Gday everyone! Since this video is getting a bit of traction I'm getting lots of comments. 90% of ya love it but a few are critical which are pointing out the mistakes. Which is totally fair enough. Well aware I should of brought 2 knives, that cooking on coals is the way to go - go watch my other videos where I do all of that. To clarify I'm a bloke who loves the outdoors and Australia history and getting out and giving it a crack, and I never claim to be a survival expert. I also never try to 'hide' any mistakes made out bush and I'll always show both the good and the bad of a trip. Also, this video was filmed a year ago, and since then I have just got back from a big 4 day offtrack cross country outback walk where I have corrected all the mistakes made in this vid. Thanks again for all the support!
@@FeralPestControl 😆 some people love pointing out everything you've done wrong, while never creating anything themselves. But fair enough. Thanks for watching
Hubby and I were driving through the outback in Western Australia in 1998 and we were several hundred kilometers from anywhere. We came across an Aboriginal man walking along the roadside so we stopped to see if he was ok, if he wanted any supplies, water or food, or a ride somewhere. He said no, he was doing fine. The only thing he was carrying was an empty tin can. He flourished it in the air and said "I know where the waterholes are." So he smiled at us and we left him to his walkabout.
That's a great story! I remember something similar one time many years ago in queensland, I was bushwalking and came out to a very remote country road, one lone aboriginal man walking along it by himself. Ended up walking with him half the day to reach the nearest town.
Brilliant video. I’m a 60 year old that’s been bush camping all my life. My grand father was one of the pioneers that opened up this brilliant part of the world 111 years ago. The farm is still owned by his grand and great grand children. I smiled when I saw your canvas water bag, I still have mine and not to many people know what the hell it is☺️ Thanks for such a nostalgic video and such a hard slog in the harsh Mallee environment. Hat off to you Sir.
What a fantastic bit of history! Must be proud of your grandfather being a pioneer. Those must of been hard times! It's fascinating learning about how they lived and how they got by back then. And I love my water bag, been taking it on quite a few trips! I'm yet to hang it up on the front of my 4x4 to cool it, but I'll have to do that one time as well!
I remember my grandfather but unfortunately he passed when I was very young. However my dad left the Mallee as a young man. He didn’t talk a lot about living on the farm. It was a harsh life, especially for a boy. They were as poor as church mice. No power, dirt floors in the self made house, no shoes or fresh food (bar blackberries and rabbit), getting the horse ready for a day in the paddock before a five mile walk to school with little to eat. You get the picture. We today find it hard to comprehend, some would even say child abuse. But different times and you just dealt with what you had. Many thanks
Luke, you are a BEAST! Hats off to you for completing that trail in work boots! Your videos are incredibly relatable, and it's your ability to showcase your misfortunes and blunders that makes the viewing experience so much more immersive. Please continue creating this fantastic content! Just a side note: To add some variety to my takka bag, I include plain dried fruits like peaches, which I believe still align with the spirit of the traditional swagman.
Thanks for your comment mate haha yeah the feet were a bit sore walking in steel caps. The dried fruit actually sounds like a great way to get a bit of a natural sugar hit on these types of trip. Thanks for that.
The traditional swagmen were shearers walking from shearing shed to shearing shed and they carried with them one pound of flour sugar and tea and maybe dried fruit because they would mix the dried fruit in with there damper dough and probably some sugar and that would make johnny cakes and also they would have regular camping spots and swagman would throw some pumpkin seeds around so pumpkins would grow and swagmen would cook up the pumpkin and eat the cooked pumpkin and probably other vegetables which ever was growing at the swagman camp site
Cheers mate. Yeah I'll never claim that I am some kind of proffesional expert. I've just got a passion for the outdoors, bushcraft and history and I'm taking others along on the journey as I learn more.
Hi Luke, you can avoid blisters by wearing knee-high nylons under your socks. It also helps to clean your feet and apply foot powder every morning before walking. I was infantry for many years and never had a single blister.
Cheers mate, yeah usually I do pretty good just with taping my foot when I start to feel a blister coming on. I was too exhausted and kind of pushed on that I forgot to do that! I know about the powdering of feet (the silly swagman taught me that) but never heared about the knee high nylon.
Age 56 did 315 km over 8 days Cameron Corner to Birdsville - no tent just a rubber mat and sleeping bag. Raising money for YoungCare - loved every minute. Beautiful country 🙏🙏 PS 5 litres of water is roughly 5kg - best 5kg you will ever carry.
@@TheBeardedBushranger you should look up. They do a semi annual charity walk - would be a great video. They raise money and build accommodation for young people with disabilities.
Man I have really come to appreciate the act of making videos on long solo hikes like this. I just hiked 102km in 2 & 1/2 days and all the extra shots of walking and b roll seems like such a legendary effort considering how much you’re already putting in to the hike itself. Also I totally understand that feeling of losing your bearings when you put your pack down and couldn’t find it again; I put my camera down in a bush (to protect it from the sand) while I stopped for a drink. Put my pack back on and continued walking for 20 metres or so before I realised my camera was still on the trail and even in such a small distance still struggled to find it! Took me a good 5 minutes of searching and backtracking to spot it. Learned a valuable lesson in that moment. Great video, thanks so much for sharing your adventure!
Mate 102km in 2 1/2 days is a solid effort! you must of been packing light to manage that! And yeah filming can sometimes take it out of you. Mind you I've come to feel like the camera is all part of the experience at this point. It is really great on those down times when your just hanging around and killing time ... gives you something creative to do!
@@TheBeardedBushranger Totally agree re the creative outlet! I only took a DSLR with me and a wide angle super takumar with me but I’m so glad I did. The environment was unreal and would not have been properly captured with only my phone. Unfortunately I had to carry 4L of water between camps and was prepped for the full 5 day trip just in case so started with 20.2kg and came home with 16kg. Feet are destroyed with blisters but the experience was unlike any other hike I’ve ever done! Your statement about pushing your body to its limits of discomfort to get away from the niceties and cushiness of regular life really hit home for me, I’ve never fully understood myself and my limits like I did on this trip. Such a valuable insight to have gained.
