OVER 1,000 SAND DUNES & no track to follow! Australia's most remote spot! Graham's 2015 Adventure
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- Опубліковано 23 січ 2019
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Hi Graham …. Here is a small snapshot of my 50 years of association with the largest parallel sand dune desert in the world, “The Mighty Simpson”.
I crossed that first sand hill on the western edge of the desert just as you have done in this video, but back in about 1975. I remember I was also full of excitement at tackling the unknown terrain which lay ahead plus there is always that added dose of adrenalin which comes with any solo vehicle crossing of remote areas.
However a challenge which would well and truly surpass that moment came in 1985 when at the age of 51 I landed by light aircraft on a clay pan nearby and then took off pulling a two wheel cart loaded with supplies and headed east - solo - no backup vehicles, destination Birdsville 400kms away. At about the half way mark using rods that formed part of the structural strength of my cart, I drilled down about 12ft and located enough water to replenish my supply which was by then down to one last drink. It could be said I was desperate at that stage and starting to feel the effects of forced water rationing. About 50kms further on I abandoned my cart on top of a high sand hill and took off into a cool moonlit night by compass for Birdsville which I finally reached after about three weeks of desert travel.
Sorry, I digress from the main thrust of this video, that of reaching the marker at the Geographic Centre of the Simpson Desert and trust that at the age of 86 you will cut me a little slack if I tend to wander.
Tracks and the gentle westerly slope of the dunes, although at times rather bumpy, presented you with a relatively easy challenge as you state until you reached a point where you had to deviate to the west for about 5km to reach the Geo/Centre thus forcing you to confront the steep easterly face of the dunes. Your dramatic commentary and visuals highlighting the numerous failed attempts by all is testimony to the fact that this is not a challenge to be taken lightly, even with so many vehicles available to give assistance.
I have an admission to make. After some seventy/eighty desert crossings by vehicle from all different directions, walking across it twice solo - west to east and north to south without a backup vehicle - and having ridden camels over it, I have never actually visited the site of the Geo Centre now marked officially by the tower and other paraphernalia.
It was back in 1977 when at a point on the Eyre Creek 60kms north of the SA border (Dickerrie Crossing), I managed to ford the then flooded creek. I was on a mission to tackle what was thought to be impossible back then - a trackless solo vehicle crossing of the Simpson Desert east to west while climbing the steep face of some 1200 odd sand dunes and traversing some 350kms of untouched wilderness.
I was driving the baby Suzuki 4x4 LJ50 soft top heading due west by compass (no GPS then) and it wasn’t more than a few hours after departure that I fully realised the enormity of the task I had set myself.
I don’t wish to bore you with the day to day challenges as I am sure although your experience was limited to about 5kms you would be well able to guess.
Suffice to say there were many spectacular failures, multiple attempts and frightening situations with the vehicle rocking gently ready to roll back to the bottom and endless days consisting of never ending battles against a formidable enemy to be fought and won.
I passed a few kilometres to the south of the Geo Centre, not marked at that time, and early on day six I encountered my first sign of man's intrusion into this unique area. Nestled under a bush was a rusty heap of tin cans and then a few hundred metres further on I finally reached the Colson Track. At the end of day seven after some 350kms I finally exited the desert having now proven that an east to west crossing is indeed possible.
Thank you for the video - your camera and drone work is excellent and I look forward to your next desert trip as through them I am able to live my past experiences throughout this great country of ours.
Great anecdotes, adventures like this are impossible to come but these days. Thanks for sharing
Absolutly loving it.....but need to say there is no 4wd action without SHAUNO..
Sascha Euler so true
Is that you Shawno? 🤣🤣
I AGRE
And roothy, what the hell happened to good ol jolly roothy
EATGTS F6 barra the world
I would love to see them do a special where they come here to America for a few episodes. Maybe a day in the Rockies, day in New Mexico, a couple days in Alaska with a great American off-road crew. Then the Americans go back to Australia with them and film 3, 4, 5 episodes in Australia. I have never seen an episode of this show I didn't really like.
Good call! 👍
I always feel a little bad that we don't get to see more of the camera guys, do you guys have a video, behind the scenes like about how the camera crew keeps up and sets up their equipment?
