Our first picnic in the desert was a vastly different experience. Strangely enough I felt almost claustrophobic - a bit of an oxymoron, I know, but the endless sand felt suffocating. There were 3 cars that went out (on the premise that at least 1 of them won't get stuck in the sand and could pull the other 2 out if necessary). We drove for about an hour out of Abu Dhabi, through the forestry area - strange sight really, many millions of little trees struggling to grow in the desert. I can't imagine what the watering costs must be! Then we turned off the road and followed a fence (shades of Rabbit-proof Fence) then left the fence and headed towards 2 trees in the distance. Darrell really enjoyed the opportunity to use the 4WD, although the sand wasn't too deep on the way to our picnic place. We set up camp and the kids scattered to the dunes. Alex had taken along his RC Monster Truck to do battle with the dunes, and in a case of big boys imitating little boys, the men jumped into the most battered of the cars and worked out a track, conquering sand dunes. 
The kids went along for rides too and when the car crested the dunes, we could hear the kids screaming -but when the cars stopped they wanted to go again....I managed to avoid having a ride! We had taken along little disposable braais, and when those were lit Alex decided the kids also needed a fire. He organised a wood collecting team and they managed to find sufficient dry wood lying around to build quite a decent fire. I think that toasting marshmellows on a fire built, lit and managed by the kids gave an extra special flavour that it would be hard to beat. The kids all decided that next time we have to take tents and sleep over. Hmmm. Not sure. Think that could be D's quality time with them. All went well until we were packing up. Upon disposal of the braais someone must have dropped a coal from one, and I was the lucky person who found it. I got a very nasty burn across 3 of my toes, the worst blister just popped almost immediately. Our first aid kit held no burn stuff - that's what happens when you get a ready-packed first aid kit! Fortunately, we had lots of water, 
but I had no real relief until we got home and I could plunge it into ice water for about an hour. Anyway, once we were all packed up, the first car roared up the slope and out, then our car roared up the slope, D got uncertain (imagine!) and stopped, and the 3rd car got stuck near the bottom. So we were all out of the cars again, a healthy application of spades, grip pads and man/girl power and the 3rd car was released. The second try went better, we all made it out, found our way to the main road where we had to crawl along for about 10kms until we got to a petrol station to pump up our tires again. We have decided to get a pump to keep inthe car for future. As well as grip plates. As well as a good first aid kit....
The kids went along for rides too and when the car crested the dunes, we could hear the kids screaming -but when the cars stopped they wanted to go again....I managed to avoid having a ride! We had taken along little disposable braais, and when those were lit Alex decided the kids also needed a fire. He organised a wood collecting team and they managed to find sufficient dry wood lying around to build quite a decent fire. I think that toasting marshmellows on a fire built, lit and managed by the kids gave an extra special flavour that it would be hard to beat. The kids all decided that next time we have to take tents and sleep over. Hmmm. Not sure. Think that could be D's quality time with them. All went well until we were packing up. Upon disposal of the braais someone must have dropped a coal from one, and I was the lucky person who found it. I got a very nasty burn across 3 of my toes, the worst blister just popped almost immediately. Our first aid kit held no burn stuff - that's what happens when you get a ready-packed first aid kit! Fortunately, we had lots of water, 
but I had no real relief until we got home and I could plunge it into ice water for about an hour. Anyway, once we were all packed up, the first car roared up the slope and out, then our car roared up the slope, D got uncertain (imagine!) and stopped, and the 3rd car got stuck near the bottom. So we were all out of the cars again, a healthy application of spades, grip pads and man/girl power and the 3rd car was released. The second try went better, we all made it out, found our way to the main road where we had to crawl along for about 10kms until we got to a petrol station to pump up our tires again. We have decided to get a pump to keep inthe car for future. As well as grip plates. As well as a good first aid kit....
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