Enrico - Mountain

Thank you @ChrisW, your drive makes it look so effortless, while we are behind you flailing away between the feelings of exhilaration and pure frenzy. @Infaz helped me understand the importance of manually down-shifting to maintain RPM's, something I will need to practise, switching over to manual selections from the start (which I will focus on the next drive). Such faster paced, flowing, and larger dunes will require me to become a more conscientious driver. FB+ will definately challenge my abilities (which I am looking forward to), as I cannot just power through, but need to develop the necessary skill - to make it look as beautiful as you guys.

Today was definately a day, and a day of firsts. My first FB+, double-bowl (G-Force inducing), and pop-out. Thank you @ChrisW for your patience, @Beide Worku for bringing the tyre workshop to the desert, @Danie for some sound advice on crossings, @Infaz for being my mentor for the day, and everyone in the convoy who welcomed me so warmly to the FB+ experience. FB+ is definitely a step up from FB, with lots of new learning, technique mastering, and experience building that lie ahead. My apologies for the refusals that broke the flowing rhythm of the drive. Hopefully with more such drives my abilities will improve bit by bit with your guidance and support. My take-aways this drive: 1) Keeping momentum and good lines is crucial when tackling longer and steeper dunes. A single break in that momentum such as hitting dips or second-guessing yourself can quickly lead to momentum 'stall'. I think fearing for my 'vehicle' at times made me extra hesitant to push where necessary - but now I know the skid plates can handle the bashing. 2) Mastering following distance is an art, not too close but not to far (understanding the terrain is important). This also comes with trust and confidence in those in front and behind you - which will improve with more drives together. Too many times I hesitated for a second when seeing the vehicle in front of me 'struggle' (or rather me thinking it won't make it), which instantly affected my accelerator foot, reducing power and loosing momentum. 3) Knowing your vehicle through experience and practice, not turning too sharply at speed and pressing power at the wrong time. I was lucky to be able to recognise the pop-out quickly and stop immediately (saving my tyre, rim, and wheel assembly). Striking a balance between bead grip and directional force, and how that feels, should improve with more practice on such demanding dunes. The comradery, friendliness, and support today is really appreciated.

Thank you @M.Seidam for a lovely and relaxing morning drive. The bits of fog made for a different but exciting adventure. Special commendation to @Hartzel for stepping up into the second lead position and handling it like a pro. Everyone today drove really well with no shovels needed this morning! A quote to remember from @M.Seidam today: You should take away at least one learning point from every drive. Today we discussed @Hartzel positioning when recovering from a refusal on a side dune, when to go forward and when to go back. Today was reversing so that the sand does not collect against your rear wheel and cause unfavourable angles.

Thank you @Ishak for another enjoyable evening drive, with a bit of fun and spice.

Thank you @Ishak for organising this twighlight trip just in the nick of time and with the temperature starting to cool! It was great having all the drivers @JC_E @Rasna @Mahmut, and so many passangers with us today. Had some good fun in the end: First there was one... and then there were two...