More than enjoyable mate, sitting here with a glass of wine and a bag of crisps. Been to lovely Australia a few times, Queensland, Loved it, love the folk, could live there. Thanks for this Swagman video, all the best to yer. (That sky though!! That reminds me so much of our trip, deep azure blue, I love it) Good job about the water tanks, very thoughtful. We were really green when we first came over, looked at the map and headed for the coast to get to see some whales, we thought we'd just cruise down to the coast, OMG two days later......we finally got there, the locals were laughing at us and I can see why, HUGE!!!. Subscribed. Cant describe how beautiful it was to watch this..
Thanks for watching! It seems a lot of people from overseas who visited Australia at some point fell in love with the place! Glad the videos could remind you a bit of your time here.
We watched the Swagman come through our little town, called Merinda ,as they always called at my Grandfather place and Grandmother would always cook them a hot meal, and they must have told their mates as that was the only place they called, that's back in 1945 in Nth Qld, it was tough going for them because there was not many cars around then, great you are showing people how it used to be, and we grew up with no phone or power or car ,so had plenty of time to roam the bush Many Thanks for taking us with You. ***😊*** ...
What a great bit of history you have there. It's interesting to think that the swagman history is as recent as the 1940's/50's/even 60's. Sounds like you got to really experience a great lifestyle. Thank you for watching.
@@TheBeardedBushranger that's what we called the good old days ,it's bloody crazy world now ,please take care and stay safe watch out for the snakes on 2 legs *** ...
Thank you for this report. I really enjoyed seeing the landscape and the Australian sky at night. I lived approx. 10 year down under and left Australia approx. 40 years ago. I am still a bit homesick when I see wonderful reports like yours. Thank you!
@@TheBeardedBushranger We lived in Melbourne and Sydney. In 2016, my wife and I visited Australia again. The best part was our train ride with the Ghan from Alice Springs to Adelaide. The railway company did a great job arranging for a stop at about 10pm and offered the opportunity to view a fantastic sky, even having special telescope to watch the stars. It was an outstanding experience.
Fantastic vid yet again. I'm glad you found your knife. As someone who spends a lot of time in the outback it's nice to see vids showing just how tough it would've been 100+ years ago. I love reading the old books and diarys of the early settlers.
@@TheBeardedBushranger Look up the book "mates and gold". I've read many books on the old prospecting years but this one is fantastic. That and the Len Beadell books.
Good on ya mate for going bush and giving it a go. Few mistakes I saw but you did well. Bit of advice though, if you want to live to do it again then don't waste your water putting out the fire. Cover it with soil and don't worry, no body is going to put their foot in it and get burnt because you probably won't have anyone coming along again for months.
Cheers mate thanks for watching .. so a few people have said the same thing in comments so I'll let you know the reasoning as well. 1. There were 3 water tanks along this walk, and I was camped by one each night. the water tanks were full and I had called ahead to talk to the rangers. They had requested to have any fires put out with water. This means I had quite a bit of access to water, straight after putting the fires out I filled my water bags up and I had plenty of water to drink. 2. This was actually filmed last year october when the mallee was goign into an early fire season, as I said, rangers actually wanted fires out with water (not just burying sand on top) also being part of the CFA I gotta play by those rules when I'm putting content publicly on the internet. Hope that explains it. Have a good one mate
I truly enjoy your videos and I admire the effort and energy you put into them. Your monologue is well received and holds value for me. Keep up the good work Luke.
Fantastic video, having lived 3 years in the mallee bush between Euston and balranald this video was a pleasure to watch, I found quite few old places like you found with old cans and tins, usually with bullet holes in them, the mallee scrub used to have a fair few forestry workers in it. Cutting fence posts, brush for brush fencing and charcoal burners making charcoal, charcoal is what I did for three years, I often took my bag a blanket a rifle and would just wander it was a great life
Thank you very much for that bit of history! I was really curious to know what that camp might of been for. It certainly wasn't marked on a map or anything, and was a bit off the trail. I guess there are plenty of those old camps lying around the outback.
Yeah it's interesting how long the swagmen history goes for .. from the early 1800s right through to the 1930's. And even a few stragglers of the old life after that as well.
@TheBeardedBushranger haha yeah I live in the Pilbara. 30 degrees in winter and 40+ in summer and ournwet season is basically non existent compared to the Kimberley. I love the if I'm careful she'll be right mentality 👍
Hows that for timing, I'm heading out to this track this weekend for a solo birthday trek. I was doubting my ability to do this, but seeing a traditional swagman in his workboots and denim walking 60ks is giving the kick up the arse to just push on. Thanks for another great film Luke
Just goes to show how easily we can get caught up in making sure we've got all the perfect gear before getting out there. A humbling reminder that you can get out there with just the essentials and some safety equipment. You dont need the bells and whistles as most outdoors youtubers bang on about to get out and explore
Mate so jealous you get to head out there. This whole trip was filmed about a year ago, last October. And we were already heating up heaps so it was bloody hot. I reckon right now would be a great time to do it .. much cooler and plenty more water around with the rains we have just had. Hope it goes well for ya mate.
Spent some time in Singapore 1969/70 loved a Australian bush programme on tv, 'The Bush Tucker Man'. This is the first bush programme I have watched since brings back good memories. If you have not seen 'The Bush Tucker Man' Luke, have a look it is on you tube - a legend
you should always have two knives a fixed blade & a folder and possibly an additional machete or hand axe rabbit needs some oil added to it since it is such a lean meat best in a stew
From a rabbit eater in australia, rabbit cooked like that would have been tough as boot leather, in your situation if I had enough water I would have simmered it in your billy for an hour with pepper and salt, that way it is tender and tasty. Then for nourishments you can drink the water. And swaggies never had chai, they had black tea and if they were lucky some sugar. Anyway great video ol mate, and yes the city slickers would have no idea how bad the flies are 👍🏾
haha comment number 1254 on the way I cooked that rabbit ... but yeah next time I'll cook on coals. It wasn't too bad to be honest though. I cooked up a rabbit stew in one of the first videos I ever posted and it was much better .. took the time to really stew it and it tasted great.
