We’re on our way to a bit of dune bashing in the desert, and this young driver seems determined to give us a thrill on the highway before the off-road safari even begins.
Driving on the sand dunes is a very popular sport in Dubai. Every self respecting Emirati has a big rig for off-road driving and his children cut their teeth in the desert doing likewise. Our Pakistani but Dubai born driver has a desert driving licence. It takes some know-how to drive on the dunes.
We stop and let a lot of air out of the tires...we’ve now got about 16 pounds per square inch of tire pressure...this will give us better traction on the soft sinking sand...and off we go.
“Fasten your seat belts,” he says. Already fastened in, we all instinctively reach for grab bars.
"I don’t mind if you drive nice and easy," I say in my friendliest voice to the driver. The lady beside me tells me her husband is inclined to motion sickness. He grins sheepishly and adds that he doesn’t want to vomit. I don't want him to vomit either in this topsy turvey vehicle where we would be airborne for some of the time if it weren't for the seatbelts.
"No 911’s," I holler to the driver, sensing firm support from my fellow passengers, "and no rollovers and no helicopter rescues"...hoping this gas pedal foot heavy fellow gets the point.
He does and he’s disgusted...
"What’s the story on that burned out SUV," asks Wayne, as we spy a black abandoned shell.
"The driver of that vehicle set it on fire," says our man..."he had a woman passenger who didn’t like his driving, and the driver was so angry that he stopped in his tracks, got out, and set the SUV on fire".
Everyone chuckles but not as easily as before...we hang on for dear life...
Zooooom....veroooom....the driver is revving and gear shifting to the max...
We're slipping sideways...mustn't let the tires dig in...the horizon lurches...someone's elbow is blocking my view...
Easy...easy...over the peak...mustn't get hung up half-way over...
Then the long slide down the other side...just like in a roller coaster...
At last a break...we spill out of the cars onto the soft sand...
...Heather, with dishevelled hair still standing on end, is relieved to be out of the truck......our driver hauls out a snow board for everyone to try.
Wayne is first in line.
"Put your feet beside the foot straps, not in them," are the instructions...that must mean that the rider and board will probably be separated at some point..."Give your glasses and camera and wallet to your wife".
Everyone who tries (four people max) is rewarded with a spectacular spill. Wayne's pockets are full of sand. He grabs at the chance to go a second time, and is the first to make it all the way to the bottom to a hearty round of applause, before the board comes to an abrupt halt and he keeps going...oh...oh...a face plant! His pockets are full of sand. His ears are full of sand. He's a sandman.
A happy sandman.
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