JeromeFJ

Dear Desert Drivers, You have been amazing today, following the track at a steady pace, whatever the difficulties, remining concentrated up to the end of this long drive. Together we succeeded to reach Qudra starting from Nahel, straight into the dunes, not backing down from any obstacle. First portion leaving Nahel was super soft construction sand, progressively clearing into medium size dunes, with sharp edges. The first thrill of the day was into a small massif of high dunes where after a long climb we were suddenly like in the air, on a sharp ridge going down, with steep faces on both sides. This was well managed by everyone, Continuing this portion, we reached the E14, and crossed into Dubai, just behind the high dunes of Faqa. Faqa's long range dunes are always a pleasure to run through, and we were not disappointed. We had long stretches on the top of the ridges, one after the other, trying to maintain the balance of the car as long as possible. The wind was blowing sand over the crests, blurring a bit the view of the ridge itself, and maybe participated to the second thrill of the day, when @Krishna R misjudged a step on a ridge, and was close to loose the control of his car. Luckily, more fear than harm, he escaped safely with a self recovery. After this, a beautiful portion of white sands, long rolling dunes, with magnificent views led us to the sabkhas close to Little Sweihan. We had already some technical portions on the way, But Little Sweihan remains something special, with this thigh concentration of small bowls and sharp ridges. Everyone was focused behind me, flowing from one dune to the other. Here also, the clear sand, the light, where making it some times difficult to assess the sand, and the fatigue was starting to set in. Little Sweihan had to claim a car, and it was @Pierre de Maigret who remained crested. After a bit of shoveling, and quick review of the FJ's built-in tools, he was out, an we merged to the long track along the military area. Passing by the Stingray/ River/ Saba Lake, we entered the last technical portion. Small dunes, but very narrow and tight ridges, plus a lot of bushes around, it was maybe the most difficult part of the drive, as we had already 5h of concentration behind the wheel. The group remained focused passing one dune after the other, but the desert had to claim for a last car. @Yaseen87 remained stuck crossing a dune, in a very narrow place. Shoveling would have taken a long time, little space was available around, I could pull him from further up, using 2 ropes tied together. We exited this technical portion, and reached along the cycle paths of Qudra. For a flavor of Qudra, we pushed a final small loop to the high dunes around Moon Lake, passed the lake itself, paid our respect to a lonely oryx, and reached the exit track to Bab al Shams. @Joji varghese big thank you for the second lead, perfectly executed as usual, @Yaseen87 and @Krishna R, congratulations for your first Fewbie Plus, it was a tough introduction to the new level, @Pierre de Maigret, it was a pleasure to have a sister FJ in the convoy, well done going through the obstacles with the unmodified car, @Rajiv Sam, many thanks for watching the back of the convoy, and supporting the recoveries. I've recorded 112 km in 6h, moving time 5h15, stopped time 0h50, average moving speed 21,4 km/h. Considering the large technical portions, it is an excellent performance from all of you, and a testimony to your driving skills.

@Joji varghese @Yaseen87 @Krishna R @Pierre de Maigret @Rajiv Sam @Chris Wing Last update for tomorrow's drive. Be sure you read the post above. Meeting at 6:30 am at https://goo.gl/maps/T912CcdPLuNQbHuZ7 The convoy order will be We will use radio Channel 3 Enjoy the evening, take as much sleep as you can, and see you tomorrow morning !

Dear Desert Drivers, Thank you for signing up for the drive on Saturday morning. Be prepared for a long drive at a steady pace. There are many ways to connect Nahel, in Abu Dhabi to Qudra, in Dubai, that allow for different options to adjust to the group and circumstances. Being a Fewbie Plus drive, with a short convoy, I intend to search for dunes rather than sabkhas. The purpose is NOT to go in straight line. We will have small and medium size technical portions, high dunes and long ridges in the Faqa area, soft sand, tight bowls and sharp edges in Little Sweihan, This will require your continuous focus and concentration for more than 4 hours. If you are taking passengers, be sure they understand the challenge. For yourself, ensure you can have sufficient sleep before the drive. Take some snacks to boost your focus on the go. And of course, have your car checked if you have any doubt. No need for additional fuel, but for peace of mind, be sure to top-up at one of the fuel stations close to the meeting point Al Hayer-2 https://goo.gl/maps/xhDNR2GJ7V9HqXSb6 or in Nahel https://goo.gl/maps/dTP877C4WcjtrR4F8. I will indicate the convoy order tomorrow by the end of the day.