An old technique: have severe red (or some bright color) bandanas or long ribbons. Tie one or two up in a tree or bush at camp. When walking away, have small chunks to put up as trail blazes. It has to save you only ONCE to pay off. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Awesome video thanks mate. I know the area you were walking through and it's absolutely magnificent country. Thank you for taking me through it on foot. I'm starting to get a bit old these days so it's great to be taken back out to these places. I'm getting the first of two knees knees replaced pretty soon so hopefully I'll be back out there again, in the meantime I'm living it through you :)
Gday mate, thanks heaps for that comment. I'm glad the video can give you a bit of a walkthrough country that you really enjoyed. Hopefully your knee replacements go well and you get back out for walk soon enough.
@@TheBeardedBushranger I hope the first knee replacement goes well too because I'm off to Marree for the Camel Cup next year and then later in the year up to Tibooburra and the Darling River! The wife and I went on a four week trip only three months after she had hers done so I can't be going soft and letting "team blokes" down or she will never let me hear the end of it!
Fair enough. I was out there to give it a crack and share the journey. I never hide my mistakes but I also never claim to be a survival expert. This was filmed a year ago. I've just come back from a 5 day offtrack outback swagman walk that corrected all the mistakes in this vid.
Yeah a few people have asked about this and basically it comes down to camping each night near a full water tank so I had plenty of water I could utilize. Also I had called ahead to the rangers before this walk and they do request that fires are put out with water. Another thing is this was filmed last year late october when the mallee was going into an early fire season, and being a part of the CFA I need to be seen as doing the right thing. Thanks again for watching.
Thankyou, I loved your adventure, my grandmar (Gar) used to tell stories about being on the trail with her father and cooking damper for the stockmen in a camp oven it's great your keeping the spirit alive!😊🇦🇺👍
What you Aussies call “damper”, around the Great Lakes in the US, we call bannock. Hint: don’t add all of the water to the flour at once. Add just in small dribbles, mix up the dough, and roll it around, THEN add another, small dribble,etc. Much less sticky mess on the fingers and pan that way. For some luxury, add a few nuts, berries (dried or fresh), and/or meat bits. JARVIS good eatin! Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Mate, that rabbit looked terrible! Letting the fire die down to coals would’ve been better. Flame just blackens anything. SR flour is better for damper, it needs to rise. Some ‘Cocky’s Joy’ (golden syrup) would be good on it. You certainly walked it like a swaggie so I take my hat off to you. Really enjoyed your vid, nothing like the great Aussie outback! 🥰🇦🇺🦘
I love what you do in your videos mate , especially sticking to the old historical traditional swaggie themes , !keep doing what you do , forget the idiots who look for something to knock , keep doing you ...
Lost 4 words remote rural NSW here opal miner, thanks for taking me along on your journey most city folk would not know shit from clay , 1 can live off the land. Got lucky had an indigenous elder take me out into the scrub we spent a week there just him and I when he did the traditional walkabout enough said.
That sounds like a great experience! Not a lot of people would have done something like that. Good on ya. Opal mining also sounds like another interesting thing to learn about.
I was born out west . And also have camped most of the simpson desert by permission . Great video mate watched it all. Nice down south where you were too, The emu's and some waltzing matilda was nice
Thanks for watching mate. Simpson desert would be a pretty special place to camp out. I've never been out that way. I've done the red center and kakadu area. But yeah gibson and simpson are next level remote.
G,day mate, great video, glad you found your knife ,they are a very personal item no matter what they cost ya, lost is lost, and that's how we feel whithout em. A good pocket knife whith some means of securing to ya would be a good back up. Very dry country mate, lucky there's water tanks. My maternal grandma was born in Charters towers, I'llnever forget the stories she told me. I'll be watching ya mate, stay safe, best wishe's to you and your's, Stuart UK.
Thanks for watching mate I appreciate it! Yeah I just got back from another big 4 day outback walk, and fixed this problem by carrying a spare backup swiss army knife (didn't loose my main knive as well this time around)
That's awesome Luke. You have captured the real Aussie spirit in this one. And I agree, stripping back, we don't really need much. That's what I love about going bush. It simplifies life. I have also spent a bit of time in Africa, and could also see many similarities with the Australian landscape.
Yeah it's amazing the similarities. I often think that both Africa and Australia have a very ancient primal feel to the landscape .. so it makes sense places would have a similar feel.
@@TheBeardedBushranger Evening, amazing to to think Africa and Australia were connected at one stage, Gondwanaland. Some plant families growing on both continents are related, Banksia and Protea and others are all in Proteaceae. The Waratah is another example. I can understand your comment " a very primal feel to the landscape ". Love your work, stay safe.
29:27 "Belah", a Type of Casuarina. Cross grain similar to Oak, easily burns, burns hot dirty and splits easily. Was used in Bakers Ovens back in the day.
In one of his Napolean Bonaparte books Arthur Upfield talks about how the swagmen communicated to others by chalk or similar sign language written at station gates describing the reception they got at the house on the property. I was on a trip with my family back in the 1950's when my dad who grew up in the bush pointed out a swagman walking along the road which by that time must have made him one of the last of that dying breed.n
You really communicated the spirit of Australia. I visited the one of the salt lakes, which must be in the same area you hiked, the last time I was in Oz. I can't wait to come back again. Soon I hope. Thanks for a lovely video.
14:55 The rabbit proof fence was constructed in 1901 to 1907 to keep eastern pests out of WA. This was the inspiration for McGowan's later border controls. 😁 In any case I think there were rabbits introduced early on. Certainly in the period you are talking about.
I have just subscribed mate love your knowledge of the bush it should be taught at school ha I'm dreaming 😉 I will binge watch all your vids looking forward to your content this year it is very hot out there be safe mate I'm in Brisbane 😃👍
@@antoninosolano7667 Thanks for that mate. I've got a big year planned ahead of me for videos so stay tuned. Yeah it's hot down here in Vicco right now as well!
Beautifully shot, really well edited, great narration and entertaining story. That emu encounter was really special. A mum with chicks can be pretty aggressive. I think you put out good vibes. Really nice video Luke. You captured that country's colours well.
