Off-Roading

LSS 3003 - Sports, Leisure and Society

Al Badayer location

A year ago, I agreed with my friends to take our cars and go off-roading in one of the areas that are close to Dubai-Hatta Road called Al Badayer. We prepared three Land Cruisers and an old Nissan Patrol that are four-wheel cars and strong enough to bear the moves we intended to do with the cars. We also prepared everything we might be in need of. We took food, drinks and blankets in case we had to sleep. Moreover, we took oil for cars, strong ropes, and guage pressure for tires. My friend Ali also brought a navigator so that we could know our way back easily if we got lost or confused about the right way back home. We took our mobiles although we were sure that they may not work because the network will not be available in the area that we were going to.

We set out early in the morning of the day we planned to go. We took about two hours to reach our destination and when we arrived there, we were very excited to begin our off-roading. When we reached our destination, there was a very spacious sandy area that attracted our attention; we could not help ourselves drive so fast to it and driving so crazily on the area. We drove in circles and we exchanged turns to show each other who was the most skilful one in making rounds with his car. We also climbed some hills of sand so fast and got down also so fast to show our skill.

We spent many hours acting like this and making a lot of risky actions that time passed without feeling that time was slipping and running so swiftly.

We drove long distances in the sandy area then suddenly the car of our friend Khaled was stuck deeply in the sand. We went directly to him and fortunately we had a rowing rope, so we tied his car in one of our cars and began to drag it so strongly. We tried so many times till we succeeded and dragged him safely to a more solid place. Khaled was still crazy enough, so he drove fast again. We were so excited that we raced in the open place till we reached a muddy area. Majid was too far ahead of us, so he dared to enter in the muddy areas and he did many maneuvers with his vehicle that he turned over with the car so many times.

This made us feel very afraid and worried that we got out of our cars and ran to see Majid. Thanks God, he was safe, but we burst into laughter when we saw him covered completely in mud. We agreed that was enough for one day and we had to go back to where we fixed our tents to have some rest and continue the following day.

We went back the location of our tents after we dragged Majid’s car. We had some food and drinks to refresh ourselves. We stayed for a long time talking about our maneuvers and making fun of each other. We went to have some sleep and as it was getting dark; we preferred to stay so close to each other in order to provide each other with a sense of protection and safety. We slept for about six hours because we were really exhausted. When we got up, it was about 7 a.m. and we agreed to wait till the afternoon to begin off-roading again.

We made our breakfast and had our lunch. After 5 hours of talking and exchanging old stories, we began to prepare our cars to go ahead. We set out after we refuelled our cars and began to drive so fast. We also raced to get to a certain destination and we set a bet. We were very involved in our maneuvers that we did not realize that all of our cars were about to run out of oil.

It happened when Majid’s car began to stop and he no longer could move. We searched for more oil, but unfortunately all the cars were nearly empty. We were very confused about what we should do, so we began to think of a lot of ideas. As we were far in the desert, it was not so easy to find an oil station close to where we were, so we began to think of other ideas that can help us get out of the situation that we were in. I had a good idea; I thought of using one of the devices to send an urgent message online to one of our family members and another message to the police so that the nearest police patrol can come and help us.

We waited a very long time for response, but we did not get a reply from anyone and the night began to approach. As we were in a muddy area, there were a lot of insects that kept biting us. We decided to get inside our cars to protect ourselves and spend the whole night till the morning and we really did so. We stayed the whole night. However, it was a difficult night for us because we began to get hungry and thirsty and even cold in the desert at night. We slept for a short time because it was not comfortable to sleep in the car.

In the early morning we hurried to find a solution to the problem we were in. Ali suggested going back to the tents. It was a good idea because all our possessions, food, drinks and clothes were there. Unfortunately, we found out that we were so far from the tent that it would talk hours of walk on the sandy area and the directions were not clear. However, Ali and Khaled thought that it would be better to try. Ali and Khaled went to go to the tents where Ali’s iPad was that he could use it to communicate with anyone to help us. Majid and I stayed in the place where the cars stopped and we waited for Ali and Khaled. We were really very worried.

Many hours passed without seeing them coming back. We tried to keep ourselves out of boredom by talking about similar stories till the night began to approach again. We were very hungry and thirsty. It was a surprise for us when we saw a light of a car approaching in the darkness and Ali and Khaled waving to us and calling us. There was a young Emirati man in his four wheel car and they brought a lot of oil with them to fuel our cars. We were really happy and we thanked the young man who really saved us. Ali and Khaled told us later that they kept walking for long hours till they met this young man Rashid. He was driving back home and he picked them up. He drove them to a petrol station where they bought a lot of oil and came back immediately. We decided that this adventure was enough and we had to go back home.

We went back to the tent and collected all our belongings and packed them in our cars. As Majid knew the way back home well he drove in front of us. When we went back home, we were very exhausted because we had never faced such a difficult situation. When I reached my bed, I fell on it feeling that I would be asleep for a whole year. I already fell asleep for 20 hours not realizing where I was. My wife and child were very worried about me and they kept coming in and out of my room to ensure that I was OK. When I came back to consciousness, I got up feeling that I was in another world.

Personally, I liked the experience although it was very tiring and risky. I benefited a lot from this experience because I learnt that we had to be more prepared. In addition, acting cautiously is very important because the enthusiasm of the adult that is not governed by the logic or real thinking can lead to critical situations that put our lives in hazard. When I sat with my friends again, we kept talking about our unforgettable adventure that taught us a lot. However, we still look forward to having another off-roading adventure in another country between high trees and swamps. Difficult situations teach people to behave bravely and act logically.

We told many others of our families and friends. When we talked to them they felt very excited and showed their intention to join us the next time. I really wrote a story of everything that occurred to us in order to recall them. I like keeping records of these things.