Episode 1 Ben & James Versus the Arabian Desert


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This programme contains some strong language

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-How are you feeling?

-Awful. Ah, hanging on for dear life.

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Just think of the miles that we're covering at least.

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Olympian James Cracknell and adventurer Ben Fogle

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are taking on the largest sand desert in the world...

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Wow, look at this!

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..the Empty Quarter.

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They're travelling in the footsteps of legendary British explorer

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Wilfred Thesiger.

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Their goal - to rekindle a lost friendship.

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We're getting there, yeah.

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Together, they've already rode across the Atlantic Ocean

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and raced to the South Pole.

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Now, in the most hostile desert on the planet,

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they'll face extreme heat and dehydration...

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I do feel like I'm almost hallucinating, I feel like I'm drunk.

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..violent sandstorms...

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The sand gets in your nose, eyes, mouth.

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-..and unpredictable camels...

-Argh, stop!

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Stop it, stop it.

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Argh!

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I'm in so much pain.

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..and their troubled relationship will be

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pushed to breaking point.

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It's OK. Jamie, Jamie, calm down.

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You're lying, you're lying. You don't want to head out, rubbish.

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Sometimes, James is an arse.

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If you go to bed with an argument, it gets bigger.

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Can James and Ben find what they're looking for in the most

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remote place on Earth?

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I'm going to need you more than ever over the next two days.

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We've both been on umpteen expeditions and trips

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and this is WAY harder.

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-Do you know where you're going?

-I am going...there.

-Middle East?

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-Middle East.

-Would you point it out on a map?

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It's a week before Ben and James set off for the Empty Quarter.

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It's bigger than the Sahara.

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James' wife Bev and their children Croyde, Kiki

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and Trixie are helping him get ready.

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Cos it's so big,

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it's like the space between your ears - there's nothing in there.

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'This is an amazing place to get to go to.

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'Neither Ben or I are experts in this environment,'

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it's a case of, in any situation,

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knowing what your limitations are and planning around them.

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-Who loves you?

-Da-da.

-Oh, he does. Oh, he does.

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-He's going to miss you, isn't he?

-Uh-huh.

-Uh-huh. Where's Daddy going?

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-Is he going to see a camel?

-Mm-hmm.

-Wow.

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I'm, for once, not going to be the most grumpy person on camp

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cos there's some camels there as well.

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-Check it out.

-Ludo, can you guess what Daddy's going to make?

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'I've never properly tried to live and be self-sufficient in a desert.'

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It's more like a dinosaur.

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'For me, this is a really exciting opportunity to genuinely test'

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myself in what I think is probably one of the toughest terrains.

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Can you make me enough to last me a month in the desert?

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The Empty Quarter expedition will be the longest that Ben has ever

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been away from Marina, Ludo and Iona.

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The funny thing is I'm genuinely reaching a stage now where

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I just want to be with my family and part of me thinks maybe I should

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just hang up my adventurer coat but I do love this whole adventure thing.

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Ooh, watch, a big wave.

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Ben and James first met in 2005 when Ben asked the Olympic rower

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to join him in a race across the Atlantic.

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The cabin is underwater.

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Very scary and Ben's very shaken. As am I.

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They emerged from the gruelling 50-day voyage as firm friends.

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-Good job, man.

-That was amazing.

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Three years later,

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they teamed up again in a 500-mile race to the South Pole.

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We're not even halfway.

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The pressure of the race pushed their friendship to the limit.

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I can't be a...a sponge, we've got to be a pushing-out.

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'My friendship with James is quite a complex one,

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'there's no doubt about it,

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'and we have been described and are often described as the odd couple.'

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We are, we're pretty different.

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Whatever it is, James has to and wants to be the best at what he does.

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Despite the tension of Antarctica,

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they always planned to do a third expedition together.

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But in July 2010, tragedy struck.

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During a cycle race across America, James was hit by a petrol tanker.

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He suffered a catastrophic head injury.

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He was wired up to all sorts of machines, pillow covered in blood.

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His brain had swung forward in his skull

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and all the damage was to the front of the brain.

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I was a day away from never seeing my family again.

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James' skull was split in two places with severe bleeding

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and swelling of his brain.

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It was a sort of waiting game of, well, is he going to live?

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Yes, brilliant.

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Is he going to be OK? We don't know.

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Hmmm, OK.

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We can't tell you how much of him is ever going to be back.

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The one thing they were categorical about,

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they said he will never regain some of these functions that he

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had before, he will always struggle with some of these things.

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That's really hard to hear.

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He spent three months on a neuro trauma recovery ward in America.

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Three years on,

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he's still coming to terms with the effects of the accident.

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'Not a day goes past when I wish it hadn't happened

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'and I wish it hadn't happened for Bev and the kids.'

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The reality is, with the frontal lobe injuries, the ability

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to plan, organise, motivate and empathise are massively reduced.

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He's found it very hard to maintain relationships which apparently

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is classic, textbook behaviour for someone who's had his injury.

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'I probably don't even really know where our friendship is

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'at this particular moment and in some ways,'

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actually, in many ways,

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that's why I'm embarking on this trip with him

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cos I see this as a chance to try

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and understand more about where we are now but also, I don't know,

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I don't know whether James sees it that way as well,

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but I kind of feel like that we need to...

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We need to...refriend.

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With a brain injury, it's very difficult

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and people find it very hard to be honest

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and they've got their expectations of what the impact

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of the injury is and are you different or not that different?

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And if they see you walking and talking,

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the assumption is you're OK.

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That's part of the excitement for me, to prove to...

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I think I've proved to myself, just to show whether it be to Bev,

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to family, to other people who've been through a tough time,

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that he's back, he's fine and let's crack on.

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My worry comes from the fact that I've been told that

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some of his...characteristics,

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some of his traits have been exaggerated through the accident

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and I say that with a smile on my face cos that does worry me

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a little bit because, by his own admission,

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he was always quite hard on himself and those around him,

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he was always pretty driven,

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he always had the potential to be a bit grumpy occasionally,

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and if those are exaggerated,

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I'm about to go away with a monster.

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Ben and James are travelling to Rub' al Khali, the Empty Quarter.

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Spanning over 250,000 square miles across the Arabian Peninsula,

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it's the largest expanse of sand in the world.

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They're following in the footsteps

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of British explorer Wilfred Thesiger,

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who criss-crossed this vast desert over half a century ago.

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Aristocratic by birth, Thesiger shunned the trappings

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of privilege and wealth to travel in the company of local Bedouin.

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He shared their hardship and won their respect,

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earning the nickname Mubarak bin London.

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Now, James and Ben

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are attempting to cross 600km of the Empty Quarter in Oman.

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They've promised their families they'll be away for just four

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weeks, so it's an ambitious goal.