Interesting and educational.. Thanks for taking us along and showing us the country.. and it was really nice that you found your knife. Stay safe and be well. Ed Belledin, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Hi when I was a kid growing up in the bush we were taught if you put something down mark it a rag or cloth in a tree a blase or arrow scratched on the ground pointing back to were you were if lost were you are going mark every 10 to 15 metres
Yup. Not a bad idea, especially when going off a trail and when you are in country that looks very familier. This is the first time for me in this country and it took me by surprise how easily you can loose your bearings .. I'm much more accustemed to green forests and moutnains.
Well done Luke, as I sit by the fire with a whisky at the comfort of home, appreciate how eye opening a trip like this is for you. When you scale back all the mod con, must wonder how old timers did this day in, day out… different times for sure, thanks for reminding us….👍
Thank you for watching! It really is interesting trying to imagine what it was like for the old fellas. Sitting back and watching with a whisky by the fire seems like the most fitting way to watch! Thanks again.
Gday everyone! Since this video is getting a bit of traction I'm getting lots of comments. 90% of ya love it but a few are critical which are pointing out the mistakes. Which is totally fair enough. Well aware I should of brought 2 knives, that cooking on coals is the way to go - go watch my other videos where I do all of that. To clarify I'm a bloke who loves the outdoors and Australia history and getting out and giving it a crack, and I never claim to be a survival expert. I also never try to 'hide' any mistakes made out bush and I'll always show both the good and the bad of a trip. Also, this video was filmed a year ago, and since then I have just got back from a big 4 day offtrack cross country outback walk where I have corrected all the mistakes made in this vid.
Thanks again for all the support!
Live the live👊
Mate ..... didn't you know? Everyone is an expert.
I thought it was a great video ..... keep doing what you love.
Take care buddy.
@@FeralPestControl 😆 some people love pointing out everything you've done wrong, while never creating anything themselves. But fair enough. Thanks for watching
Let ‘em judge and moan mate but you’re the man who is out there giving it a go. Legendary effort! Loved it
😁keyboard warriors…gotta love ‘em!
Hubby and I were driving through the outback in Western Australia in 1998 and we were several hundred kilometers from anywhere. We came across an Aboriginal man walking along the roadside so we stopped to see if he was ok, if he wanted any supplies, water or food, or a ride somewhere. He said no, he was doing fine. The only thing he was carrying was an empty tin can. He flourished it in the air and said "I know where the waterholes are." So he smiled at us and we left him to his walkabout.
That's a great story! I remember something similar one time many years ago in queensland, I was bushwalking and came out to a very remote country road, one lone aboriginal man walking along it by himself. Ended up walking with him half the day to reach the nearest town.
@@TheBeardedBushranger That must have been so interesting!
Happy walking mate and congrats on your efforts Gunter
@@survivalabc That is probably true. My own view is that it is better to see people as individuals, rather than any particular race.
I'm an Aussie who is real happy with the yt algorithm for once. A pleasant surprise
Awesome mate thanks for watching
Brilliant video. I’m a 60 year old that’s been bush camping all my life.
My grand father was one of the pioneers that opened up this brilliant part of the world 111 years ago. The farm is still owned by his grand and great grand children.
I smiled when I saw your canvas water bag, I still have mine and not to many people know what the hell it is☺️
Thanks for such a nostalgic video and such a hard slog in the harsh Mallee environment. Hat off to you Sir.
What a fantastic bit of history! Must be proud of your grandfather being a pioneer. Those must of been hard times! It's fascinating learning about how they lived and how they got by back then.
And I love my water bag, been taking it on quite a few trips! I'm yet to hang it up on the front of my 4x4 to cool it, but I'll have to do that one time as well!
I remember my grandfather but unfortunately he passed when I was very young.
However my dad left the Mallee as a young man.
He didn’t talk a lot about living on the farm. It was a harsh life, especially for a boy.
They were as poor as church mice. No power, dirt floors in the self made house, no shoes or fresh food (bar blackberries and rabbit), getting the horse ready for a day in the paddock before a five mile walk to school with little to eat. You get the picture.
We today find it hard to comprehend, some would even say child abuse. But different times and you just dealt with what you had.
Many thanks
I'm curious, when was that brilliant part of the world "closed"?
@@atombased-m3d as far as I’m aware, it’s still open.
Luke, you are a BEAST! Hats off to you for completing that trail in work boots! Your videos are incredibly relatable, and it's your ability to showcase your misfortunes and blunders that makes the viewing experience so much more immersive. Please continue creating this fantastic content!
Just a side note: To add some variety to my takka bag, I include plain dried fruits like peaches, which I believe still align with the spirit of the traditional swagman.
Thanks for your comment mate haha yeah the feet were a bit sore walking in steel caps.
The dried fruit actually sounds like a great way to get a bit of a natural sugar hit on these types of trip. Thanks for that.
Yes Ditto the above 😘
Hello from WA State, USA. Aussie born, in USA 50 years, 09/Oct, 1974- Present 09/09/2024.
The traditional swagmen were shearers walking from shearing shed to shearing shed and they carried with them one pound of flour sugar and tea and maybe dried fruit because they would mix the dried fruit in with there damper dough and probably some sugar and that would make johnny cakes and also they would have regular camping spots and swagman would throw some pumpkin seeds around so pumpkins would grow and swagmen would cook up the pumpkin and eat the cooked pumpkin and probably other vegetables which ever was growing at the swagman camp site
Great bit of info. Cheers.
@@TheBeardedBushranger l remember reading it in some book but l can't remember the name of the book
I like how you are real about your experience. Even when things went wrong you did not edit it out. Great video and thanks for being real.
Cheers mate. Yeah I'll never claim that I am some kind of proffesional expert. I've just got a passion for the outdoors, bushcraft and history and I'm taking others along on the journey as I learn more.
@@TheBeardedBushranger The settlers made dams, tanks, and waterbags, and nearly every Aboriginal bushwalker would rely on them today.
Hi Luke, you can avoid blisters by wearing knee-high nylons under your socks. It also helps to clean your feet and apply foot powder every morning before walking. I was infantry for many years and never had a single blister.
Cheers mate, yeah usually I do pretty good just with taping my foot when I start to feel a blister coming on. I was too exhausted and kind of pushed on that I forgot to do that!
