The Entirely Mad Around the World Adventure of Half-Safe

[@MadceltStevo]

I spent 3 years working at Guildford Grammar School in the late 2000's and walked past Half-Safe daily. It's amazing how small it is. We used to regularly comment that it was amazing no one killed each other on the long ocean legs of the voyage.

[@FoolOfAToke]

If this does well look up Louie Mattar and his Fabulous Car! Dude drove across the U.S. (and maybe back?) without stopping, including for fueling. They would fuel up on the move at airport runways. And this was in the 50's (maybe 60"s) so safety was fifth. The trip almost failed because everyone in the car got plugged up from sitting so long, so they just called a local sheriff, who I guess reacted like "You can't stop driving and you can't crap in your car toilet? (ya, they had that) Well let me drive alongside you and toss some medicine over!" Different days. Oh, did I mention the wet bar or tobacco water pipe they had in the dashboard? It only gets crazier. I wrote an article on it at some point so let me know if you'd like some more info.

[@TheLtVoss]

Yep 50s crazy times

[@ItsAsparageese]

I for one would like some more info! I'm a hubrisy idiot who lives in a converted truck (so always looking for more wild ideas) and I love crap like this 😂

[@Forcemaster2000]

Ten years of misery, only to finally finish the journey only to find out that most of the world had lost interest in what you were doing! Heartbreaking!

[@laurendoe168]

My, how times haven't changed - but gotten worse... these days, the world suffers from a terminal case of ADD, and loses interest in under 10 minutes. For verification of this, ask any KZbin contributor.

[@briandufty5081]

@@laurendoe168. 2mints. What was this about.

[@luddity]

This is how the mRNA vaccine refuseniks will travel.

[@Rick-jf2ig]

Great, keep em away from the normal population

[@XX-sp3tt]

@@laurendoe168 Look up Classic Game Room Productions on KZbin.

[@rickcove5302]

I have actually drive Half-Safe. In 1999 it was brought over from Western Australia to Corowa, New South Wales to celebrate the 20th Corowa Swim-In. The Swim-In is an ex-military vehicle get-together in Australia, held every year in March. Gilford Grammar loaned Half-Safe to the event and the late Bob Dimer from WA brought her over to Corowa. Guilford Grammar limited the number of people allowed to drive her and luckily I was one of the very few allowed to drive Half-Safe. If I knew how I would upload the photos.

[@Battle_Beard]

The level of determination and resourcefulness is admirable; but I’d say this tale proves there *is* such a thing as trying to hard.

[@1pcfred]

We can all definitely do the wrong things. But I don't know about this journey. OK maybe he did not get the fame and fortune he'd hoped he would but he could still enjoy the memories himself for the rest of his life. His trip was an accomplishment no matter how you look at it. The triumph of the will over extreme adversity.

[@shawnbaker4554]

You definitely didn’t try “too” hard in English class. 😝

[@1pcfred]

@@shawnbaker4554 it may have been typing class they were not good at.

[@sertank735]

*too

[@ItsAsparageese]

Absolutely, but trying too hard is exactly the right thing for certain situations, such as attempting ridiculous impossible things :D

[@BlueCanary7]

"With a bit of titivatiin, you could go around the world in one of these things"... Today I Found Out, "Titivate (verb): make small enhancing alterations to (something)."

[@zorro456]

Honestly I was wondering if it was some sort of amphetamine.

[@oldenweery7510]

@@zorro456 Me, too! LOL

[@kdx82]

if you have a spare 70 years you can wait for another moon mission.. maybe.. if the chinese dont nuke you.. or the viruses dont kill you first

[@stephenphillip5656]

There's another book "The Other Half of 'Half Safe'" which tells in more detail Ben Carlin's journey from Britain to America _via_ Europe and Asia.

[@SIUMoose]

I had read about this years ago in an Uncle John's Bathroom Reader. I had never seen any of the footage. Thank you!

[@james8449100]

The perfect thing to avoid the congestion charges and toll bridges

[@robertsanders9068]

Huge thank you to Simon and his team - I read the 'Half Safe' book about 20 years ago and forgotten about it - time to dust it off and read it again - written in a time when the world was full of unsung heros!