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Local elder Musalem Al Mahari will be their mentor, teaching them the

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traditional Bedouin skills they'll need to survive in the desert.

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Hi there, how are you? Very nice to meet you.

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-So you're going to...help us with everything?

-Yes, I'll do.

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I'll try my best to help you.

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-Have you ridden a camel before?

-No, no. Once.

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Once, many, many years ago,

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I was hopeless so we know nothing really about camels.

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Horses?

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-I've done a teeny bit but not really very much.

-And you?

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Horses, no, I'm...

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-I used to have a cat. That's about it.

-OK.

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-Cos we know nothing.

-Yeah, I mean, it's quite hard.

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Ben and James are in Salalah, Oman's second city.

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When Thesiger was here in the 1940s, it was still a small town

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that had been built on the ancient trade of frankincense.

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Thesiger knew he was witnessing the end of an era as oil wealth

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and a rush to modernity began to change Oman

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and the whole of Arabia for ever.

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I've kind of being fascinated by Thesiger since I was a young boy,

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I remember finding that book, Arabian Sands.

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The more I read,

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the more captivated I became about this Empty Quarter, this vast,

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inland ocean and the fact that here was a man out here being

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traced by gun-toting Arabs, genuinely, his life in jeopardy.

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Come, quickly.

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Listen to me, listen to my advice.

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The traditional souk has changed little since Thesiger's day.

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Ben and James want to travel as he did,

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so it's the perfect place for them to shop for authentic supplies.

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'On a modern expedition, you can be as hi-tech as you want.

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'Quick-wicking clothes, GPS, you can have water pumps to purify

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'the water, just about everything at your disposal, satellite phones.'

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But I think both James and I are fascinated to try and take it

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back to its grass roots level and I've never really done that before.

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-Try this.

-Look at this, you've got a smile on your face now.

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It's like a jock strap.

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Hey, James, OK.

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Is it a bit over the top? Do you think...? Is this for look?

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-Is this for show...

-Yeah.

-..or is this also...?

-Both, both.

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-Where's Ben? OK.

-Silver.

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I mean, it's kind of... It's kind of like dressing up, isn't it?

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-Now, try to eat a lot of fries to have big belly.

-Oh, really?

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Yeah, to have big belly.

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-Like this, you don't look a rich man.

-Really?

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-You've got the evening attire version.

-Does it suit me?

-Yeah.

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What do you think?

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Am I going with the campest desert companion in the world?

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In fact,

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I was going with the campest desert companion in the world anyway,

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now, he's just made himself look like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

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Priscilla, I'm coming.

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Come, come, come.

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The tribal unrest that Thesiger encountered over 60 years ago

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is long gone, but it's still Bedouin tradition to carry

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a dagger as a mark of masculinity

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and it's a crucial tool for survival in the desert.

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-I think we need a short one and a big, strong one. Each.

-Each?

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-You not think just...?

-A small one and a big one each.

-Yeah.

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Well, why doesn't one of us get a small one and one of us

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gets a big one?

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OK, if a snake happens to be near you,

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are you going to have time to fold it out and chop its head off?

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No, I think you want to take one of each.

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I think it is better to have one of each than a gun.

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I think we definitely have some disagreements on how we want

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to approach this in terms of whether we're going for...whether

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we're going for practicality or authenticity.

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This knife, the blade runs right to the hilt, is going

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to behead a snake or a...camel or a Fogle.

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But...this knife...will go with his Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

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outfit he's got, so I imagine he'll end up with this.

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The budget will be three times as much.

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Next on the Thesiger shopping list is food.

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They'll need enough supplies for three weeks but first,

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they must agree on how closely to follow Thesiger's meagre

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rations of rice, bread and eggs.

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We could take potatoes. I don't know how we'd cook them.

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-No, you can't take...

-Tomatoes, probably not.

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This is Uday Ali.

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We need this for bread.

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-For this, 50?

-50, OK.

-50?

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-55.

-55?

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We just said 50, I thought we had the deal at 50 cos it would have been 60.

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I'll do 25 kilos for 25 rials.

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No problem.

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I would shake your hand but it's probably quite sticky.

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Four of these.

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Are you buying ginger, Ben? There isn't sushi.

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Well, listen, I want to add a little bit of flavouring

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-so we've got some ginger.

-You're not going to live off ginger.

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This is what Thesiger took out.

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-No, ginger is going to just add a little bit of...

-No, what's this?

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-Hmm?

-What's that?

-Shark.

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Completely against my ethics. Thank you, sir.

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-You've been living in Notting Hill too long.

-What have you got?

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How much fish is there?

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-We've got...

-We've got way more ginger, look at the...

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That's the ginger and fish.

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I know but the ginger is going to be...flavouring all of our...

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Think how heavy that is.

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-It'll be fine.

-You're going to a desert, what are you thinking?

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This is the first time James and I have spent a day together in years.

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It's funny cos it's almost like we're back to square one,

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it's almost like I'm with James the stranger again, you know,

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James who became such a good friend, who is still such a good friend.

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I'm still learning about who he is, how he works, and

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if I'm to be honest, I have had a bit of a shock...cos he's so different.

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It's such small nuances but they kind of...in my mind,

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they've escalated and that makes it a little bit hard because...

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..I don't know quite which James I'm dealing with here.

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-Sugar?

-Yeah.

-Salt?

-Yeah.

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-Dates?

-Yes.

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-Ginger?

-No.

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THEY LAUGH

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In 1945, Wilfred Thesiger left Salalah on his mission to open

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up the Empty Quarter.

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He called it "the greatest prize of Arabian exploration."

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Ben and James are following his route north,

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heading to a Bedouin camp for their desert training.

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There's suddenly a lot of nothingness, isn't there?

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Look, it's beautiful, right?

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Not really, it's the same as it was about a minute ago and an hour ago.

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But here...

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It's stunning but I've seen it, I feel I've seen it all now.

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Unlike Thesiger, Ben and James have decided to

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take on the Empty Quarter without local guides.

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Morning. Salam.

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They've got just three days at Musalem's temporary camp to

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learn the necessary skills from his team of Bedouin tribesmen.

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You ready?

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First, it's time to meet their only team-mates -

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the camels that will carry them and their supplies.

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Oh, it works for the camel as well.

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They must learn quickly how to manage

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and ride these notoriously wilful and grumpy ships of the desert.

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Pull this down and say...

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HE MAKES HISSING SOUND

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JAMES REPEATS SOUND

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Tch, tch, tch.

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Ben, who's known for his love of animals, has a touchy-feely style.

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(Thank you.) Good boy.

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James goes for a firmer, no-nonsense approach.

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Your camel is quiet because your camel is afraid of you

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because the camel knows that you are stronger than him.