I know about the powdering of feet (the silly swagman taught me that) but never heared about the knee high nylon.
@@TheBeardedBushranger They prevent friction from wearing the skin. Never got a blister after wearing them under my socks.
Or two pairs of socks, lightweight with heavier ones over them. Same principle
@@ColinMcCormack Good enough for a casual hike, but not for the long, forced marches with weapons, ammo, etc of my soldier days.
@@PolarBearMVG I don't doubt that
Age 56 did 315 km over 8 days Cameron Corner to Birdsville - no tent just a rubber mat and sleeping bag.
Raising money for YoungCare - loved every minute. Beautiful country 🙏🙏
PS 5 litres of water is roughly 5kg - best 5kg you will ever carry.
Good on ya, that is a really big walk. Well done. I love those big long distance walks as well. What is youngcare?
@@TheBeardedBushranger you should look up. They do a semi annual charity walk - would be a great video. They raise money and build accommodation for young people with disabilities.
Larapinta (240km), 6.5 days carried 1L of water and bugger all in the pack.
@ well done you. 👍
Thanks
Thanks so much for this support. I really appreciate it.
Superb video and thanks for taking the time. Loved it
Thanks for watching.
Man I have really come to appreciate the act of making videos on long solo hikes like this. I just hiked 102km in 2 & 1/2 days and all the extra shots of walking and b roll seems like such a legendary effort considering how much you’re already putting in to the hike itself. Also I totally understand that feeling of losing your bearings when you put your pack down and couldn’t find it again; I put my camera down in a bush (to protect it from the sand) while I stopped for a drink. Put my pack back on and continued walking for 20 metres or so before I realised my camera was still on the trail and even in such a small distance still struggled to find it! Took me a good 5 minutes of searching and backtracking to spot it. Learned a valuable lesson in that moment. Great video, thanks so much for sharing your adventure!
Mate 102km in 2 1/2 days is a solid effort! you must of been packing light to manage that! And yeah filming can sometimes take it out of you. Mind you I've come to feel like the camera is all part of the experience at this point. It is really great on those down times when your just hanging around and killing time ... gives you something creative to do!
@@TheBeardedBushranger Totally agree re the creative outlet! I only took a DSLR with me and a wide angle super takumar with me but I’m so glad I did. The environment was unreal and would not have been properly captured with only my phone. Unfortunately I had to carry 4L of water between camps and was prepped for the full 5 day trip just in case so started with 20.2kg and came home with 16kg. Feet are destroyed with blisters but the experience was unlike any other hike I’ve ever done! Your statement about pushing your body to its limits of discomfort to get away from the niceties and cushiness of regular life really hit home for me, I’ve never fully understood myself and my limits like I did on this trip. Such a valuable insight to have gained.
Thanks for a good long video
Cheers thanks for watching.
More than enjoyable mate, sitting here with a glass of wine and a bag of crisps. Been to lovely Australia a few times, Queensland, Loved it, love the folk, could live there. Thanks for this Swagman video, all the best to yer. (That sky though!! That reminds me so much of our trip, deep azure blue, I love it) Good job about the water tanks, very thoughtful. We were really green when we first came over, looked at the map and headed for the coast to get to see some whales, we thought we'd just cruise down to the coast, OMG two days later......we finally got there, the locals were laughing at us and I can see why, HUGE!!!. Subscribed. Cant describe how beautiful it was to watch this..
Thanks for watching! It seems a lot of people from overseas who visited Australia at some point fell in love with the place! Glad the videos could remind you a bit of your time here.
We watched the Swagman come through our little town, called Merinda ,as they always called at my Grandfather place and Grandmother would always cook them a hot meal, and they must have told their mates as that was the only place they called, that's back in 1945 in Nth Qld, it was tough going for them because there was not many cars around then, great you are showing people how it used to be, and we grew up with no phone or power or car ,so had plenty of time to roam the bush Many Thanks for taking us with You. ***😊*** ...
What a great bit of history you have there. It's interesting to think that the swagman history is as recent as the 1940's/50's/even 60's.
Sounds like you got to really experience a great lifestyle.
Thank you for watching.
@@TheBeardedBushranger that's what we called the good old days ,it's bloody crazy world now ,please take care and stay safe watch out for the snakes on 2 legs *** ...
Thank you for this report. I really enjoyed seeing the landscape and the Australian sky at night. I lived approx. 10 year down under and left Australia approx. 40 years ago. I am still a bit homesick when I see wonderful reports like yours. Thank you!
Yeah it's a beautiful country. Where abouts in the country did you end up living?
@@TheBeardedBushranger We lived in Melbourne and Sydney. In 2016, my wife and I visited Australia again. The best part was our train ride with the Ghan from Alice Springs to Adelaide. The railway company did a great job arranging for a stop at about 10pm and offered the opportunity to view a fantastic sky, even having special telescope to watch the stars. It was an outstanding experience.
@@jonnybolath6670 id love to do the ghan, sounds like a great experience
Greetings from South Africa, good on ya mate.
Mitch
Thanks mate. Good to see a few South Africans watching the channel
Fantastic vid yet again. I'm glad you found your knife. As someone who spends a lot of time in the outback it's nice to see vids showing just how tough it would've been 100+ years ago. I love reading the old books and diarys of the early settlers.
Yeah same .. some of the stories of isolation and hardship are really compelling.
@@TheBeardedBushranger Look up the book "mates and gold". I've read many books on the old prospecting years but this one is fantastic. That and the Len Beadell books.
Good on ya mate for going bush and giving it a go. Few mistakes I saw but you did well. Bit of advice though, if you want to live to do it again then don't waste your water putting out the fire. Cover it with soil and don't worry, no body is going to put their foot in it and get burnt because you probably won't have anyone coming along again for months.
Cheers mate thanks for watching .. so a few people have said the same thing in comments so I'll let you know the reasoning as well.
1. There were 3 water tanks along this walk, and I was camped by one each night. the water tanks were full and I had called ahead to talk to the rangers. They had requested to have any fires put out with water. This means I had quite a bit of access to water, straight after putting the fires out I filled my water bags up and I had plenty of water to drink.