[@Ho1yhe11]

There are 4 books 2 of which were written by Ben Carlin (ISBNs 978-1871948912 and 978-0959873115) and one by Boye Lafayette De Mente who accompanied Carlin to Alaska (ISBN 978-0914778042) And one by Gordon Bass (ISBN 978-1925324990) A story about the journey also appeared in national geographic which is where I first read about it

[@robertsanders9068]

@@Ho1yhe11 Thanks for the info - I ordered the Gordon Bass book shortly after watching the KZbin clip, having found a picture of Carlin's daughter with it on Twitter - didn't know about the DeMente one, looks a really good read - Thanks Again!

[@kenbotham8222]

WOW What a achievement. Great story Simon. I believe that this adventure should take place again with today's technology to construct a car/boat/hovercraft Also having the whole world watching on the KZbin.

[@mastick5106]

Dang. I mentioned the Half-Safe in a comment on Simon's "Five of History's Weirdest Cars" video just three days ago, and presto! Here's a video about it.

[@SEAZNDragon]

I wouldn't be surprised they were going to put it in then thought "Nah this needs it's own video."

[@MrLeatherman23]

Well, then, someone should mention Travels with Jupiter or Three Wheeling through Africa. Both are about Triumph motorcycles and not amphibs. At least it's not Upriver and Down: Stories of the Maine woods.

[@the_kombinator]

The DSO was cool - I saw it in upstate NY once. That I think also ended in divorce.

[@TRx-oj5nw]

Welcome to the matrix kid..

[@Dimitri-Jordania]

@@MrLeatherman23 whats upriver&down?

[@ThEjOkErIsWiLd00]

Missed opportunity to call this vehicle the "surf and turf".

[@larrylentini5688]

If I ever make an amphibious vehicle that's what I'm naming it.

[@shizunne]

The coast guards of various countries are the real MVPs finding this thing half a dozen times, lol.

[@willyd-adv]

I chose a 14 year old motorcycle, 6 years in I've only made it to New Zealand from Scotland covering 130,000km and 86 countries but all without a single plane and I've loved every second

[@niftyp2320]

How do you fund it? That sounds awesome.

[@willyd-adv]

@@niftyp2320 thanks it has been awesome. I saved up £10k over nearly 8 years then worked for cash in a few countries. Life on the road is very cheap but rewards are huge

[@niftyp2320]

@@willyd-adv Wow, thats dedication to making it happen. I'm 23 and have lately felt like I missed that 18-21 range when a lot of people go explore, but its inspiring that you clearly wanted something and worked/waited to make it happen. I've chosen to run the rat race for a few years to accumulate money, then travel with more knowledge and experience at 28 or so

[@willyd-adv]

@@niftyp2320 thank you for your kind words but trust me you haven't missed anything at all, in all honesty I'm very happy I didn't do the whole gap year thing. Instead I got a motorbikes for commuting and then started traveling at 23. My 1st trip was meant to he a 2 week trip yet didn't I return home for over a 14 months. Each year after I would work my ass off in the summer and then escape the cold Scottish winters and ride around mainland EU and always to west africa. Since then I have turned travelling into my life's passion, now on 35 there's no way I'm going to stop. Also when you do travel try avoiding planes, you'll have an unreal time

[@gabrielgiron4273]

At @11:12 you mentioned that he drove down the US's "east coast down to San Francisco", you meant "West Coast" bc San Fran is in California on that side lol. Cool video btw

[@lukaszgier]

Hey Simon. I recently watched your "How it's made - TIFO" and I wonder how the process changed over the years. Any chance for 2nd video about that? ^^

[@613aristocrat]

Yeah that needs an update

[@lukaszgier]

@@613aristocrat I think the most notable update will be "My girlfriend does all the thumbnails" to "My wife does all the thumbnails" XD

[@stephjovi]

He's got slaves in the basement now and 10 channels with 11 and 12 on the way. It was so much less 2 years ago so he sure had more time for TIFO

[@IndianaDipper194]

Yea that popped up in my recommendations yesterday too. Neat

[@CraftedVision]

Lived in Perth all my life and grew up so close to Guildford Grammar. My grandparents house was only a few doors down on Terrace Rd. I never knew about this! Now I want to go and see it!