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Ben's camel, he is thinking now,

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"How could I throw him somewhere in the desert?

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"How can I kill him? How can I defend myself?"

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It's the quiet ones you've got to watch for,

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that's what we say in England. I'm quite worried.

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He's very quiet now but it'll only take one second.

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-Do your best when you are in the Empty Quarter.

-Yeah.

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JAMES MAKES CLICKING SOUND

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Very good.

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Always keep yourself in the centre.

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-Am I not in the centre?

-Yes, you are OK, always in the centre.

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-Shall I go up?

-Yeah.

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Feels good being up.

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And we're off. Slowly, slowly.

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My one really wanted to join you, James.

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They're up with ease.

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But their mentor, Masalan, is having some difficulty.

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Tch! Tch! Tch!

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JAMES SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY

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-Crazy camel!

-GRUNTS

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How are you going, James?

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HE LAUGHS

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-You OK, Masalan?

-Yeah, I fell down.

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-Do you think we've got the best tutor, James?

-No.

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HE LAUGHS

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Come on, teacher.

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SINGS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

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-Which way are we going, Masalan?

-Left.

-Left.

-Left.

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-On this side.

-That's right, then.

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They've taken to the riding well,

0:18:470:18:50

but Ben and James will travel through the desert

0:18:500:18:52

with four fully-loaded camels.

0:18:520:18:55

They'll have to ride their own camels

0:18:560:18:59

and manage the pack animals tethered behind at the same time -

0:18:590:19:03

a much more difficult skill to master.

0:19:030:19:05

Where are we going?

0:19:050:19:07

-This is the direction to Saudi Arabia. You see those canyons?

-Yes.

0:19:070:19:11

-You see the hills?

-Yes.

-Straight on.

0:19:110:19:14

This way. CLICKS TONGUE

0:19:160:19:17

-Over the canyon.

-OK. Come on. On you come.

0:19:170:19:20

On you come. On you come.

0:19:200:19:22

HE SHOUTS

0:19:230:19:25

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

0:19:250:19:28

Whoa. Whoa.

0:19:320:19:35

Stop!

0:19:350:19:37

-Are you OK, James?

-All good.

0:19:390:19:44

The camels, they...maybe they don't like James.

0:19:440:19:50

I don't know.

0:19:510:19:53

James is the toughest person you're ever going to meet.

0:19:560:20:00

He was hit by a truck at goodness-knows-what miles an hour.

0:20:000:20:03

I was in that hospital the day after, and all the nurses said

0:20:030:20:06

that no normal human being would have survived that.

0:20:060:20:10

James is made of, like, armour.

0:20:100:20:13

Having said that, I think, like all of us, he has a lot of pride.

0:20:130:20:17

Partly both of us want to learn by our mistakes,

0:20:180:20:20

but mistakes in the desert can kill,

0:20:200:20:22

especially when you've had a head injury, and I'm always aware of that.

0:20:220:20:25

IT BELLOWS

0:20:250:20:27

I know, I know. I know. I'm sorry. It's on now.

0:20:270:20:31

You obey me, all will be good. All will be good.

0:20:320:20:37

You may not think I'm the boss, but between you and me...I am.

0:20:370:20:43

The camels will carry the water

0:20:450:20:47

that will keep the entire team alive between wells.

0:20:470:20:51

The Bedouin claim goat skins are still the best way

0:20:510:20:55

to look after this precious resource.

0:20:550:20:58

-What will we put in there?

-You put water.

0:20:580:20:59

-No!

-You put water.

-Yeah.

0:20:590:21:02

So the water just goes in the top here, does it?

0:21:020:21:04

-Yes, the water in the top.

-Yup.

0:21:040:21:06

They've actually got the udders still on them.

0:21:060:21:09

So they're female goat skins mainly?

0:21:090:21:11

-I think they're the testicles, Ben.

-Really?

0:21:110:21:13

JAMES LAUGHS

0:21:130:21:15

Wow. What are you doing? Testing that it's...?

0:21:150:21:18

And they guarantee they won't leak?

0:21:180:21:20

No. I mean, at the beginning, they leak a little bit.

0:21:200:21:23

It smells a bit like rotten shoes.

0:21:230:21:27

What does the water taste of, then? When it comes out of here.

0:21:270:21:30

The first week, it will taste not good.

0:21:300:21:33

Smells not good, taste not good.

0:21:330:21:36

Excellent.

0:21:360:21:37

-But it will change. After a while, you will like it.

-Will we?

0:21:370:21:40

Maybe at the beginning,

0:21:400:21:42

you will have, the first or the second day, diarrhoea.

0:21:420:21:45

-Oh, good.

-Maybe. Maybe. And then after, it will change.

0:21:450:21:49

It's the last day of training.

0:21:570:21:59

With the reality of what they're taking on beginning to dawn,

0:21:590:22:03

the mood in camp is tense.

0:22:030:22:06

Ben and James have set themselves an ambitious target.

0:22:060:22:10

From the village of Al-Hashman,

0:22:100:22:12

they'll enter the Empty Quarter,

0:22:120:22:14

crossing over 600km of harsh desert

0:22:140:22:17

terrain and huge sand dunes.

0:22:170:22:19

Their chosen target

0:22:190:22:21

is the vast and fabled quicksands,

0:22:210:22:23

known as Umm as Samim,

0:22:230:22:25

"mother of poison",

0:22:250:22:26

made famous by Wilfred Thesiger,

0:22:260:22:28

the first western explorer ever to reach them.

0:22:280:22:32

But unlike Thesiger, they're determined to make the crossing

0:22:320:22:35

without Bedouin guides,

0:22:350:22:37

using only a map and compass to navigate.

0:22:370:22:39

So, Masalan - maps, routes, navigation.

0:22:390:22:44

This is key, isn't it?

0:22:440:22:46

It's the thing I'm the most nervous about,

0:22:460:22:48

so feel free to group me in that nervous...area.

0:22:480:22:52

-Because it may look empty, but we have to go the right way.

-Yep.

0:22:540:22:57

Your direction is this way, north-east.

0:22:570:23:01

Sand dunes like this.

0:23:010:23:02

Sand dune here, sand dune here, sand dune here, sand dune here,

0:23:020:23:05

sand dune here - no canyon.

0:23:050:23:07

So, all through here, how far do those big dunes go?

0:23:070:23:10

-This goes down to here.

-OK.

0:23:100:23:12

-About 40km.

-40km of dunes.

0:23:120:23:15

After 40km, you will come to sand dunes, canyon. Go north.

0:23:150:23:20

-And then head north? Yep.

-That's Saudi Arabia on the other side.

0:23:200:23:23

-Saudi Arabia. Don't come close to Saudi Arabia.

-No.

0:23:230:23:26

-There's the quicksands.

