Live blog: Gulf News Fun Drive is well underway

Gulf News Fun Drive has kicked off at the new Rugby 7s ground on Friday morning. Web Editor Adam Flinter blogs about his experience there.

3pm: Finally at our destination - the Hatta Fort Hotel. Quite a spread has been laid on. And the weather is perfect. We got here via a mountain route that took us along the Omani border and skirting sheer drops as we traversed tiny mountain roads. I'm glad to see tarmac again. All I can say is it was huge fun. I'll definitely be doing the next one but I prefer being a passenger. I'm off for some food!

1:15pm: Ok. We are at the checkpoint. Tyres inflated. We just went down a 300m dune and followed that with some side to side style rally driving along the edge of the dune. I am amazed my breakfast is still down! Our driver Zahed is unbelievable. Blatant plug, but www.gulfventures.ae

12pm: Magnificent. Just climbed to the top of an enormous dune. So spectacular. Nothing but dunes as far as the eye can see. Our driver even got stuck, but only for a second. It really is a fun day. Great camaraderie.

11:50am: Francois, the Gulf News photographer has taken some amazing shots. We'll see them as soon as possible.

10:50am: About halfway through. The sand is turning orange and the dunes are bigger. Awesome! Driving sideways down a dune is fun. Also, doing some work too. Just spent ten minutes pushing a van out of the sand. Weather warm now.

9:20am: The drive is well underway. Driver Zahed has been opening up his box of tricks and flying around the dunes. It has been quite a rollercoaster ride and the photographers have some awesome pics. Apparently the big dunes await. I'm looking forward to it.

8:40am: We have reached the first checkpoint. Its nice and bumpy. And it was amusing to listen to the Radio 2 people doing a live interview as we drove. Some people are stuck already the scenery is fantastic too. Waiting for the big bumps later on though.

7:25am: We have flagged off. Hundreds of cars are filing through. Everyone is going to have their tyres deflated. This is a slick operation.

7am: It is still freezing cold, but at least its breakfast time. The food is actually pretty nice and the whole thing is remarkably well organised. There are rows and rows of cars and everyone is in a jovial mood. Flag off is due at 7:15 but I don't think we'll be hitting the desert for a while.

5:15am: Its very very early and its surprisingly cold. As my alarm went off I asked myself why am I doing this. But it should be fun...the press car has arrived to take us to the start.