[@jliller]

I misread the title as "The Entirely Mad Around the World Adventure in a Half-Safe" and was expecting the story of a man somehow floating in the ocean in a bank vault in a very large lockbox with the door removed.

[@jenkinseric2]

today I found out something I had never heard of at all. thank you. Eric, 71 year old Canadian in Victoria

[@krisblunden1642]

Hello from halifax

[@ridgeball6421]

not gonna lie, was a bit taken aback when I heard my name come out of his Simon's Mouth...

[@briandufty5081]

Ben I've got a nice mouth. If you got something to consume d. Don't pull back.

[@imperfectly-balanced8861]

@@briandufty5081 u wot ?

[@huntsbychainsaw5986]

The DUKW is my dream vehicle. When some people hit it big they buy a Lamborghini, Bugatti, or Pagani... I want a DUKW.

[@1pcfred]

I went with my uncle once to look at a DUK that he was thinking about buying. They're pretty big. Pictures really don't do them justice. He had a lot of crazy vehicles over the years including an air boat. But the one we were looking at was in pretty tough shape so he passed on it. I half got the feeling he was just interested in looking at it. Maybe he might have bought it if he liked what he saw? Still they're like 30 foot long boats with wheels on the sides. Big.

[@AeroGuy07]

I think you meant to say he made his way through Alaska and Canada and down the west coast of the US to San Francisco.

[@Legion_Victrix]

If the Russian rejected it as being impractical then it must be a relatively good sign of something is really............. really wrong. :)

[@mattmarzula]

I had to read this comment three times to make sure I understood it. An accurate statement from a terrible sentence.

[@Legion_Victrix]

@@mattmarzula Was it because of the MUSH word? It was a typo and I'm French Canadian so sorry for the mistakes in my phrasing, not everybody speak multiple languages ;)

[@Legion_Victrix]

@@TobyAnderson Oh I just saw my mistakes, sorry :P I know how it's written but I was listening to the video at the same time and I guess I got lost in my focus while typing :P Cheers

[@mattmarzula]

@@Legion_Victrix I got your point. Don't apologize or make excuses to explain yourself. It shows weakness. I'd rather you tell me to get bent. You've shattered my preconceived notion that French Canadians were stubborn and easily offended. I have to sit down for a while now.

[@Legion_Victrix]

@@mattmarzula well thanks for the comment. I don't know where you got that perception of us but you might be a little right on this. Those who are mostly offended by anything are 90% of the time the ones that only speak French and refuses to speak English as they are still (in their minds) at "war" with the English just like in the 1700's I guess. Most of us here in Québec speak both languages (less in the furthest regions in the north) and we are open to the rest of the world. Now, the fact that you corrected my sentences up there was more than welcome to me and it wasn't shocking in my opinion. Instead it only raised a flag for me to fix it. Thanks again. There are arses in any nations but most people are good people. Dont sit down for too long, you'll probably come across other good French Canadians like me more often than a/holes. You'll get used to it, 😉 Thanks again Cheers from Montréal, canada

[@budd2nd]

Surely that is a tale waiting to be made into a film?

[@michaelgallagher3640]

Along the east coast to San Francisco, Silly Simon.

[@countvladislausdragulia7414]

Just wanted to point out that this man provides multiple semi-educational conversation-pieces every week for free. Get this man an award.

[@birdsandthingsbeachandbush1064]

The town that guy lived in, is 40min away from me in good traffic. Yet I've never heard about this. Thanks Simon 😀🤠

[@campbellpaul]

That's the most depressing story I have ever heard thank you very much

[@ItsAsparageese]

People who don't get fulfillment from the adventure itself never commit to things that hard for that long. Fame and fortune is nice but I doubt it was dude's primary motivator. It's funny to me how you and some other commenters are saying this is sad and I'm over here like HEY NOBODY DIED THIS IS AWESOME I WANT THAT LIFE lmao

[@campbellpaul]

@@ItsAsparageese I was just being sarcastic... Society has always been a fickle entity when it comes to what it deems entertaining. Adventure is purely an individual's game.

[@ItsAsparageese]

@@campbellpaul Fair enough :P

[@campbellpaul]

@@ItsAsparageese In the '80s, we used to call people like that "hard men"... You don't see them as much anymore as people live more sheltered lives nowadays.