-Yep.

0:23:260:23:30

And this whole distance from here to there, roughly?

0:23:300:23:33

-650km.

-Wow.

-650km.

0:23:330:23:37

For James, the pressure to navigate successfully

0:23:410:23:44

between water wells is very real.

0:23:440:23:47

His head injury means heat and dehydration

0:23:470:23:50

could bring on an epileptic fit.

0:23:500:23:53

In terms of being ready for the Empty Quarter,

0:23:530:23:56

the bits that I'm worried about now

0:23:560:23:58

is not necessarily the riding the camels and securing the camels,

0:23:580:24:01

the feeding the camels,

0:24:010:24:02

the packing the camels - it's finding the water,

0:24:020:24:05

and finding our way directly to the next well.

0:24:050:24:10

A seizure in the desert would mean the end of the expedition.

0:24:110:24:15

More importantly, it could threaten his life.

0:24:150:24:18

It's vital they have the means to find and carry water.

0:24:200:24:24

The navigation seemed quite specific for the first 20km

0:24:260:24:30

and then, very random for the next 480.

0:24:300:24:33

So...I think we're going to need every drop of water.

0:24:330:24:37

How long these will hold up for, I don't know.

0:24:380:24:41

It will take two days to reach the first well.

0:24:430:24:46

They'll need at least 70 litres for them and their camels.

0:24:470:24:51

I'm worried. I'm really worried.

0:24:550:24:57

Especially as these...

0:24:570:24:58

..don't look like they'll hold for more than a few hours.

0:25:000:25:03

Leaking goat skins are a serious threat to Ben and James.

0:25:060:25:11

Wilfred Thesiger fought a constant battle with thirst.

0:25:110:25:15

At times, he went between wells

0:25:150:25:17

surviving on just a single cup of water a day.

0:25:170:25:19

Temperatures in the Empty Quarter can reach over 50 degrees.

0:25:220:25:25

To keep cool, he dressed like a Bedouin.

0:25:250:25:28

Ben and James will also wear traditional Bedouin clothing.

0:25:300:25:33

We have to stop being western men now.

0:25:330:25:37

Right. Goodbye, shirt.

0:25:370:25:40

I'll miss you. My favourite purple ones.

0:25:410:25:44

Big pants.

0:25:470:25:48

How do you do this, Ben?

0:25:500:25:52

Can I say, it's actually very comfortable. It's quite breezy.

0:25:520:25:56

-Are you free-balling?

-Yes. Well, with the big pants.

0:25:560:25:59

But there's nothing to hold me in place.

0:25:590:26:02

Our boots give us away.

0:26:020:26:05

Yeah, I think there's plenty more than the dishdashas

0:26:050:26:08

going to give us away, but this is the fun part.

0:26:080:26:11

The serious part comes when we get the camels loaded and we set off.

0:26:110:26:17

How are you feeling about that?

0:26:170:26:19

I have pretty much...

0:26:190:26:23

zero confidence in...

0:26:230:26:26

..our navigation, if I'm honest.

0:26:260:26:28

I'm not confident in our water holding up,

0:26:280:26:31

because it's leaking so much.

0:26:310:26:33

With just a few hours before nightfall,

0:26:400:26:42

they must address their concerns with Masalan now

0:26:420:26:45

if they are to have any chance of leaving tomorrow.

0:26:450:26:48

-Did you fill these, James?

-They were full. They were all full.

0:26:490:26:52

-They are leaking.

-I filled them all up.

0:26:530:26:56

Look. These were full. Look at it. These are just empty.

0:26:560:27:01

All they've been doing is sitting in a truck,

0:27:010:27:03

not bouncing on a camel, and it's...

0:27:030:27:06

So much has gone out.

0:27:060:27:07

You see, when you hang it like this -

0:27:070:27:10

when you hang the goat skin like this, it will not leak.

0:27:100:27:13

This is not my environment, Masalan. I'm not going to go.

0:27:130:27:16

I have a wife and children.

0:27:160:27:18

I'm not going in there not knowing where to go,

0:27:180:27:20

and with bags that leak.

0:27:200:27:22

It's just not a responsible thing for any parent to do,

0:27:220:27:25

or any individual to do.

0:27:250:27:27

You need to be, you know,

0:27:310:27:33

confident and comfortable with what we have with us, so if we...

0:27:330:27:39

Look, Masalan's coming.

0:27:390:27:42

James, I'm the first to agree water is life out there

0:27:420:27:48

and there's no point, so I agree. Let's take them full.

0:27:480:27:51

So, Masalan, we've decided, as a team, this is our plan.

0:27:510:27:56

-We're going to take these two.

-Yes.

-But we want to take them full.

0:27:560:28:00

We will fill the water now.

0:28:000:28:04

-So we take that and two goat skins, you think?

-No goat skin?

0:28:040:28:08

IT BELLOWS

0:28:130:28:16

Hey, beautiful. How you doing?

0:28:270:28:29

-WOMAN'S VOICE:

-'All right.'

0:28:290:28:31

Getting on pretty well with the camels,

0:28:310:28:33

although the camel threw me off yesterday, which was...

0:28:330:28:36

'Oh, dear.'

0:28:360:28:38

Lucky it was on sand, so that was OK.

0:28:380:28:41

Don't you worry. We will be very safe.

0:28:410:28:43

-BOY'S VOICE:

-'Hi, Daddy!'

-Hey, little man.

0:28:430:28:45

-How are you doing?

-'I'm good.'

0:28:450:28:47

Hello, Mr Ludo.

0:28:470:28:49

So the camel is actually saying hello.

0:28:490:28:53

I can send the camel back and I can stay in the desert.

0:28:530:28:56

Would you rather have me or a camel?

0:28:560:28:58

-WOMAN'S VOICE:

-'It's a tough one.'

0:29:000:29:01

HE LAUGHS

0:29:010:29:03

Hate those last phone calls.

0:29:050:29:07

I'm nervous about it.

0:29:110:29:12

I'm really nervous,

0:29:120:29:13

because I'm going to be doing something I've never done before

0:29:130:29:20

and doing it with someone who's never done this before,

0:29:200:29:24

and we're going to have to work together,

0:29:240:29:26

and this is really a test of not only

0:29:260:29:28

how I can adapt to the situation anyway,

0:29:280:29:31

but also proving to everyone

0:29:310:29:35

that I am back to who I used to be,

0:29:350:29:38

and that's really important.

0:29:380:29:39

Should I be doing this? Do I still want to do this?

0:29:390:29:42

I'm nervous about heading out there, but I'm excited as well.

0:29:440:29:47

Ben and James are leaving their Bedouin mentors behind

0:29:570:30:01

to begin their journey across the Empty Quarter.

0:30:010:30:04

Sorry, big fella. It's that time of day.

