JJB Serenity Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Just watched the Top Gear episode ( Click Here if you haven't seen it) where they drive from Iraq to Bethlehem through Syria and I was loving the part where they drove across the Syrian desert. I thought the desert looked fantastic and would be a great place to take the landy! I really want to travel that part of the world, particularly Lebanon and Syria. I was wondering if anyone here has driven that part of the world and if they have any stories and photos. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 You'll have seen their botched recovery then - when the strop knocked James May over and bashed his head on the rocks. The scenery and ruins did look amazing - and would be a great experience to drive through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJB Serenity Posted December 30, 2010 Author Share Posted December 30, 2010 yeah it was terrible he was lucky because it could have been a lot worse! I noticed the recovery/backup vehicle was a Disco 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Thoroughly enjoyed it . I wouldn't have been stood where james was Stunning places around there, would love to drive some of that! Also noticed the Disco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 That recovery was scary and could've ended much, much worse. I guess it's a good bit of education for the general public? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJB Serenity Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 I take it no one has been to that part of the world? It's a shame, I'd be really interested to read about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 JJB, have you read First Overland? if not - I strongly recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJB Serenity Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 no I've not, I'll check it out. Cheers Anderzander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Thats one I've been meaning to read for ages! Thanks for the reminder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty_32 Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Regarding the recovery, I wonder if the heat etc got to james's head and he just didn't think it through, I'm sure they will have been on H+S training and generally, they aren't too stupid. Lucky escape thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 he just fell over as the strap tension was taken up, just no paying attention by what I saw of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 For anyone like me who does not have the time or inclination to watch the whole thing the incident concerned starts around the 51 minute mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 I seem to remember he said 'ok go' or similar, I think it was his mistake TBH, and one he won't repeat in a hurry.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_pete Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 I thought he fell at first but when I watched it he was standing in front of the strap as he told hamster to floor it and head right. As the strap tightened he got thrown back by it. It was his fault and he was lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JivingDaddy Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Just watched the Top Gear episode ( Click Here if you haven't seen it) where they drive from Iraq to Bethlehem through Syria and I was loving the part where they drove across the Syrian desert. I thought the desert looked fantastic and would be a great place to take the landy! I really want to travel that part of the world, particularly Lebanon and Syria. I was wondering if anyone here has driven that part of the world and if they have any stories and photos. John Hi JJB, As with the usual bit of BS in Top Gear (I am a big fan tho'), the paperwork involved in crossing borders was glossed over. You can't just cross over borders without the required clearance - unless you really want to spend a few days/weeks in a rather unpleasant jail. Anyway, to your question. I haven't driven off-road in Lebanon or Syria, but have done so in Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi & Kuwait. It's totally different to dear old Blighty as we tend to take things slow here. However, in the M.E. you have to go a lot faster or you just sink down to the axles. Soft sand is great fun, and the dunes are magnificent (until you get caught in a bowl and have to do the wall of death), but the scrublands you saw are full of razor sharp rocks and stones that'll rip your tyres to shreds and kill the suspension. Even soft sand has its hazards, on one "expedition" in Saudi, a fellow driver flew over the top of a dune and landed straight on a rock which bent his Patrol like a banana! It kept on going, but looked most peculiar when we found some tarmac. On the subject of vehicles, this is probably where I get blacklisted. I've always had a Landcruiser Amazon (which the Arabs call "Donkey") for off-roading in the M.E. and it has never let me down. I've dragged Rangerovers and Discos out of trouble - but never a Defender. In short, give it a go, great fun (and a real sense of achievement) - but NEVER on your own. I'd recommend at least three vehicles, and watch out for those camel spiders!! Good luck, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headhunter Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Welcome to the forum Peter. I too have done desert trips in Oman in a Land Cruiser, where it was evident that Range Rovers were preserved for the tarmac, as none were seen in the sand or scrub. My latest trip to Morocco this year was in a 110 and it was very pleasing to see so many other 200/300tdi 110's is service in very remote locations. I was surprised to see fewer Land Cruisers. I am happy to expedition in either marque. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoltan Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 If anyone wants some ideal what Syria has to offer, these guys have just run through Syria into Jordan in a Gaz 66 (shameless Russian truck plug) http://www.russianmilitarytrucks.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=4097&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=20 Don't fancy a day of those sharp rocks though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJB Serenity Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 that truck is a beast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JivingDaddy Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Thanks Headhunter, I accidentally crossed into Oman from the UAE on one trip and all hell broke loose when I tried to get back without the proper entry/exit papers. Fortunately, I was a senior UAE government employee and when it dawned on the guards the fuss there would be if they locked up one of the Rulers they let me go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JivingDaddy Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Thanks Headhunter, I accidentally crossed into Oman from the UAE on one trip and all hell broke loose when I tried to get back without the proper entry/exit papers. Fortunately, I was a senior UAE government employee and when it dawned on the guards the fuss there would be if they locked up one of the Rulers they let me go. Ha, Ha. That should have read "one of the Rulers Directors"!! I'm not a Ruler in the UAE - wouldn't mind their bank balance tho! But I'd probably still buy a 90 for a project. I still can't quite work out the Road Tax - a prerequisite insisted upon by "She who must be obeyed". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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