[@ItsAsparageese]

@@campbellpaul Yeah, true. I'm lucky to know an above average number of those types, lean that way a bit myself, haven't heard that particular phrase for it as like a general label though that's cool to learn

[@Logicalhuman83]

Sorry this is dumb to mention (your videos are so awesome so no offense). At 11:12 did you mean to say ‘US West Coast’? Only reason I ask is because I replayed that part a few times because I thought maybe I was missing something :) Love your work man!

[@rh661]

Two ideas 1. Why do singers all sound American? What happens to the accents? Are you all faking the accents in normal speech? 2. Operation: Paperclip. You have mentioned it in passing several times but never dug into it. Also heard it mentioned on "Dark Files" as well as "The Hunters" (Boy, they jumped the shark on the last episode).

[@glenesis]

Thanks. This is truly and deeply inspiring!

[@aghastlyghost]

1:53 the seep? like it lets water on? maybe the SEAL would be better, as you noted the heavy and lumbersome on land traits...

[@joecary3586]

Yes, the nickname had a dual meaning. It originally was a conjunction of sea-jeep. They had many small leaks where drive train components went through the boat tub, and the constant flexing caused the tub to crack, and let water seep in.

[@eekee6034]

When I was a kid, I wanted to do something like this; not around the world so much as adventurous independence, preferably with a multi-role vehicle. Having seen this, I'm just a little bit glad I didn't. However, I think I would have been more comfortable because promotion is one thing I'm not averse to. Also, although I like living in small spaces, I'm not so sure I would have chosen the smallest amphibious vehicle I could find!

[@1pcfred]

Maybe people didn't care but no one can ever take away what he did. He must have had a lot of crazy stories to tell too. Absolute Chad mad lad.

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@aghastlyghost]

Agreed 👏

[@JamesPhieffer]

A fascinating story that I remember being mentioned in a book about the creation of the Jeep back in the 70s or 80s.

[@VincentGroenewold]

Well, he was right, flying is so easy these days it is indeed... rather boring. Thanks for bringing these forgotten stories to light!

[@MandleRoss]

8:05 "Transat-lantic".... Hahaha... proofreader drunk again?!

[@TheBasher-_-]

I haven't seen a Simon video in what seems like a year. Glad to be back

[@ItsAsparageese]

Dawg get over to the channel formerly known as Business Blaze, the party's fire, you got back just in time, he's launched like three new channels since your estimate of last seeing his vids lol

[@tonedeaf73]

wow amazing you did a video on this topic!! I used to attend Guildford Gramma back in my high school days, and am totally surprised thanks for the video!

[@BewareTheCarpenter]

Growing up I watched a lot of Ripleys believe it or not and Guinness book of records. I learned that with enough determination many odd goals can be completed and many of the things people dream about aren't really worth doing.

[@stephenwright8824]

"Down the East Coast to San Francisco." _Common sense has left the chat._

[@thealvatar6181]

DANG!!! I’m from Toodyay Western Australia and I lived 30 mins away from the town of Northam and this is the first time EVER, I’ve heard anyone mention my (almost) home town in a KZbin video. I went to Northam all the time for Macca’s cos there’s no MacDonalds in Toodyay…

[@aceundead4750]

I forgot about this dude, he was in a couple documentaries about crossing oceans and globetrotting that aired on History, Discovery, Science, and Nat Geo channels on tv.

[@JeffKnoxAZ]

I lived a year on Shemya Island in the '80s, but had never heard about this incredible story. Shemya and the seas around it boast some of the worst weather on earth. Summer there lasts almost two weeks. The guy had to be seriously off his rocker.

[@Rocco1332]

Reminds me of Hammonds amphibious van, and he couldn't make it across the channel.

[@WoWSoka]

Dude had a dream and spent his life working toward it. Pretty cool.

[@andrewfell7642]

I grew up on the Alaska highway just 400km from taylor, and it took 23 years to hear about some dude driving a floating jeep across the peace River? Damn. You'd think that would be more well known

[@alfr1]

There are several of the bigger version of this type of craft still carrying tourists around Wisconsin. If you ever desire to find/see/ride one.