2. This was actually filmed last year october when the mallee was goign into an early fire season, as I said, rangers actually wanted fires out with water (not just burying sand on top) also being part of the CFA I gotta play by those rules when I'm putting content publicly on the internet.
Hope that explains it. Have a good one mate
@@TheBeardedBushranger I had wondered about that, yea it makes sense, to be extra cautious about fires.
Agree
With
All
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So
Far
Thy
Man
Is
Having
Ago
Learn
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Let
Him
Be
So refreshing is ur content, really enjoyed that vid. Thanks
Appreciate you taking the time to watch it.
Fantastic video. You really captured the beauty of the outback. Glad you found your knife!
Thanks mate, I'm definantly keen to do more outback trips in the future.
What a beautiful country.
It sure is.
So true , really come to appreciate how good we have it these days when you strip it back and go without for a bit .
Makes you appreciate a warm shower, good meal and a comfy bed!
I truly enjoy your videos and I admire the effort and energy you put into them. Your monologue is well received and holds value for me. Keep up the good work Luke.
Thanks mate, I appreciate that. Glad you've been enjoying the videos.
Wow, what a great video. I could really feel the Australian spirit. I’m Glad you found your knife.
Glad you enjoyed mate!
That's not a knife!....@@TheBeardedBushranger
@@Howsmekowdendan THIS IS A KNIFE 😂
Good on ya mate.. No BS Just simply a love for the outback . Brent Canada
Thanks for watching mate.
Fantastic video, having lived 3 years in the mallee bush between Euston and balranald this video was a pleasure to watch, I found quite few old places like you found with old cans and tins, usually with bullet holes in them, the mallee scrub used to have a fair few forestry workers in it. Cutting fence posts, brush for brush fencing and charcoal burners making charcoal, charcoal is what I did for three years, I often took my bag a blanket a rifle and would just wander it was a great life
Thank you very much for that bit of history! I was really curious to know what that camp might of been for. It certainly wasn't marked on a map or anything, and was a bit off the trail. I guess there are plenty of those old camps lying around the outback.
Mate this is a stunning video, again you are living the dream. Keep up the amazing vision that you are creating 😊
Cheers mate! I'll continue trying to pump out these videos this year.
No place like it! Proud to call Australia home!
Bloody beautiful country it is
Stralia
Really enjoyed that. Thank you. Can't beat walking to appreciate your surroundings.
I love a good walkabout. Thanks for watching.
A lot of the swagmen were 1st WW1 veterans. Trying to walk the horrors of trench warfare out of their system. They just couldn't go home.
Yeah it's interesting how long the swagmen history goes for .. from the early 1800s right through to the 1930's. And even a few stragglers of the old life after that as well.
Yes, that is an important point
Very similar to American hobo culture.
Loved the video! Thanks for making it… the bush is amazing.
It sure is. Thanks for watching.
Such and Aussie thing to do. Windy, adverse weather, dry and hot. "That's why I'm just making a little fire" 😂
haha some days here in the summer are just a no go though.
@TheBeardedBushranger haha yeah I live in the Pilbara. 30 degrees in winter and 40+ in summer and ournwet season is basically non existent compared to the Kimberley.
I love the if I'm careful she'll be right mentality 👍
A very beautiful video of tranquillity, lovely photography and a very nice man. Aw gee, thanks again.
Thanks mate I appreciate it and thanks for watching.
Hows that for timing, I'm heading out to this track this weekend for a solo birthday trek. I was doubting my ability to do this, but seeing a traditional swagman in his workboots and denim walking 60ks is giving the kick up the arse to just push on. Thanks for another great film Luke
Just goes to show how easily we can get caught up in making sure we've got all the perfect gear before getting out there. A humbling reminder that you can get out there with just the essentials and some safety equipment. You dont need the bells and whistles as most outdoors youtubers bang on about to get out and explore
Mate so jealous you get to head out there. This whole trip was filmed about a year ago, last October. And we were already heating up heaps so it was bloody hot. I reckon right now would be a great time to do it .. much cooler and plenty more water around with the rains we have just had.
Hope it goes well for ya mate.
thank you for taking us on your adventure.
And thank you for watching!
6:21 I have a bright orange shemagh that I use to avoid this. Tie it to a bit of brush by the kit as a flag and don't go out of sight of the flag.
Great idea, thanks for that.
Spent some time in Singapore 1969/70 loved a Australian bush programme on tv, 'The Bush Tucker Man'. This is the first bush programme I have watched since brings back good memories. If you have not seen 'The Bush Tucker Man' Luke, have a look it is on you tube - a legend
Thanks for watching mate. Yeah I loved les hiddens! Also Malcolm douglas was a classic as well.
@@TheBeardedBushranger Thanks for getting back to me Luke - must be great to go fo a - 'Walk About'. I am located in Scotland.
Ha ha ruined rabbit. Some flour and curry powder and a light fry up is fantastic. Great video mate
Mate .. rabbit cooked to a black char is the best haha to be fair I cooked a good rabbit stew in one of the first videos I posted!
@@TheBeardedBushranger ha ha I’m still going back through the earlier episodes. Rabbit stew sounds amazing I’ll have to go and find the video
Brilliant mate, wife and I had big smiles watching this adventure. Liked and subscribed. Cheers.
Cheers mate thanks for watching!
you should always have two knives
a fixed blade & a folder
and possibly an additional machete or hand axe
rabbit needs some oil added to it since it is such a lean meat
best in a stew
dodnt forget a needle in your wallet for slivers n stuff, tip from a bushnik BC Canada
They are pretty good chicken fried also. Parboil an older one before frying.
Why? You watch too much TV.
Mate love it. It’s the beard , it’s your hidden power maintain the rage
😂
From a rabbit eater in australia, rabbit cooked like that would have been tough as boot leather, in your situation if I had enough water I would have simmered it in your billy for an hour with pepper and salt, that way it is tender and tasty. Then for nourishments you can drink the water. And swaggies never had chai, they had black tea and if they were lucky some sugar. Anyway great video ol mate, and yes the city slickers would have no idea how bad the flies are 👍🏾
haha comment number 1254 on the way I cooked that rabbit ... but yeah next time I'll cook on coals. It wasn't too bad to be honest though.