Sorry to miss you Richard. Thanks for informing early

These two days were one of these experiences that will be remembered for ever, and will be a reservoir for campfire stories for a long time. I think I'm still high after 2 days ! First, a big thank you and congratulations to @Frederic. We can barely imagine the amount of work for the planning and preparation. It was so complete and meticulous that you could then be ready for anything, and adjust to the circumstances. During the drive itself, your beautiful energy and determination were bringing us together to the same goal. and your driving and navigation skills never failed to select the right way. Keeping this concentration for the duration of the drive is a real performance. @Gaurav, your role was key in securing the route for the whole convoy. Watching you as the perfect wingman was a lesson for us, with this sort or instinct that you have, holding before crossing a sharp edge, making sure Fred was ok, and adjusting carefully the best path for the convoy. You two were perfect in synch and comms. @Srikumar, anchoring the convoy from the middle, always there to support a recovery was the third pillar of this adventure. Being in a drive with the three Legends together is a real priviledge, and immense source of learning. A few highlights of my personal experience The days before the drive, when I start preparing myself, it is like the drive fills yourself, progressively narrowing your mind to that objective. I'm still doing my work, I'm still there with my family, but the drive is in my mind, and all my actions and my thoughts take it in consideration. The moment where you leave home, you start driving in the night, this impatience of starting, and still the mental checks, do I have every thing, am I sufficiently prepared... The briefing at the meeting point, when the group gets together, meeting friends and known faces The first portion, the sand so white and so soft, and the total emptiness, not a single track, no camel farm, no pylons, no sign human presence The end of day one, the fast run in the open portion, and then these high technical dunes, with the beautiful light of the declining sun The campfire of course, sharing memories and stories, food and drinks (thanks @KAMALIO for great food) The night under the stars, waking up because of the cold wind, but watching the stars progressively shifting to the West, and slowly disappearing as the sunlight comes in The few nice bowls in the morning of day 2, driving in straight line is an elevated objective, but nothing like a shoot of adrenaline from time to time The "industrial desert" crossing these pipes, cables, rigs and pumping stations is (obviously) not so common The endless contouring of the fence where I could feel the fatigue in my body, trying to find different positions on the seat of the car, fighting to keep the concentration The amazing run, at the end of day 2, once we passed the E65, where the convoy merged as a single entity, flowing through the technical dunes at an impressive pace, each driver like in a daze, perfectly synch with the car before and the one after, trusting each other The night when our perception changes, the environment reduced to fractions of lighted areas, and still we have stay focused, continue to reach the goal The emotion and release, when @Ashutosh Garg crossed the ridge, and landed miraculously unharmed This feeling of achievement, when inflating, cheering and congratulating each others @KAMALIO and friend, @Ashutosh Garg, @AlexM and your wife, @Naveen Raj, @Amr Aydin and Sophie, @Foxtrot Oscar Angela, @Ranjan Das, @munkybizness Mayank, thank you for sharing this beautiful adventure !

General Info 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 Intent : The intent of the drive is to reach Al Qudra, starting from Nahel in Abu Dhabi, passing through the dunes of Faqa. More details to come during the week, but be prepared for a long drive, with a great variety of terrains. Level: Fewbie plus and Above When: 25 February 2023 , Saturday Meeting time: 6.30 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: Nahel, on the E20 https://goo.gl/maps/T912CcdPLuNQbHuZ7 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: 11.00 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 10 drivers. 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

Food for thought on the long way to the starting point. Where exactly is that line of the Tropic of Cancer ? The Tropic of Cancer is the most northerly line, where the sun can be observed vertically on the June solstice. Because I didn't realise until yesterday that Fred had included the track and the waypoints already 3 weeks ago in the drive post, I was trying to locate this famous Tropic on my Gaia map. And so... the position of this line varies over the time, as a consequence of the movements of the Earth (tilt and spin). Ok, not a huge variation, but still noticeable. In 1917, the latitude was 23,45091°N (23° 27' 03,289" N), in 2047, it will be 23,43425 °N (23° 26' 03,292"), and next Saturday 18th Feb 2023, when we will start our drive, it will be 23,43836°N (23° 26' 18"). Looking at the map, the average line proposed by Fred is slightly above the line on that day. On the ground, it represents around 1.2 km. It means that we can comfortably allow ourselves a variation of 1.0 to 1.5 km (rather to the South) we will still be on the Tropic of Cancer itself ! Thank you again @Frederic for the amazing preparation work for this overlanding trip. For sure it will be epic ! See you all on Saturday !

Congratulations @Bjoern, promotion well deserved !