[@davidcabral9851]

Check out the dobberton surface orbiter

[@BlueCanary7]

I know these vehicles well: a whole fleet are going strong in Boston, for the Duck Boat tours.

[@NathanCassidy721]

They are an indigenous species of San Francisco as well.

[@billbrasky6827]

I'm pretty sure that is a different type of vehicle 🤔

[@Battle_Beard]

Pretty sure the Duck Boats are considerably more reliable. Can’t load 40-60 people on a vehicle and plunge into the Charles with a “Half-safe” track record.

[@BlueCanary7]

@@billbrasky6827 @BattleBeard yeah, after finishing the video I think you're right. Boston's are the "just like this one but they actually work" model!

[@krisblunden1642]

Here in halifax we have the harbour hoper that’s based on the Vietnam era duck the larc

[@vustvaleo8068]

a.k.a. the depressing journey that ends in a meaningless goal, ouch.

[@Hissmannen]

We have a canal named Göta Kanal here in Sweden, its nicknamed the divorceditch due to many husbands and wifes arguing and not being very good sailors. How this couple didn’t kill eachother on this nightmare journey is a mystery.

[@anotherdamn6c]

Ben was notoriously difficult to get along with but he was determined.

[@EvanMoon]

At a park near us they have an amphibious vehicle that you can get a ride. It is a DUKW WW2 2 1/2 Ton Truck Fondly called the Duck.

[@philhead03]

Seems like you've gotten east and west mixed up in this video... at 10:24 you say the Aleutian Islands are northwest of Japan, but they are very much northeast. At 11:13 you say he drove south through Alaska and Canada, then along the US east coast to San Fransisco - which is on the west coast, not east. Otherwise, great video!

[@likebot.]

@ 11:30 tho' LOL "Reunited" wink wink nudge nudge, looks and glances, need I say more? know what I mean, know what I mean!

[@billbaker3565]

Makes me wonder if anyone attempted this in the larger, truck sized “duck”.

[@krisblunden1642]

I to wonder this if not want to go splits on one and try

[@claudebarnum7760]

You should look up Rick Dobertin(not sure on the spelling), surface orbiter. Made from a milk tanker.

[@Explore-earth-4x4]

Not the only Australian to adventure around the world, a film maker named Alby Mangals did something similar in the 80's and it too was one disaster after another. His film was called "World Safari "

[@1pcfred]

Traveling pretty much sucks. You can make the most of it but the act of traveling itself is a chore. Hopefully you're going somewhere good. But getting there? Never much fun really.

[@MisiekCentralny]

@@1pcfred With that kind of attitude one’s life must be a nightmare…

[@1pcfred]

@@MisiekCentralny wrong.

[@jamesengland7461]

What a crazy story!

[@ItsAsparageese]

Me, with a side hobby of designing a mostly-solar-powered plane/ground vehicle that I'd also ideally like to make amphibious (at least enough for a short distance in emergencies) and hoping to do a polar circumnavigation with it one day: "HA! REASONABILITY IS FOR WUSSIES!" Funny enough, my dad (who is part of my inspiration since he worked in Antarctica, and from whom I get my junkyard-MacGyver traits) has also always been a Jeep dude ... it's like these interests all run together, along with hubris and wacky ideas 😂

[@theknifedude1881]

I would have thought their dream/trip would have gotten top billing from the start. Maybe they just needed better PR management.

[@templarw20]

"Just a little madness." Dude, Australia makes Florida seem like a convent...

[@garretth8224]

Not really

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

It is amazing that he done the feat using a sub-par amphibious vehicle.

[@shadowgb]

Now I want to do this!

[@MoldyStir-Fry]

Your beard is looking exquisite today, Simon!

[@toddlerj102]

I went on a trip in London in a duck amphibious vehicle years back.

[@ItsAsparageese]

From where, may I ask? How was it?

[@REDCLAYHOMESTEAD]

this was a good one.

[@tomanycooks]

they're a tourist attraction here in Queensland Australia. Aqua ducks. they do tours

[@wandamcconnon8829]

Duck boats are also available in Branson Missouri tour table rock lake.(for swimmers only)

[@ericmcconnaughey2782]

I think I saw something about a really bad accident with one of those things a while back. Bunch of people died.