0:30:040:30:06

They've still no idea

0:30:100:30:11

if their navigation skills are up to the task,

0:30:110:30:14

or if they can cover enough distance in two days to reach the first well

0:30:140:30:18

60km away.

0:30:180:30:20

I'm still dubious as to whether we have enough water.

0:30:220:30:28

I mean... Whoa! Whoa!

0:30:280:30:30

I feel let down by Masalan in terms

0:30:340:30:37

of getting the goatskin bags.

0:30:370:30:42

They just...they leak so much.

0:30:420:30:45

As much as he's saying,

0:30:450:30:47

"Well, they won't leak when they're on the camel,"

0:30:470:30:49

it's not something I believe, really.

0:30:490:30:52

He's still really worried about water and navigation.

0:30:540:30:58

And let's be honest, that's kind of

0:30:580:31:00

what makes the Empty Quarter the Empty Quarter -

0:31:000:31:02

water and navigation.

0:31:020:31:04

And heat.

0:31:040:31:06

I always knew this was going to be tough.

0:31:070:31:10

We haven't even started yet, and psychologically,

0:31:100:31:12

it's kind of eating us up.

0:31:120:31:14

James does drag me down.

0:31:140:31:15

There's no way I would have been

0:31:150:31:17

as stressed as that yesterday with someone else.

0:31:170:31:19

I don't think.

0:31:190:31:20

I still have a lot on my mind,

0:31:200:31:22

but I think he does pull me down a little bit,

0:31:220:31:25

and it's my job to try and pull both of us back up.

0:31:250:31:27

I have to work double-time.

0:31:270:31:29

And in that sense, I do feel I'm treading on eggshells.

0:31:290:31:35

IT BELLOWS

0:31:390:31:42

That's OK? Come on.

0:31:440:31:46

-All right, guys.

-Four camels.

0:31:470:31:49

-Four camels.

-Food.

-And us. That's us.

0:31:490:31:52

-It's going to be fun, yeah? That's the thing.

-It is going to be fun!

0:31:540:31:57

-Hey, Masalan.

-Good morning. James and Ben, how are you?

0:31:570:32:01

-Yeah, yeah, good. I think we are finally ready.

-That's good.

0:32:010:32:08

-I'm happy that you have learned a lot in a few days.

-We'll see.

0:32:080:32:12

And I wish you a good trip. I hope to see you in the next five years.

0:32:120:32:18

-So, take care.

-I hope it will be quicker than five years.

-OK.

0:32:180:32:22

Brilliant.

0:32:220:32:23

-Thank you very much, Masalan.

-Bye-bye.

-Thank you. Camels are good.

0:32:230:32:28

We're off, James. We are off to the Empty Quarter.

0:32:280:32:33

I feel like I'm going to the best fancy dress party ever.

0:32:330:32:36

-I'm going to win the best costume.

-Say goodbye to civilisation.

0:32:360:32:39

Bye, guys. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everyone.

0:32:390:32:43

Come. Just...

0:32:440:32:46

Wow, look at this.

0:33:000:33:03

Now, that...is an unbelievable sight.

0:33:070:33:11

It's certainly empty.

0:33:150:33:16

What's more worrying is that every sand dune

0:33:180:33:21

looks pretty much the same to me.

0:33:210:33:22

Hey, fellas. Don't you back away from the Empty Quarter.

0:33:220:33:25

-I'm relying on you.

-They're genuinely all looking around going, "Oh, no."

0:33:250:33:28

"We're going in with these two idiots."

0:33:280:33:30

That's what they're saying.

0:33:300:33:32

I don't speak camel yet, but I'm learning.

0:33:320:33:34

God, though, it's beautiful.

0:33:350:33:37

I don't think I've ever seen a desert quite as vast.

0:33:420:33:45

You'll be bored of that view in about an hour.

0:33:480:33:50

Here's my gang.

0:34:070:34:09

Captain Barnacles, Janet behind,

0:34:090:34:14

and just in front, over there, is James.

0:34:140:34:21

James, what's your load camel called?

0:34:210:34:24

-Otto.

-Oh, no, carrying the cargo.

0:34:240:34:27

I don't really know.

0:34:270:34:29

Otto Two is kind of what I've been referring to him as.

0:34:290:34:32

For the next 18 days,

0:34:370:34:38

it will be just Ben, James and their four camels.

0:34:380:34:42

Without Bedouin guides,

0:34:420:34:44

navigation through the sand dunes is no easy task.

0:34:440:34:48

So, Masalan said to us, "Go across the valley,

0:34:490:34:53

"go to behind that dune, and take the gully to the north-east."

0:34:530:35:00

-So right to north-east.

-Yep.

0:35:000:35:02

They not only need the right bearing,

0:35:020:35:06

they must also know their average hourly pace

0:35:060:35:08

to map their route to the first well.

0:35:080:35:11

-So what do we think our walking pace is now?

-Over three, easily.

0:35:110:35:15

Three kilometres an hour.

0:35:150:35:16

After just two hours, they're struggling.

0:35:220:35:25

Well, I'm confused, then.

0:35:250:35:27

This could be this one, this could be this one.

0:35:270:35:31

I think we need to go that way.

0:35:310:35:33

OK. You think we need to go east of this one,

0:35:330:35:35

and then to the north of the one behind,

0:35:350:35:38

and then that will bring us back out onto the sand and gravel.

0:35:380:35:41

It's almost like we just have to have a pant, and if we're wrong,

0:35:410:35:44

we have to come back and take the other route.

0:35:440:35:46

-We've got to get it right.

-Listen, I know we've got to get it right.

0:35:460:35:49

This is the hardest bit.

0:35:490:35:50

And it's so easy to get the dunes muddled

0:35:500:35:53

because there's so many of them.

0:35:530:35:55

To keep to their bearing,

0:35:580:35:59

they decide to go straight over a big sand dune.

0:35:590:36:02

Have you seen your camel goes up on its knees?

0:36:030:36:05

-It's quite steep, mate.

-Yeah, yeah.

0:36:050:36:09

It's not a good idea.

0:36:090:36:10

The pack animals, Janet and Otto Two,

0:36:100:36:13

are weighed down by 75kg of supplies each.

0:36:130:36:17

Steady, steady.

0:36:170:36:19

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

0:36:190:36:21

-You OK, James?

-Yeah, hang on. Let me, um...

0:36:210:36:25

Just pull her, and this momentum will drag her up.

0:36:260:36:28

Just need to grab...

0:36:300:36:31

James, I think it's too much weight. I think we've got to get this off.

0:36:330:36:36

No... For fuck's sake.

0:36:440:36:46

Whoa!

0:36:460:36:48

Arghh!

