This poem might only really be understood by off roaders.
Whilst living and working in Oman, I spent a 5 year stint as Chair for the Off Road Adventure Clu.b (ORAC). We led groups of intrepid amateurs on trips through mountain trails and across the dunes. We also organised the annual and famous Wahiba Challenge (WC), in which up to 50 teams of 5 cars, navigated their way between fixed points in the open desert.
The Wahiba Extreme was a tougher off-shoot of the WC. The below poem was written in jest as to how we could make the Extreme even more challenging.
Zamzam, mentioned, was our beloved technical advisor!
And yes, the photo is actually my Jeep!
Taken by David Alsop
Wahiba Extreme, Extreme!
By Fahim Firfiray
Wahiba Desert, Oman, March 2014
GPS tools
will not be allowed
Just look far ahead
And fixate on a cloud
No shovels permitted
When stuck in the sands
All on your knees, please
Using your hands
No scratches or dents
No cars should get dirty
And all PSI
Should be not less than thirty
Just one tool permitted
To help ease the strife
that penknife that opens
As spoon, fork and knife
No winches allowed,
No clandestine stowing
of shekels or ropes
or things meant for towing
And I know this rule
Might sound somewhat perverse
waypoints 3 to 5
will be done in reverse
And the reward we suggest
For this challenge extreme?
The magnificent prize
For every team?
Whether you came in first
or persevered from behind
A photo of Zamzam
Framed and signed!