Joining to this - it would be nice to see their hard work as well!
Wdmlktef🙂
And considering the camera guys drive most of the track first to be able to film from the top. They are probably top drivers
@@hobbiesfordads9847 They deserve a round of applause, atleast Graham and his team need to introduce them to us
@@hobbiesfordads9847 No camera car in this episode, 2 person crew riding shotgun but really agree when it comes to episodes with their own car.
Just watched this again. Great to see a totally different perspective of off roading. And no camper trailer!
no d max either. I guess Isuzu realised with 76l tank the d max will never get past civilsation.
Than god no camper trailer
FINALLY Graham’s gu on 4wd action
Yea lovin it 2
ikr🤣🤣🤣🤣
Great episode but I’m missing Chef Shauno lol
know what you mean … but the dude from Mt Dare seems to have cooking duties covered .. haha
4:20 The longest Seismic (shot) line I worked back in the 70s was 498 km long. It went from just North of Barcaldine to the dunes West of Diamantina Lakes if I recall correctly. Some of the country we went through in those days was just unbelievably stunning.
I love your regular episodes on the well-traveled tracks, but this was something special. An epic trek in the deepest outback. Well done.
Well done 4WD Action. You've shown a piece of Australia most of us will never experience. Thank you.
Sitting down with a cold beer next to the pool watching 4WD ACTION, not bad. 👍👍😂
already on the beers at 8:30 in the morning? haha you legend
Yeah it’s so hot in greensborough at the moment so why not, 8:30 beer 🍺 😂😂😂
Sandman Gamer that’s true! Maybe I should be having a beer too 🤔🤔
@@sandmangamer9560
Ah, you're from greensy, it's a small world
Foxxxy yeah, where u at?
Hey Graham,
Just wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying all of your videos. I just discovered your channel about a month ago being home on disability with a herniated disc in my back! Needless to say I can’t go camping or four wheeling so I am getting my fix watching guys!. The amount of varied terrain that you guys have in your country is awe inspiring! Keep up the amazing work! I look Forward to every video! Greetings from California.
deff the best vid so far!!! love this type of journey, not the usual mud and guts we normally see
Thanks for another episode boys, its always appreciated. You guys really need to get a netflix style service going so people can get all the episodes.
@Swampy youve gotta buy them dvd box sets i think, it was really hard to find online too so that doesn't help. Their site is pretty terribad
I love that no only do I get some awesome 4by'ing, but we get to see some of the most beautiful country out there AND learn about it as well! Thanks guys!
Awesome timing, planning my trip across now for a trip midyear.
Legend!
Competence, preparation, and big brass ones. Yep. Your episodes are getting better and better, Graham. Well done from Seattle.
Stuck here in the flatlands of Germany with my trusty old 4-Runner from California,, no ocean in sight... I can't thank you giys enough!!
Fking awesome, keep up the great work!
Wohin fahren wir ?
4WD Action, thank you very much for the free episode. I'm just curious, I've been hearing that Australia is going through some really bad heatwave, hope you guys are keeping cool down there, greetings from across the Indian Ocean, Nairobi Kenya.
When a Kenyan is wishing well to a heatwave you know its bad .
Another great happy hour of my Friday
Good to see Graham back in the GU, but where’s Shauno??
This is an old video from a few years ago, hence Graham in his GU and not the Dmax.
That was one mighty trip Well done Hema And Map Patrol great work u guys do an awsome job doing all the mapping out 😎
What a awesome interesting video.Your commentary and all involved comments along the way made it wonderfull viewing.Proves not a trip for dreamers and novices. Thanks again guys
My fav channel on youtube. Hello from the southern USA! keep up the awesome content!
loved it.. is good to change the usual format and team from time to time...great adventure! and great GU Patrol.
Having done the simmo last year - this footage does it justice. Great videos team! Keep up the good work.
Well done! Thank you for taking us with you!
Fantastic video, sat eating pizza glued to my comp screen from start to finish........thanks guys!!!
thank god its friday.. getting harder to find 4x4 vids i havent already seen.. ty 4wdaction.
seen this but i dont care.. totally watching it again.