I cooked up a rabbit stew in one of the first videos I ever posted and it was much better .. took the time to really stew it and it tasted great.
Omg I love that place. 🎉. Paradise 🎉. This is real content ! Mouth organ ! Australians are the best 💪
Thanks for watching! Yeah something very special and peaceful about the outback.
Hello from Germany 🇩🇪
Guten Tag
You are an absolute bloody machine
Loved this video. They just keep getting better and better
Thank you or your amazing efforts ❤
Thanks heaps for watching mate! Appreciate that .. this vid was actually made a year ago but I wanted to upload it here on the new channel.
An old technique: have severe red (or some bright color) bandanas or long ribbons. Tie one or two up in a tree or bush at camp. When walking away, have small chunks to put up as trail blazes. It has to save you only ONCE to pay off.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Thanks for that.
Awesome video thanks mate. I know the area you were walking through and it's absolutely magnificent country. Thank you for taking me through it on foot. I'm starting to get a bit old these days so it's great to be taken back out to these places. I'm getting the first of two knees knees replaced pretty soon so hopefully I'll be back out there again, in the meantime I'm living it through you :)
Gday mate, thanks heaps for that comment. I'm glad the video can give you a bit of a walkthrough country that you really enjoyed. Hopefully your knee replacements go well and you get back out for walk soon enough.
@@TheBeardedBushranger I hope the first knee replacement goes well too because I'm off to Marree for the Camel Cup next year and then later in the year up to Tibooburra and the Darling River! The wife and I went on a four week trip only three months after she had hers done so I can't be going soft and letting "team blokes" down or she will never let me hear the end of it!
Lost your knife, almost lost your pack with your supplies. Its a miracle I am watching this video.
Fair enough. I was out there to give it a crack and share the journey. I never hide my mistakes but I also never claim to be a survival expert. This was filmed a year ago. I've just come back from a 5 day offtrack outback swagman walk that corrected all the mistakes in this vid.
At least he is out there giving it a crack, not just sitting behind a screen being critical of someone
Rats
@@PP-bm7zp Who is to say I haven't been out there just chose not to video it.
More an observation than a criticism.
Well done mate an awesome experience being with only nature and yourself .
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching mate I appreciate it.
To me, the most precious thing , is water. You could have put the fire out with sand and saved your water. Great video.
Yeah a few people have asked about this and basically it comes down to camping each night near a full water tank so I had plenty of water I could utilize. Also I had called ahead to the rangers before this walk and they do request that fires are put out with water. Another thing is this was filmed last year late october when the mallee was going into an early fire season, and being a part of the CFA I need to be seen as doing the right thing.
Thanks again for watching.
@@TheBeardedBushranger Ahhh I wondered about that too.
Thankyou, I loved your adventure, my grandmar (Gar) used to tell stories about being on the trail with her father and cooking damper for the stockmen in a camp oven it's great your keeping the spirit alive!😊🇦🇺👍
That's a great story .. have you ever seen the movie 'the shiralee' .. about a man and his daughter walking as swaggies?
Hello from qld
Gday mate.
Did you hear the crunch on that rabbit 😂
you truly are
a man of swag 😎
😂
Hi
Gday
Great video and the message is so true we don’t need all the modern stuff that we rely on unnecessarily
Yeah absolutely. Altough the modern stuff can be pretty nice to come back to after a big walk like this 😆
First
Love it! And glad you have learn how to cook on coals 😊
😆
What you Aussies call “damper”, around the Great Lakes in the US, we call bannock. Hint: don’t add all of the water to the flour at once. Add just in small dribbles, mix up the dough, and roll it around, THEN add another, small dribble,etc. Much less sticky mess on the fingers and pan that way. For some luxury, add a few nuts, berries (dried or fresh), and/or meat bits. JARVIS good eatin!
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
So wonderfull. Thank you!
Thank you.
Mate, that rabbit looked terrible! Letting the fire die down to coals would’ve been better. Flame just blackens anything. SR flour is better for damper, it needs to rise. Some ‘Cocky’s Joy’ (golden syrup) would be good on it. You certainly walked it like a swaggie so I take my hat off to you. Really enjoyed your vid, nothing like the great Aussie outback! 🥰🇦🇺🦘
Thanks for watching! haha I've just done another outback walk and I can promise you the cooking was much better this time around.
This is a great channel!
Thanks mate!
I love what you do in your videos mate , especially sticking to the old historical traditional swaggie themes , !keep doing what you do , forget the idiots who look for something to knock , keep doing you ...
Legend, thanks for that mate. Much appreciated and thanks for watching the videos.
Lost 4 words remote rural NSW here opal miner, thanks for taking me along on your journey most city folk would not know shit from clay , 1 can live off the land. Got lucky had an indigenous elder take me out into the scrub we spent a week there just him and I when he did the traditional walkabout enough said.
That sounds like a great experience! Not a lot of people would have done something like that. Good on ya. Opal mining also sounds like another interesting thing to learn about.
Was in Oz earlier this year, absolutely loved it can't wait to get back.
Awesome mate, it really is a great place.
I was born out west . And also have camped most of the simpson desert by permission . Great video mate watched it all. Nice down south where you were too, The emu's and some waltzing matilda was nice
Thanks for watching mate. Simpson desert would be a pretty special place to camp out. I've never been out that way. I've done the red center and kakadu area. But yeah gibson and simpson are next level remote.
G,day mate, great video, glad you found your knife ,they are a very personal item no matter what they cost ya, lost is lost, and that's how we feel whithout em. A good pocket knife whith some means of securing to ya would be a good back up. Very dry country mate, lucky there's water tanks. My maternal grandma was born in Charters towers, I'llnever forget the stories she told me. I'll be watching ya mate, stay safe, best wishe's to you and your's, Stuart UK.
Thanks for watching mate I appreciate it!
Yeah I just got back from another big 4 day outback walk, and fixed this problem by carrying a spare backup swiss army knife (didn't loose my main knive as well this time around)
Watching this video was very much time well spent. Thanks, from the US! And really glad you found that knife!
Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it.
Damn well done Luke! Amazing video and great results.
Loved watching your walk through the remote terrain. Great video!
Thanks for watching.
