Noodle bowl 2 was an easy Offroader level drive, so it had all the Offroader level elements, just at a lower pace.

Based on the weather conditions earlier in the week, we were fortunate not to encounter heavy fog on our way to the meeting point. The cool morning breeze and late sunrise made tire deflation a very pleasant experience .

The drive started with an extended warm up, because many of the dunes around the meeting point were in really good shape  with a firm sand texture,which made it ideal for cresting and switching. There weren’t many convoys in the area today, and the ones that we did encounter were generally far from where we were. This meant that we could add a playful dimension to our drive, and meander through the desert at leisure.

The small and agile convoy of experienced drivers established a beautiful flow which allowed us to cover a lot of ground in the first half of the trip without visiting the red zone of our tachometers. It also gave us the opportunity to take a slightly extended break and really absorb the natural beauty that surrounded us.

The second leg of the trip was higher paced, with a buffet of switching opportunities. Sadly, many of the longer crests between Big Red and Pink Rock were roughed up by the natural elements, making the ride extremely bumpy in places and demanding a reduced pace.

As can be expected during this time of year, the dunes around Pink Rock were covered with deep tracks. So, after a very brief visit to Chef’s Bowl, we skipped some of the big climbs in this area in favor of smoother and more drivable dunes further east of Pink Rock.  The convoy side sloped and crested its way to 2nd December for a timely exit.

Thanks Javier and Andes, for the excellent company and a great drive.