"don't try this at home type of track" 😂yeah because we all got a Simpson dessert in my back yard
What an adventure, what an expedition. That was an epic film.
One Life, One Search,
Shane
I am soooo addicted to this show, i hope i can come down there for some 4WD Action.
Great trip. Miss Shauno. Absolutely to much fun.
What an awesome video thank you so much for sharing this with us keep up the great work.
Lots of gidgee (sharpens chainsaw) around for fire wood (resharpening chainsaw) which is great for camp fire cooking... It's just hard as an old boot!
Home sick from work today...this definitely makes the crappy day a bit better.
OMG it looked like you were all trying to drive over a water bed the entire time. Totally Epic, thank you everyone.
Just about to sleep its after midnight here in DUBAI UAE n suddenly the notification came up 4WD posts something n just had enjoyed it to f fullest leader its hek of d drive bro keep it up
That was tops, that last sunset on their faces, red to the West and purple to the east. Lots of memories like a tribal man standing on a ridge in the Gibson desert looking down at us one leg up leaning on his spear. I often wondered what he was thinking. 50 years, all seems so very long ago.
That's rad...The Nissan is back...So good to see it again...Need to see more of it...👌🍻...
4wd action have made it to trending #13 , keep it up lads !!!!!
There is a visitors book in the centre of the desert?! Amazing! Would love to read some of those entries :)
Awesome work Graham and team. Cheers
awesome video...mate...
absolutely loved it every minute of it
Love your videos and this one was different for sure. I couldn’t help but notice that you often didn’t have your lockers on. Was there a reason? Was that to take it easy on the axels? Epic Adventure thank you for the experience of getting to the middle of the desert!!!
Graham when you guy's are out on the trail you defiantly eat well. I'm jealous of some of those meals.
Having spent time in the tamani desert this brings back many memories, awesome to watch. The guys doing the shot runs would destroy the cruisers in months from brand new.
gram ive watched all your shows love it. amazing
EcoMuse. Modern day Malcolm Douglas. You're fantastic to watch Graham. All the best mate.
One of those bucketlist trips I need to get organised.
some techniques with the cameras I need strive four in my videos.
Awesome trip guys. Need to post videos/pics of the night sky out there though! I imagine it would be amazing
hell yea i love it !!!!!!!! Graham dose such a great job i'm speechless it is so good
Also love watching his own channel
Wow - What a Great Adventure - Thanks 4WD Action
Great! So well filmed and narrated.
Looks absolutely amazing, would love to go here and have it on my channel
The camaraderie amongst the fellas is amazing...
Did the Geo Centre in 2016 great fun and no flat tyres on my vehicle and only 4 on the whole convoy of 5 vehicles.
Out of curiosity, what size tyres were you running and pressures?
Great episode "GOD WE LIIVE IN A BLOODY GREAT COUNTRY" can you feel the serenity!!
That mea was a feast and the presentation, well it beats Shaun's meals visually! Graham with that awesome dune action!
I'd love to know more about the VW hubcaps on top of the central marker pole 47:54 - Probably a Kombi made it out there first! LOL
Love it! Always awesome stuff!
that was very very interesting indeed .... what a mission .... thumbs up guys ... luv the bloopers lol
Extremely cool episode, the remoteness, I wish I was Australian !
One of the best episodes yet, much better than mud bashing followed by broken axles or cvs
Good drive guys. I know of some very challenging 4wd dracks near we jasper nsw
An episode about the camera work etc. would be great. The closest I have ever gotten to where they went is Leigh Creek.
i rember back in the day when roothy was on the show
Epic journey graham, would be an amazing trip.
just curious Graham, with your extra cab extension, is it independent to the original cab & if so, what material is used to form a sill?
Nice video once again. Thanks!
Made my Friday cheers legends
Shauno might have to lift his game lookin at those meals.
Another epic trip
From this channel alone I have learned so much and can't wait to get my first cruiser! Thanks you guys!
raginraven31 you haven’t learnt enough if your going to buy a cruiser over a patrol 🤣🤣🤣
@@i_am_tinny_man_2267 yeah I'm not really interested in the hardcore 4wding mate. Just looking to get out in to some beautiful places comfortably with the missus.