0:36:500:36:52

If the camels escape, they'll lose all their food and water,

0:36:520:36:56

which would mean the end of the expedition.

0:36:560:36:58

Well done.

0:36:580:37:00

-Come on.

-Just going to get mine.

0:37:030:37:04

Hey!

0:37:060:37:07

Slowly, slowly.

0:37:120:37:14

We've discovered not to take them over big dunes.

0:37:140:37:17

Big dunes and camels don't work very well.

0:37:190:37:21

They need to cover at least 30km today.

0:37:240:37:28

I think we might need to just check navigation, Ben.

0:37:280:37:31

But they are still struggling with their route,

0:37:320:37:36

and the camels.

0:37:360:37:37

Come on. Stop it. Stop it.

0:37:370:37:40

Whoo! Got a boot to the leg, there.

0:37:400:37:42

-You all right?

-Yeah.

-Don't you get any ideas.

0:37:420:37:46

After so many wrong turns, the pressure is taking its toll.

0:37:480:37:53

Oh.

0:37:540:37:57

Fucking idiot.

0:37:570:37:59

I fucking don't give a shit any more. This is bullshit.

0:38:000:38:04

As soon as we get there, the sooner we can fucking go home. Come on.

0:38:050:38:09

-CAMEL GROANS

-Yeah, fuck you!

0:38:090:38:10

Ups and downs.

0:38:140:38:16

I think, um, I think James is getting frustrated.

0:38:160:38:20

He's just got off and he's starting to swear.

0:38:200:38:24

Um, listen, it's... It is frustrating.

0:38:240:38:28

We've had to stop and redo them. Navigation's hard, so...

0:38:280:38:32

It's...you know? It's not easy.

0:38:320:38:36

We all go up and down.

0:38:360:38:38

I'm feeling...I'm actually feeling really good.

0:38:390:38:42

But I don't want...but this is my, you know?

0:38:420:38:45

I've got to temper that a bit, I'm aware of that.

0:38:450:38:48

After a frustrating nine hours on the move, they decide to make camp.

0:38:530:38:58

I have absolutely no idea where we are.

0:39:010:39:03

It looks very much the same as when we started out this morning.

0:39:030:39:08

It's full of sand dunes.

0:39:080:39:10

And as our navigation briefing was five minutes,

0:39:100:39:15

and our map involved a pencil line drawn near to 600km away,

0:39:150:39:21

it was very much a case of the blind leading the blind, which,

0:39:210:39:28

when you're going somewhere for the first time,

0:39:280:39:30

it's not a particularly good way of finding anything.

0:39:300:39:32

I'm hoping navigation becomes easier.

0:39:350:39:38

Walking is one thing. Walking in the wrong direction is another thing.

0:39:400:39:45

This is kind of cooking fesija style.

0:39:550:39:58

It's literally just water, salt and flour.

0:39:580:40:02

No yeast or anything.

0:40:020:40:04

It's pretty stodgy and heavy, so it really fills you up.

0:40:040:40:07

I've never baked bread out on an expedition like this.

0:40:090:40:13

It's the opposite of what you would normally do.

0:40:130:40:15

You'd normally have rehydrated meals, boil some water, eat, go.

0:40:150:40:20

Instead, I'm about to spend a couple of hours cooking it.

0:40:200:40:23

And you'll see, it's quite laborious.

0:40:230:40:25

-What do you think of the bread?

-I think it's damn good.

0:40:290:40:32

Anyway, we've got bread for breakfast and we've got lunch as well.

0:40:320:40:37

Marvellous.

0:40:370:40:39

We need to be just a bit careful of scorpions around here.

0:40:410:40:45

-Just do a little check, especially boots in the morning.

-Mm.

0:40:470:40:51

-What time is it?

-6.30.

0:41:070:41:10

-Fucking hell! How long have you been awake?

-I just woke up.

0:41:100:41:13

Oh, man!

0:41:130:41:15

Ben and James have overslept.

0:41:160:41:19

They're already an hour and a half behind schedule.

0:41:190:41:23

These camels hawked all night.

0:41:230:41:26

After yesterday's navigation problems,

0:41:260:41:29

they'll have to keep moving all day in the right direction

0:41:290:41:33

to stand a chance of reaching the well by nightfall.

0:41:330:41:36

Look at the dune in front of you.

0:41:380:41:40

Very nice. I hope we don't have to go over it.

0:41:400:41:43

-Were you cold last night?

-A little bit chilly.

0:41:450:41:48

Your tea water is ready.

0:41:500:41:52

Oh, perfect.

0:41:520:41:54

-Is there any dates?

-Yeah, dates...

0:41:540:41:56

Where's the sugar?

0:41:590:42:01

HE SLURPS

0:42:010:42:04

Are you ready, fellows?

0:42:040:42:07

There is no biting allowed!

0:42:070:42:10

That's us.

0:42:100:42:13

-Right, so, James?

-Yeah, Captain?

0:42:130:42:16

We head towards that big flat escarpment on that dune

0:42:160:42:19

and then bear to the left.

0:42:190:42:22

They've missed the coolest part of the day,

0:42:220:42:24

but a good night's sleep seems to have lifted James' spirits.

0:42:240:42:28

Talk me through your adaptations.

0:42:280:42:32

You look like you've been blinging it up.

0:42:320:42:34

Well, I've got a sort of slit in my dishdasha there.

0:42:340:42:39

-Eh, that's because...

-Are you trying to show me leg?

0:42:390:42:41

Well, I would be showing you leg, although I did actually

0:42:410:42:44

-fashion a pair of gaiters out of my undergarments.

-Yeah.

0:42:440:42:50

So that there's less sand going down my shoes.

0:42:500:42:53

Because we spent so much time walking yesterday.

0:42:530:42:55

So, um...what's the mood in camp today,

0:42:550:42:59

given the mood can only be you and I? What mood have we created?

0:42:590:43:03

-All in all, in the black rather than the red at the moment.

-Good.

0:43:050:43:08

I'm feeling really optimistic today.

0:43:080:43:11

I think, um, yeah, slowly, slowly we're getting used to life out here.

0:43:110:43:17

-Go over this way.

-So, straight on?

-Yeah.

0:43:170:43:20

I think things are a bit more relaxed today.

0:43:220:43:25

We left a bit later than we wanted, you know.

0:43:250:43:28

But you can't have everything.

0:43:280:43:30

It's like something has to always give here.

0:43:300:43:33

-It's looking good.

-Oh, that's a big flat plain.

0:43:330:43:36

That's a good sight already.

0:43:360:43:39

You see that kind of different coloured one there?

0:43:390:43:42

Down to the right, yeah. So, you see the little shrub on the top?

0:43:420:43:46

Yeah, exactly. We're not going to go over that or over that.

0:43:460:43:49

So I'm pretty certain it's down there.