[@stuffhappensdownsouth9899]

I woulda paid money so to the look on the engineers face at ford when asked of the feasibility

[@SlocketSeven]

We have found AvE's grandpa.

[@louispconstant6624]

That beards looking good mate. ;)

[@3212009a]

It's been 6 months and still waiting to see what happened with Daven and his airplane!

[@Ho1yhe11]

While on the topic of difficult journeys maybe the next one to cover should be the adventures of Doctor Hannes Lindemann

[@omnigar9611]

last time I came this early, she didn't charge me.

[@aghastlyghost]

Fast as a spark, gone in a shock

[@aghastlyghost]

🤣 Like no one saw you even going there.. So, 😃 In this instance, the early worm catches the 🐦 Two ticks and a flick of the wrist and the moment had past the dream was long gone the eyes dried over seeing the hour it had cried upon, the blinking second hand traced the pace shallow and in vain, two bob never felt so cheap, satisfied as the z's spread a smile across her face, a gentle laughter on her chest, the cuckoo in the clock bursts out and the very time in mind clearly spells the rest. Lucky escape or gift never replaced? Entropy in good taste, where man had none but to play at to save grace.

[@themoon8178]

I have seen them in Nowra

[@jh6025]

Weren't the trailer park boys trapped on one of these things in the final season before it went to Netflix?

[@joecary3586]

That was an Argo amphibious atv.

[@jh6025]

@@joecary3586 thanks 😊

[@ChristinaMaterna]

For anyone mishearing, he was born in "Northam" Western Australia. ... hearing "Northern" almost got me spewing 🤣

[@tophers3756]

I want one to tour Europe. Start at one end (tbd), enjoying the sites by land and river then crossing the channel to continue.

[@theoffbeatarchive9225]

Recuperating in Birmingham? How random. It’s impossible to be further from the sea in England!

[@ajstevens1652]

If you tried this today, you'd be arrested and sent to an asylum.

[@Charlieee23]

I thought they had a duck boat (the yellow duckmarine) at Albert Docks in Liverpool for tours

[@MacKennaTheGoddessofRadiation]

If this is the WW2 im thinking of, Stone Mountain park in Georgia still ises these vehicles as duck rides :D

[@steverogers9664]

Read the book this is based on 20 years ago! It first came out in 1991

[@java7583]

I read the title and still feel like I had a stroke or something, that's how I can tell this is going to be good gwah hahah. Be well friends!

[@kerryrus]

Love that background music, what is it? I want to play it on repeat.

[@roadkillavenger1325]

Seems to be a slowed-down example Of a famous song that's sitting on the tip of my tongue. @$&+# hate when I can't think of what it is.

[@kerryrus]

@@roadkillavenger1325 I think the famous song that's sitting on the tip of your tongue is: Beautiful Life

[@roadkillavenger1325]

@@kerryrus Maybe. It also reminded me of a Coldplay song as well. Viva La Vida I think it is. There's a similar chord progression anyways lol.

[@ZeroWalker26]

One man decided to take a Dark souls journey around the world.

[@Abravado]

Yes, that's where I have been going wrong...too much madness...

[@molybdaen11]

Now that is some dedication. Sadly it cost him everything despite being warned multible times.

[@lonjohnson5161]

Hey Ferb, I know what we're going to do today.

[@w_ulf]

That "even" the US Army had rejected as impractical? Can be taken two ways, lol.

[@coltonbucholz6278]

It’s a shame to see such brilliant person have their dream turn into a nightmare.

[@1973Washu]

I think it would take more than a little madness .

[@clemstevenson]

But he survived, so the attempt couldn't have been sufficiently dangerous. Amelia Earhart's last adventure proved sufficiently dangerous. Darwin Awards are always posthumous.

[@jamierabinowitz9465]

You do a video on plennie wingo

[@finiasj.whoppy1870]

The American west coast to San Fran.. Thats what you get with a foreign proof reader... Simon Pickle Whistler

[@happymembranophone]

Oh wtf. I used to work at that school and I don't remember ever seeing it. I probably wasn't paying attention...

[@joshchaplin3705]

Since when does Moby do educational videos?