Also, when I said cruiser, it was not literal. I just meant a comfy long distance tourer that can handle some rough stuff. Are the Patrols better off road? In what way?
@@i_am_tinny_man_2267 wuld you go for the td42 or the 3.0l td?
raginraven31 yeah I’m just stirring you up mate, there both good rigs although the Nissan patrol has a variety of questionable engines. The ZD30 blows up, both the 4.5 and 4.8 petrol motors drink more fuel than anything lol The TD4.2 diesel is the best Nissan offer (unfortunately) they are known for over heating. the reason I like the patrol wagons better is because of coil suspension all way around. I have a GU with a FG turbo Barra conversion and it’s unreal!
@@thetouringprepper8681 stay away from 3.0, specially first ones
ZUKI'S For Life !! Much Respect. !! Guys !! Please take the Zuki' out on a another Adventure !! Zuki's are the best !!!!
Miss shauno this time
Amazing guys, absolutely amazing!
I went through similar trails to the same places in my Honda HRV year 2000, and yeas I came back with some repairs needed to be done to suspension, but the car went well, I never even got stuck anywhere. I went through the same dunes, there are watermelons growing on it by the ways
Oh yeah, tell Shauno the same! Love all the vids!
That was awesome...... hope hema have the trip on a map so my kids can see it too
Epic trip to say the least. Couldn't have anything nice like that without vandals here in the states. Graham, tell me about that bush knife you had with you!
Graham shouldn't be worried my great uncle was the person who found the geo centre of Australia in a convoy of 6 old land rovers without any shot lines to follow just a hand drawn map and a not pad
just got home. thanks for the upload. :)
Awesome video, Loved it.
Have to go Simo
Cheers Graham. As always a well informed video.
Love to see the GU it's looking great!
Said it Before and I will Say it again!! Best 4 wheel Drive Show on EARTH !!!!!! Love It Guys!!! Thanks... :-) :-) :-)
Where can I get a 4WD Action Sticker please??
Seriously!!!!! I've been searching for a 4WD Action Vinyl to put on my Jeep here in the states for months now. Help us boost you viewers guys sell some stickers!!
I even went on Australian EBay where they were selling DVDs etc to see if I could get one. Like rocking horse poo!!!
Ive been Impatiently waiting to see Graham's GU on the show 😄
Yabbadabbadoo, a vid with the Patrol ute, Graham its what we have all been waiting for!!!!!!
Amazing as always!......but I missed Shaun and Jacko:P
in my opinion best episode of 4wd action
Awesome vid guys......4wd Action should come drive our dunes here in Namibia :)
How do they compare? Am auusie and curious not after whos better whos best ...
I reckon you guys need a bloke in an old HJ 47 ute to come along on your next trip. 🙋🏽♂️. Hands up and waiting for the call 😂😂
That bloke retired.
WOW! Just Wow! You guys rock! From Colorado Springs, CO US!
Any updates on how MT Dare's doing these days? Recognized it the second the episode started. Strange thing being I'm on the other side of the world and it's been over 10 years since I was there. But boy where we happy to see it driving up to it through a severe sandstorm. That place, the scenery, Dalhousie Springs(where we stayed overnight) hell the whole offroad trip through that very red center made me fall in love with Australia forever. Let's hope it's still around, like the pink roadhouse it was pretty elemental for that successful roadtrip, if only to recoup and restock or mend the car's battle scars.
Great video guys!
What an episode!!!!!! Watched it twice...
You should go to have a trip in Morocco guys!! 4WD Action around the world!
Good content, thanks!
Great episode. Been wondering when you were gonna do the Simpson!! To bad Shauno and some of the other boys didnt go with you!! Still an awesome adventure though!
Good on you guys. Great video, showing the real Australia to the world. It would be been great to interact with the countless Aboriginal communities you guys would have passed, to get some local knowledge. A lot of the time, there are great stories about the origins of some of these landmarks/topography and that knowledge can be very useful.
Just in time for Australia Day. Nice one.