Escaping the cold (and the pruning) for a couple of weeks, my brother Paul and I set off for an adventure across the Simpson Desert in early August.  While its not an uncommon trek for 4-wheel drivers these days, its still a journey requiring care and planning, and at least two vehicles.  We chose a "tagalong" tour with Peter Kneen - the "4WDGuy" (http://www.4wdtrips.com.au/).  Peter provides planning, advice, guidance, inter-vehicle communications, a nerve soothing satellite phone and great company around a camp fire!

While the journey to and from the Desert re-opened my eyes to just how much of this country is flat and semi-arid (but quite green at the moment), the Desert itself was no doubt the highlight of the trip.  500 kms sounds easy (right?) but the 1100 sand dunes you cross on the way slows you down to about  100-150 kms a day.  Very flat tyres and slow but steady progress is the way to go, and never lose your momentum.  The driving challenge is part of the enjoyment but even more so is the sense of isolation, the feeling of being a very small dot in a sea of dunes, and the incredible, ever-changing colours and textures.  Even in winter temperatures were over 30 degrees, so it's hard to imagine what it must be like in the middle of summer (the Desert is now closed from December to March).

Unfortunately a small mechanical problem (blown airbag in rear suspension - can't think what caused that!) kept us on our toes for the last part of the crossing, but we managed to hobble into Coober Pedy where the legendary (to us anyhow) Dave of Dusty's Mechanical Repairs had us back up to the Oodnadatta Track the next day.  Back through the Flinders and we were home.  I now have the official "I Crossed the Desert" sticker on the back of my Land Rover, as does my brother on the back of his Corolla up in Sydney!  Oh well, back to the pruning...