Almost4x4

alshamsi_m wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:43 pm

brett wrote: Mon Jan 18, 2021 6:27 pm Please don’t forget the 5’s

I think you and God are in good relationship because your wishes are coming true

And I am greatful for the selfless activities and commitment to the marshals and members who

hello everyone...well its a very busy weekdays as always with everyone but mine i guess is way too much this time...but as they say..better late than never..

anyways..its been a week already after our last drive..but everything that happen during the drive is still really fresh like it happens just yesterday ..that day started with a nice and cold weather and a very thick fog thats why we started the drive later than scheduled....
soon as the drive started, as always i have a very shaky knees...i calm myself and tried to just enjoy the drive by observing everyone in what they do. and by remembering what the marshals says '* a moving car is a safe car* give me the confident to do what everyone is doing...and there it is i manage to survive the day and learn a lot from our marshals and supports... and @presa special mention @Johanna thank you all for watching and guiding us all..

see you all soon in the sand again

White sand rovers Trip Report (Organizer @presa )

Hello Almosters!!

Bit late to start with the report writing but its must to share your experience to encourage everyone.

Earlier i decided to camp at the location shared by @alshamsi_m , but looking at the weather forecast i was uncertain to start my car @ around 9pm (with all the necessary camping gears and food stuffs for the next day loaded in my jeep). Finally i decided to leave all the stuffs in my car and start early in the morning, and with no regrets i drove from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in dense fog finding my way with Gmaps ( who can find the roads even in fog, sand storm, etc).

Visiting this place for the first time, was tricky for me to cross the gate (was not aware, those are automatic gates ) at the entrance of Tilal Sweihan. stopped at least 3mtrs from the gate and looked around for someone / watchman, second thought in my mind there must be another way to get in so i took a U-Turn to see if google uncle can suggest me another way. But NO luck, and i quickly msged @presa . And Mr. @presa a smartly tweaked me saying i might loose my newbie Star if i don't manage to open the gate . Fastforward >>>>> I managed to access the gate :) and followed the tarmac road heading to the meeting point.

Fog was little lazy to move out of our way, causing little delay in starting the trip. @presa & @alshamsi_m gave us brief intro and history about this place and developed more excitement. Soon after the convoy started, we could see magnificent view 'camels marching in one line' and probably they stopped after spotting 3J's (f-'J', 'J'-eep, pa-'J'ero) in desert . And after crossing the first dune, my car sensed the upcoming terror which my fellow peers expressed in their above trip reports and it decided to jam the transmission lever. @presa tried to fix the issue but it was not possible without a mechanical fix and i had to leave the convoy with all the possible hopes to come back again . @Abubakar with his great talent and experience helped me to show the way out, as my car transmission was locked in 2nd gear and i couldn't even change the gear to reverse my car. It was a challenging situation for @Abubakar and myself not to get stuck anywhere and just keep crossing the dunes in 2nd gear. Thank you again @Abubakar for your guidance and safe exit.

And i am glad to see everyone enjoyed this fun loving trip which was planned for the whole day in sands with lot of adventure and croc lake - with no crocs visible may be due to fog . Thanks to @presa for organizing this trip and also thanks to @alshamsi_m , @Booy , @Abubakar , @Johanna , @Viktoriia and other supporting team for leading our way to safety!

Apologies for the super super late report! My captain @dorudoru has been reminding me to get it written up and now finally here it is!



It was my first time (as a passenger) on a drive with Almost 4 x 4 and I had the best time! Every time I head into the desert I fall more with the rolling dunes, the adventure and the stillness. I’m really grateful to have found a group of great people to enjoy the desert with - thank you!

The trip started on Thursday night with me and Doruk driving around in dunes on our own looking for other campers. I can definitely say it was exhilarating and a bit nerve wracking trying to figure out a safe path through the dunes in the darkness. Is it just me or do they look bigger at night? Anyway, Doruk did super well and we were on what looked like a possible path to the camp site when ‘tadaaa!’ a fence appears. It’s midnight, we admit defeat and we set up camp with a cosy fire. Then the fog rolled in, thick and mysterious with some camels groaning closely in the darkness. Despite cold noses and a soaked tent in the morning we had a good sleep ready for the day ahead!

The next morning we followed our route back to the meeting point with the minor hiccup of getting a flat tyre on the way. We pumped it up twice just to get the last bit of the way back. Once we got there the tyre pretended nothing had ever happened and stayed smugly full of air. Doruk changed the tyre anyway - better to be safe than sorry at the start of the drive. People arrived and we waited for the fog clear. Then finally off we went in convoy and not long into the drive something felt iffy and yup another flat tyre. It was certainly a day for Doruk to put theory into practise (and for me to watch uselessly!). Again, once the tyre was filled back up it stayed full - just a pop out. 

Onwards we went stopping and starting for a few problems along the way. The next lesson was cresting the car on a ridge front and back wheels whirring around uselessly. @Johanna gave us a hand and tugged us back down the ridge and we made it over the second time.

The driving was so much fun. I feel like I learnt a lot just watching the different scenarios play out and other people’s driving skills. I was a little sleepy on the second half of the drive and I felt like I was being rocked to sleep on a comfy rollercoaster in the middle of nowhere. I also loved seeing the camels going by and in contrast watching the advanced drivers playing around on the bigger dunes below as we watched on the sand eating cookies.

It was my first drive but my second time meeting a few of the marshals (I only camped last time) and really what a lovely group of people. Thanks for the patience, great humour and warm welcome that you offer everybody. I’m very excited to be joining in February to drive my new little Jimny and join the family!