Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 at 23:57
Hi Alan
Back in the late 1980 's when we purchased our first new four wheel drive, every magazine at the time always talked about the Simpson, and it was the "desert " to drive for a real four wheel drive experience. As we did, we travelled the Simpson and we were hooked and like every trip, it seemed to finish as quick as it started.
Over the years we have driven in full every possible track that you can drive across the Simpson, and as we travelled, I would look out past the track and think to myself, what would it be like to drive it like Reg Sprigg, from one side to the other with no tracks to follow what so ever.
Trip after trip that lure had me thinking, so I them put into action plans for the hardest Simpson trip to do. There was only one State that I could do this at the time legally, and that was the Northern Territory. With 2 years of planning, my dreams came true and for 15 very slow days, we slowly made our way across the very heart of the Simpson with no, or very few old shot lines to follow and it was a GPS course all the way.
This is what I called a true remote Simpson trip, as with every other crossing, as remote as the Simpson is, you were never alone and there was never a day crossing when you would always see other vehicles.
In the mean time,we had made a few trips into WA and had a taste of even more remoter desert with more time out there and we came across no other vehicles. We were now hooked on another great desert and Australia's largest, the Great Victoria.
Of the deserts you have listed, we have been fortunate to travel 7 of them for various reasons. Yes we have still been back to the Simpson, it is still great, but for me now the Great Victoria is my favourite, why,
well for a few reasons .
It is remote, fare less people travel it, better scenery, and the trips take far longer, just what I like, more time out there alone. When you set up a
camp, wood is never an issue for a
camp fire, not so like out in the Simpson.
Each to their own, but it does not matter where we travel, our Australian desert are the best and we are so lucky to have these valuable assets for four wheel drivers to experience.
Enough of my ravings.
Cheers
Stephen
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495209
Follow Up By: Jack - Wednesday, Sep 19, 2012 at 08:51
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2012 at 08:51
Unlike Reg Sprigg who travelled solo, you travelled with a group of other vehicles, who you never acknowledge! There is a big difference between travelling solo and in the security of a group other vehicles.
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770894
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Sep 19, 2012 at 09:22
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2012 at 09:22
Hi Jack
Good to see you are still lurking around here on the
forum. Yes there were other vehicles with me, but just like Reg Sprigg, I was the lead vehicle for the whole trip and had no tracks to follow, and know first hand how hard it is to select the correct track and make the best decisions for the rest of the group.
Like I said before, it was my trip, my planning and I shared it for others to read here on the
forum. I wrote the Blog from my point of view, as leader of the expedition.
Like I said before I do not know what I have said to upset you, but it now looks like every time I put up something here on the
forum, you try to put me down.
Have a great day and enjoy the best site in Australia.
Stephen
ps
Keep a look our for my next Blog, it is a ripper.
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770898
Follow Up By: equinox - Wednesday, Sep 19, 2012 at 10:19
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2012 at 10:19
Hi Stephen, rave away I don't mind.
It would have been a great trip you led, and would have given you an inkling of what Reg would have gone through.
It seems in latter years though, the masses have found out and now go there in droves. I've even heard now the
Madigan line is now almost a completely formed track.
Glad you like the Great Victoria, I've spent a bit of time there and one day would like to see more of it.
Look forward to your next blog, keep up the good work.
Cheers
Alan
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