Report: Follow Yusufi in Sweihan

MLC · Post by **MLC** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:25 pm

What a day!

All met on time except for a few apologies: Sam (working), 9Ball (missed the alarm clock!), Hani ('dead tired') and Ashraf (get well soon!). We were also fortunate to be joined by the quintessential Desert Hawk whose advice and feedback are always useful and welcome!

We left the petrol pump as planned and reached the deflation point where after a short briefing we hit the sand. The weather was a bit 'dodgy' and chilly, but we all soon gained our confidence and headed smoothly towards the Big Dune in Sweihan, where we stopped to play a bit and also observe some other 'players' who were already there!

Next, we headed back and Waqar took the lead for a short period, exposing us to some of the higher and more challenging levels - this was both exciting and (for me at least) extremely useful, as it was an opportunity to observe how a more challenging track can be chosen and executed. It's funny how one observes more when leading!!!

Satisfied, we headed back to civilization and I was glad that we were able to get out safe and sound after a smooth and enjoyable drive with different levels of difficulty all achieved before sunset. Some decided to inflate on the tarmac whilst others went back to the petrol pump and inflated there, where we met Malte.

Everyone drove very well and I am honoured to have had such a nice group for my first lead!

IDO - many thanks for a clean second lead - always a pleasure to drive with you my friend
Amit - nice to see you and your monster!
SIS- great driving and a pleasure to meet you
Bob - great to meet you and I hope to see you more often in the White X
Latief - good to see you again: I hope your passengers had fun too
Andy and Naif - many thanks for sweeping and making sure everything was okay in the back
Ossme- you MUST come out more often! Great to drive with you again ya akhi
Muzammil (Waq's passenger) - many thanks for joining and for your good humour. Can't wait to see the pics!!!
Mrs. MLC (my passenger) - thanks a million for all the encouragement!
Guevara: many thanks for all your help, support and advice - it's always great to have you around on trips!
Desert Hawk: it was an honour to have you on my first lead! Many thanks for joining at the last minute - I was hoping you would!
Waqar: a HUGE thank you for making this possible and for all your help starting from planning the route all the way to the 'after-party' and de-brief at the 'dodgy' mandi place!

Till next time everyone!

Sean · Post by **Sean** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:30 pm

Nice work

look forward to joining in future..

scotchyl · Post by **scotchyl** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:46 pm

MLC thank you for a great drive this afternoon. the weather appeared to be doing its very best but we commanded the desert in true style.

It was a very nice track with plenty for everyone and the changing sand really focussed the skills on driving and appreciating the changing conditions. I think i have just about got the feeling in my legs (silly idea wearing shorts on such a lovely day)

Waqar - again nice choice of track and thanks for leading us today.

looking forward to more trips

Dune_Phantom · Post by **Dune_Phantom** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:58 pm

MLC - congrats on your first lead.

Only one complain - you guys hijacked our frequency

We could hear Waqar, your voice and Mo and also Muzamil I think.

Look forward to driving with you all (one day insha'Allah)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

9ball · Post by **9ball** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:02 pm

Reading your report, now I am even more pissed off I missed my alarm clock!!

desert_hawk · Post by **desert_hawk** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 12:06 am

MLC / Waqmaster, thanks for accepting me in the last minute.

MLC, good track indeed, just the right one for an intermediate level, WELL DONE.

Nice meeting everyone of the marshals and trip members, good time indeed, and the video looks cool, just need some time to process it, I'll try my best.

Tariq, will wait for the next one

latief · Post by **latief** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 9:21 am

Great Trip! really well done MLC, you made us proud.....thanks to you and waqar for adding me late to this list ....I was not sure my passengers would have survived liwa ... i was correct in my estimation

Hey Mr. Siddiqi, where are our pictures? you took a lot ..........nice talking to you yesterday...

nice meeting some new people and some of the regulars....

looking forward to your next lead MLC.........

sis · Post by **sis** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:25 am

Thank you for the interesting and challenging trip. I like it and I am waiting for the next one to be announced. Special thanks to Waqar for sharing his dune experience with me. There are still so many things to be learned and experienced yet

tillybean · Post by **tillybean** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:55 am

Sounds a great trip and am really sorry to have missed it.

Definitely IN for your next one.

waqmaster · Post by **waqmaster** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 12:09 pm

excellent first lead, had a good time in the middle, back, at the front and on the side

Guevara · Post by **Guevara** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 3:38 pm

MLC

thanks for the great day. Excellent lead, smooth as per intermediate level though the dunes were not that easy. I really enjoyed also the 15 min cresting with Waqar

See you in the sand

G

White X · Post by **White X** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 5:19 pm

Dear Mr. and Mrs MLC, Waqar, Hawk and all:

thanks for the first lead and it was a great trip. lots of variety, weather a bit wierd, but a great day in the sand. i look forward to many more trips like this. Bravo!.

bob
white x

waqmaster · Post by **waqmaster** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:27 pm

Tariq's first lead track...

http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=3843322

mamoun · Post by **mamoun** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:28 pm

It was nice meeting you guys at the petrol station, well done MLC

IDO · Post by **IDO** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:58 pm

Congrats Tareq for your first official trip, had a lot of fun and looking forward to your next trip.