 2,000 meters of cumulative climbing. Day 2 - Dubai: from Lisaili's camel track, across to Murqaab, onto the "road to The Chimney" (AKA Solar Tower), on to Faqa and west toward Little Sweihan, around the military enclosure, to Ghanthoot oryx farms and palm oasis, to exit on the road back to Qudra; Driven 105 Kms in 3:42 hours of moving time (total of 4:29 h.), at 28 Km/h moving average. Day 3 - Abu Dhabi: from Sweihan Tilal's entry, all the way across the cordons, through the sabkha and very technical dunes to reach Sweihan Pond, and onward across beautiful white dunes dotted with palm groves and sculpted clay rocks, to exit at Faya Road. Driven 77 Kms in 2:52 hours of moving time (total of 4:05 h.), at 27 Km/h moving average. Thanks again to all the participants (in order of drives completed): @RiadJL (3 drives), @Andrew John Melvill, @ChrisW, @nithish468 (2 drives) and @DP1011, @Emanuel, @Sunil Mathew, @Batuhan Kulac, @Mohit Gurnani, @Cesar Chacon and @Nicolò (1 drive). See you all soon for another long trek!!

Sure @Emanuel. Please sign up. Thanks

Dear Desertnauts getting ready for Day 3 of the 3-Emirates weekend. We'll drive the Sweihan Tilal area extensively, heading then to the Sweihan Pond, and finally across to Faya. I have been unsure if choosing the better-known part of Sweihan (the Nagrah and Nahil area, to be precise), or the less driven, south-western segment of Sweihan, and have picked the latter, as on Sunday morning it should be much more pristine, and less crowded by weekend off-roaders. The spirit of the drive is to enjoy and relax, looking, again and as usual, to cover as much distance as possible, in diverse terrains. The convoy order will be the following: @Andrew John Melvill in Second Lead @ChrisW at #3 @Cesar Chacon at #4 @Batuhan Kulac at #5 @nithish468 at #6 @RiadJL at #7 and @Mohit Gurnani in Sweep. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Have a great Saturday.

@Matt - monkeywrench feel free to sign up if you wish. Thanks

Dear Desertnauts, slight change of plans, I believe, as you may have seen from the revised drive's title. We'll meet and leave from Lisaili's camel practice area, instead of the previously chosen Faqa, to make sure we drive as much of the Emirate of Dubai's off-roading paradises. Thus, I have included Lisaili, from where we'll head to Murqaab, take the infamous track to The Chimney (on some of the most challenging technical dunes around), and proceed crossing Faqa on the side of the Solar Tower, and on to Little Sweihan (to exit ideally at Ghantoot, or if too far given the sunset hour, at Solar Park). The convoy order will be the following: @Andrew John Melvill in Second Lead @ChrisW at #3 @nithish468 at #4 @RiadJL at #5 @Zak_ at #6 and @Shiju Raju in Sweep. Enjoy your Friday evening, and see you tomorrow to leave at 2:30PM.

Hi @ChrisW. We'll meet and deflate here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qCD32sJkXpbDfnzq8 See you tomorrow.

Ho @Matt - monkeywrench. You can just pick 1 drive. not all of them. Ler me know.

Hi @Matt - monkeywrench. You are welcome to join any of my drives. Feel free to sign up. Thanks

Dear @Nicolò, @RiadJL and @Sunil Mathew. Not too much to say about this drive. other than we'll try to make it fast and long. We aim to complete the first part, to Big Red in 1 hour, then proceed through Badayer to Iftar Bowl in another 1 and 1/2 hour, if possible, and to reach Area 53 (Bezhad Ranch) in Al Madam by sunset. We should make full use of the 4 hours of light that we'll surely have. Departure should be scheduled around 2:45 PM. We may not loop around a great deal on the taller dunes, but we'll still make as many climbs as it makes sense, with the idea of completing a long trek (should be around 80 to 90 Km). This means we'll try to enjoy, and cover, as much terrain in this red-sand Sharjah area as possible. The convoy order will be given on site tomorrow (shouldn't be too complicated 😁). Short and sweet convoy, ideal to complete such a long drive. Enjoy the end of the week and get ready to start the Eid weekend in desert style.

Hello @Sunil Mathew. We'll meet here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9BK1uN6nYfLneZqt9 This is at Tawi Nazwa. Hope to see you. Thanks.

Dear @RiadJL, dear @ChrisW, dear @nithish468, as already done for Day 2, considering the ample availability of remaining open spots for this drive, I'll be happy to add you to the participants' list of this Day 3, if you are OK with it. Thanks a lot.