Always look foward to your next program all the way from Guntersville Alabama.
Awesome mate! Alabama looks like a pretty great place as well.
That's awesome Luke. You have captured the real Aussie spirit in this one. And I agree, stripping back, we don't really need much. That's what I love about going bush. It simplifies life. I have also spent a bit of time in Africa, and could also see many similarities with the Australian landscape.
Yeah it's amazing the similarities. I often think that both Africa and Australia have a very ancient primal feel to the landscape .. so it makes sense places would have a similar feel.
@@TheBeardedBushranger Evening, amazing to to think Africa and Australia were connected at one stage, Gondwanaland. Some plant families growing on both continents are related, Banksia and Protea and others are all in Proteaceae. The Waratah is another example. I can understand your comment " a very primal feel to the landscape ". Love your work, stay safe.
@@chrisallen7068 I remember being amazed when I found out the Waratah is also found in south africa.
Absolutely awesome video. Living the life I dream of.
Cheers mate.
29:27 "Belah", a Type of Casuarina.
Cross grain similar to Oak, easily burns, burns hot dirty and splits easily.
Was used in Bakers Ovens back in the day.
Thank you for this. You're the only comment who has let me know the species.
There were still a few of the old sundowners around in my childhood in the 1950's.
I find it really interesting that this history is as recent as the 1940's to 1960's. Thanks for watching.
In one of his Napolean Bonaparte books Arthur Upfield talks about how the swagmen communicated to others by chalk or similar sign language written at station gates describing the reception they got at the house on the property. I was on a trip with my family back in the 1950's when my dad who grew up in the bush pointed out a swagman walking along the road which by that time must have made him one of the last of that dying breed.n
Real interesting bit of history there mate. A few people have commented they remember stories of the last of the swagmen around that 1950's time slot.
Awesome adventure Luke enjoyed that one been whatching your channel for awhile and enjoy your content. Good way to start my day.
Thanks for watching, I'll continue to try and pump out these videos this year!
Thank you for this beautiful video and insights of the outback and your style to be in there
Thanks for watching.
What an epic adventure, thankyou for taking us along. Finding your knife must have been such a relief.
And thanks for watching! Yeah was very happy finding that knife again.
You really communicated the spirit of Australia. I visited the one of the salt lakes, which must be in the same area you hiked, the last time I was in Oz. I can't wait to come back again. Soon I hope. Thanks for a lovely video.
Awesome to hear! What was the name of the salt lake you visited?
You've really captured a feeling here that I've not seen before - some stunning scenes & just enough chat for the pictures to tell their story! 👍😊
Cheers mate, I appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed the vid.
@@TheBeardedBushranger 👍😊
So happy you found your knife!!!👍
haha yup so was I.
14:55 The rabbit proof fence was constructed in 1901 to 1907 to keep eastern pests out of WA. This was the inspiration for McGowan's later border controls. 😁 In any case I think there were rabbits introduced early on. Certainly in the period you are talking about.
18th century
Great video Luke - and your moment with the emu and her chicks was just lovely. It's nice to hear your thoughts and commentary too.
Thanks so much for watching. And since making this vid I've come to learn that it's actually the dads that look after the chicks! There ya go.
Male emu look after the babys
Very enjoyable video, enjoyed it immensely, well done mate.
Cheers mate, thanks for watching.
Great video Luke and I'm glad you found your knife 🔪
Nice to watch
Loved this video. Recent subscriber. Loved everything about it. Looking forward to viewing your other adventures.
Awesome mate, thanks for that. Plenty more vids to come.
Awesome mate 😂
Thanks mate.
I have just subscribed mate love your knowledge of the bush it should be taught at school ha I'm dreaming 😉 I will binge watch all your vids looking forward to your content this year it is very hot out there be safe mate I'm in Brisbane 😃👍
@@antoninosolano7667 Thanks for that mate. I've got a big year planned ahead of me for videos so stay tuned.
Yeah it's hot down here in Vicco right now as well!
'The Bushman's Salute' that killed me😂🤣😅😆😁🤭🤭🤭
Shoutout from the Caribbean Islands🏖🏝☀⛱ . . . 'One Love'🎶🎵
Thanks for watching mate. Just wait untill you learn about 'the bushmans hanky' 😂
@@TheBeardedBushranger Hanky?🤣😂😅🤭🤭🤭
What an awesome moment with the emu's coming that close.
Yeah one of my favourite moments out bush for sure!
Loved every bit of it ... Cheers Ol' Mate.
Awesome mate, thanks for watching.
Awesome video. Beautiful landscapes. Hello from appalachia Virginia in the states. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us....
Cheers mate, thanks for watching.
Hi looking in from Shropshire England have fun and thank you for sharing 🕊️
Cheers mate thanks for watching.
Beautifully shot, really well edited, great narration and entertaining story. That emu encounter was really special. A mum with chicks can be pretty aggressive. I think you put out good vibes. Really nice video Luke. You captured that country's colours well.
Thanks mate. So aparently I've been told that it is the emu dads that look after the little ones! Something I never knew.
Interesting and educational..
Thanks for taking us along and showing us the country.. and it was really nice that you found your knife. Stay safe and be well.
Ed Belledin, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Thanks for the kind comment and watching.
I really apprecite it.
Hi when I was a kid growing up in the bush we were taught if you put something down mark it a rag or cloth in a tree a blase or arrow scratched on the ground pointing back to were you were if lost were you are going mark every 10 to 15 metres
Yup. Not a bad idea, especially when going off a trail and when you are in country that looks very familier. This is the first time for me in this country and it took me by surprise how easily you can loose your bearings .. I'm much more accustemed to green forests and moutnains.
Magnificent trip. Inspiring!
Thanks for watching.
Great to watch bro glad you found your knife greetings from vic
Thanks mate!
Well done Luke, as I sit by the fire with a whisky at the comfort of home, appreciate how eye opening a trip like this is for you. When you scale back all the mod con, must wonder how old timers did this day in, day out… different times for sure, thanks for reminding us….👍
Thank you for watching! It really is interesting trying to imagine what it was like for the old fellas. Sitting back and watching with a whisky by the fire seems like the most fitting way to watch!
Thanks again.