0:43:490:43:52

-We're getting there, yeah.

-Slowly.

-Slowly, slowly.

-Slowly.

0:43:520:43:57

Well done, Otto. Good pace. Good pace.

0:44:000:44:04

Have you noticed how the packing

0:44:070:44:09

-seems to be much better today?

-Yeah.

0:44:090:44:12

James and Ben have been on the go now for nine hours

0:44:160:44:19

and covered 27km.

0:44:190:44:22

They're back on track to make it to the well.

0:44:220:44:25

There's a lot of camels on the horizon.

0:44:250:44:29

Are there lots of people with them as well?

0:44:290:44:33

Is funny, isn't it?

0:44:340:44:36

Cos actually, one of them looks like a man on a motorbike.

0:44:360:44:39

And actually, one of them looks like a bloke pulling a sledge.

0:44:390:44:44

I think my mind is already playing tricks on me.

0:44:440:44:46

But I'm hoping where there's camels, there's going to be a herder,

0:44:490:44:54

a nomad of some sort, and I would imagine they would keep them not far from a source of water.

0:44:540:44:59

Look - camels, greenery and water!

0:45:050:45:07

It's not the romantic oasis of legend. But it's water.

0:45:090:45:13

Oh, look at that, guys!

0:45:130:45:15

And finding it marks a huge success for James and Ben,

0:45:150:45:19

and excellent news for their camels.

0:45:190:45:22

How satisfying is that?

0:45:220:45:26

Wow!

0:45:260:45:29

Ooh! Is that good, Janet? What do you think, Otto?

0:45:290:45:33

It's the relief of seeing these guys filling themselves up.

0:45:330:45:37

It actually looks quite clean, this water, as well.

0:45:370:45:40

Mm.

0:45:400:45:43

Sulphurous!

0:45:430:45:44

Pretty satisfying to see them drinking, isn't it?

0:45:480:45:51

There's plenty more gas in the tank, is what I get from that.

0:45:510:45:54

After today's effort, they've earned an early finish.

0:45:550:45:59

It was a huge relief to get to the well, you know, because,

0:46:030:46:07

not only just to get to the well, but for the well to be where we thought it would be.

0:46:070:46:12

And that is a huge relief.

0:46:120:46:14

We are in better shape for a good day tomorrow than we were yesterday.

0:46:140:46:20

Mentally.

0:46:200:46:22

It's been a really good day.

0:46:230:46:26

We're going to try and, eh...

0:46:260:46:30

up the ante a little bit tomorrow.

0:46:300:46:32

We're on an unstoppable train now.

0:46:340:46:37

Here we go. I think that's OK.

0:46:430:46:46

How many tea bags would you like in the tea, sir?

0:46:510:46:53

-Oh, just one, thank you.

-One?!

0:46:530:46:57

It's so quiet here, isn't it?

0:47:010:47:04

Yeah. Ish!

0:47:040:47:06

All except for the grumbling camel.

0:47:060:47:09

What were you hoping to get out of...out of coming here?

0:47:090:47:14

I think the bigger attraction for this trip was to go with you,

0:47:140:47:19

than just to come here to the desert.

0:47:190:47:23

It's something I've always wanted to do, if I'm to be really honest.

0:47:230:47:27

-Well, likewise.

-I mean, we haven't really seen each other for a while.

0:47:270:47:34

You've kind of...you've been having

0:47:340:47:38

your own things to deal with,

0:47:380:47:43

and, you know, we've both got families and both disappeared off.

0:47:430:47:46

So throwing that question back to you about why you're here.

0:47:470:47:50

I spent a lot of the last three years hiding away a little bit,

0:47:500:47:58

from...cos people don't really know, or didn't, you know, how to...

0:47:580:48:02

..talk to me or have a perception of what

0:48:060:48:09

I would be like after having had a big old smack on the head.

0:48:090:48:13

Do you think there's a stigma in people?

0:48:130:48:16

I think there is not necessarily a stigma, I think...

0:48:160:48:19

It is often called the hidden illness, a brain injury,

0:48:190:48:24

because you don't really know what people are capable of.

0:48:240:48:29

It's not like a heart attack or cancer. There is a kind of...

0:48:300:48:35

or a broken leg.

0:48:350:48:37

There is a timescale or a perceived recovery. We all know someone...

0:48:370:48:42

It's very different, so people...

0:48:420:48:44

-Mates talk to me like I'm a foreigner.

-Does that annoy you?

-Yes.

0:48:440:48:49

Cos I don't want to be judged on a different scale. I never have.

0:48:490:48:52

CAMEL BLEATS

0:48:520:48:57

All right.

0:49:010:49:04

Oh... I was just feeding...

0:49:040:49:09

Ooh. Just feeding my camel.

0:49:090:49:12

HE GROANS

0:49:120:49:13

And he has bitten me quite badly, actually.

0:49:130:49:16

Ooh.

0:49:160:49:18

That is very, very painful.

0:49:190:49:23

It is very deep.

0:49:230:49:25

Ooh, God, that is sore.

0:49:250:49:27

Better try and... So, James, do you mind just coming and give me

0:49:270:49:31

a little hand just cleaning my hand?

0:49:310:49:33

Just heard you shout.

0:49:330:49:35

-So you were feeding it and it...?

-Yeah, just bit into me.

0:49:350:49:39

It's very deep. He literally...

0:49:390:49:42

..took my hand for a date, quite literally.

0:49:440:49:47

And his big old tooth went straight in.

0:49:470:49:52

Now, you know what's coming?

0:49:530:49:55

-Yeah, iodine. That's fine.

-Yeah?

0:49:550:49:57

You have got to do it because the camel is not good. Aargh!

0:49:570:50:01

I'm feeling your pain, man, I'm feeling your pain.

0:50:010:50:04

Right. Put that on top of it.

0:50:040:50:07

-Right. Let's carry on so we don't lose any time.

-Yes.

0:50:100:50:14

Ben's camel has bitten his hand to the bone.

0:50:160:50:18

It's not the greatest place to have a big open wound

0:50:210:50:24

because keeping anything clean out here is hard enough.

0:50:240:50:28

His injury means another delayed morning.

0:50:310:50:34

So we have got another handicap.

0:50:360:50:39

Again, that makes the quicksands less and less likely.

0:50:390:50:44

It's a real shame, because we had just started to get into the life.

0:50:440:50:47

We woke up at the time we should today,

0:50:470:50:50

and we were packing up well and then...

0:50:500:50:53

The reality is that was the first time we have fed

0:50:530:50:55

the camels in the dark

0:50:550:50:56

and it mistook one of his fingers, or his thumb, for a date.

0:50:560:51:02

Which is not a good thing.

0:51:050:51:06

That section there, but maybe to the left.

