GAATEH KUWAIT (CYCLING): ROUTE 8: ALI SABAH AL SALEM (Formerly Known As Umm Al-Hayman)

ROUTE 8: ALI SABAH AL SALEM

Friday, 28 October 2016

Ali Sabah Al Salem formerly known as Umm Al-Hayman located at intersection of Highway 30, Highway 40 and Road 306. About 50km to the south of Kuwait city and just 18km from my house in Mangaf.

Direction:

Go south on the Fahaheel Expressway Rd 30 past Fahaheel and the refineries on the left and 8th Ring Road and Road 306 to Wafra on the right. Look out for the green distance markers in the middle of the road. After 49km marker take Road 105 to Ali Sabah Al Salem. Go down the slip road and turn right at the traffic lights towards the houses. Very soon, after a few yards, take the ramp onto the desert parking on the right. Proceed slowly or you’ll miss it.

Green marker 49km

Road 105 to Ali Sabah Al Salem Area

Coordinate:

28.96493 N, 48.16298 E

Time:

07:00 hours

Terrains:

50% Desert and 50% Hard Surface

Riders:

1. Anthony

2. Robin

3. Babak

4. Ahmad

5. Mike

6. Turhan

7. Aswade

Total Distance:

21.9km

Strava Record:

Google Map:

Cycling Time

As usual, Anthony will take attendance and give a short briefing before start our journey

On the first 1km, we passed desert area with compacted sand.

After that we cycled on elevated tarmac (2m elevation). Turhan told me that, they built this to cater for flash flood on this area.

The toughest part when we crossing very thick sand under numerous of high voltage transmission towers

We just pushed the bike

I saw a group of camel here. We try to keep a distance from them. They may attack you. Watch out especially the group with calf.

We saw "small watermelon" or wild desert gourd or colocynth. The size as big as table tennis ball. It grew in the middle of desert. It may cause stomach acne.

We continued until reaching water pit / pool beside Highway 40. Based Anthony, this area was below sea level. In late 90's, this area covered by salt flat or "sabkhas" in Arabic language. Sabkhas normally occur near sea level or at the underground water level. They usually are encrusted with a salt crust layer, the thickness of which depends on the location of the sabkhas and the evaporation rate. After 4x4 offroading activities became popular, sabkhas around here gone.

Take 5 and group photography session.

Some Info about Sabkha:

We passed by a new green area, they planted trees here.

We continued to breakfast point at Mc Donald in Shalayhat Al-Dubaiya.

We having a cup coffee. We discussed about MTB, especially the best or suitable tyre and inner tube. The thing that attract my attention is about "goathead thorns" that can be found in off-road terrain in Kuwait.