0:51:110:51:15

This desert expedition was never meant to be competitive.

0:51:150:51:19

But James is quickly falling back into the role of Olympic taskmaster,

0:51:190:51:23

pushing himself and Ben to achieve the goal they set.

0:51:230:51:27

I can see it developing into a race now, which I had not before.

0:51:300:51:35

Because there is a target at the end of it to reach the quicksands

0:51:350:51:39

that Thesiger was the first European to see.

0:51:390:51:42

And in order to do that, we are going to have to be pretty

0:51:420:51:49

regimented and ruthless about getting up, getting on it

0:51:490:51:54

and keeping the camels on it and now walking on it.

0:51:540:51:59

And that may be...

0:51:590:52:02

falling into the competitive arena

0:52:020:52:04

and I may be more driven to achieve those goals than Ben.

0:52:040:52:08

With James, I always feel this pressure to keep up with him

0:52:110:52:16

or to match what he is doing.

0:52:160:52:19

It hasn't been the happy...happiest trip yet.

0:52:200:52:26

It has become dominated by stress, which is strange,

0:52:260:52:29

cos I thought, as soon as we took out the racing aspects,

0:52:290:52:33

that it would just be chilled.

0:52:330:52:34

By midday, they have covered 16km.

0:52:350:52:39

James wants to push on through the hottest time of the day.

0:52:390:52:43

But Ben is becoming increasingly worried about his camel Janet,

0:52:430:52:46

who is refusing to eat.

0:52:460:52:48

I was going to let them just grab a few bits of green as we go.

0:52:480:52:53

It's how important is it to reach the quicksand, because every time

0:52:530:52:57

we stop, it is going to affect our overall destination.

0:52:570:53:00

We have set ourselves a challenge.

0:53:000:53:03

But I think two minutes to give them this...

0:53:030:53:06

We are already up to three or four minutes.

0:53:060:53:10

Captain, we are off!

0:53:100:53:12

HE CLICKS HIS TONGUE

0:53:120:53:14

Just a kilometre later, Ben stops again.

0:53:230:53:26

He has spotted some good food for Janet on top of a dune.

0:53:260:53:30

I feel terrible, because there is no food for her

0:53:300:53:34

and she is starving, absolutely starving.

0:53:340:53:38

She has been groaning and trying to eat the saddle,

0:53:380:53:42

trying to eat my stick, eating bags, absolutely anything.

0:53:420:53:45

Because she just won't eat the dates.

0:53:460:53:48

If she is turning down dates, then she is not hungry.

0:53:500:53:54

They had food last night, they had dates and Ben's thumb this morning.

0:53:540:53:58

I have got mine some leaves, as you can see,

0:53:580:54:01

there are just the sticks left. It is like feeding your kids, isn't it?

0:54:010:54:05

When a parent brings round their kids, and they say,

0:54:070:54:10

"They don't eat crusts off pizza, they don't eat crust off bread."

0:54:100:54:14

That's because you don't let them eat crusts off pizza, you...

0:54:140:54:18

If you are hungry, you will eat it.

0:54:180:54:20

They are carrying all our water and load. They have got to eat.

0:54:200:54:24

I know the importance of those camels out here.

0:54:240:54:26

Without them, we are screwed.

0:54:260:54:29

To be honest, I don't think James really does always get it.

0:54:290:54:35

It is time to have a pee or get off the potty

0:54:350:54:37

and that is what we have got to do now. We either stop or carry on.

0:54:370:54:42

And worrying about little things...

0:54:420:54:47

"Oh, the camel doesn't appear to like dates." It's like, well...

0:54:470:54:51

If it is hungry, it will eat dates.

0:54:510:54:54

If she doesn't eat this...

0:54:540:54:56

I don't know. I don't know what else I can do.

0:54:560:54:59

There you go.

0:55:020:55:03

Ben!

0:55:050:55:07

-She has eaten.

-That's good.

0:55:090:55:12

-Mine have had a snack as well.

-Good.

0:55:120:55:16

Right, we need to make a decision.

0:55:180:55:19

-It's time to have a pee or get off the potty.

-Have a what?

0:55:190:55:23

Have a pee or get off the potty.

0:55:230:55:25

Have a pee or get off the potty. Oh, right.

0:55:250:55:28

-Well, my... That way is an option.

-Yeah.

-That way is an option.

0:55:280:55:33

-Coming through there is an option. I think, go the middle way.

-Yeah.

0:55:330:55:37

And right now, we are doing none of the camels any favours

0:55:370:55:40

by standing here.

0:55:400:55:41

Perfect. Let's move on.

0:55:430:55:46

And you have had enough to eat. Don't you start whingeing.

0:55:460:55:49

We are off.

0:55:500:55:52

The quicksands are still more than 500km away.

0:55:550:55:59

If they are going to reach their target in time, they need to

0:56:020:56:06

agree on how best to cover the distance and motivate their camels.

0:56:060:56:10

I don't think we should ride the camels at all.

0:56:100:56:13

I think they should purely be...pack animals.

0:56:130:56:17

We have given ourselves a set time to make the distance

0:56:170:56:20

and the reality is, we're not going to get there.

0:56:200:56:25

You could whack them to bits with a stick to make them go fast.

0:56:250:56:29

It is not my style, I'm not... It is not a race.

0:56:290:56:32

The reality is that to make the quicksand, we are

0:56:320:56:35

going to have to up our pace by 50%.

0:56:350:56:39

At least we found water.

0:56:430:56:44

After just three days, James and Ben's dream

0:56:450:56:48

of crossing the Empty Quarter is in serious doubt.

0:56:480:56:52

Mmm! Camel snot.

0:56:530:56:56

Are we going to stay here or do you want to move on?

0:56:560:56:58

-Well, it's a bigger question than that, isn't it?

-Yes.

0:56:580:57:01

What are you thinking right now?

0:57:030:57:06

What is the point of the trip is what I'm thinking.

0:57:060:57:08

'There are a lot of complexities to life out here.

0:57:120:57:16

'The complexities of doing it with James.'

0:57:180:57:20

We just seem to be failing at everything we try to do.

0:57:210:57:25

Maybe we are just rubbish at this. Maybe we really can't do this.

0:57:250:57:30

But, you know, we have both been on umpteen expeditions and trips

0:57:310:57:35

and this is WAY harder, a different level, as far as I'm concerned.

0:57:350:57:40

Look at the greys.

0:57:400:57:42

I only had a few before this.

0:57:420:57:45

It's actually ageing me.

0:57:450:57:46

I think what I'm trying to say now is that we are trying.

0:57:490:57:52

We are really trying.

0:57:540:57:56

Good boy.

0:58:000:58:01

Next time, with their expedition falling apart,

0:58:010:58:05

James and Ben make a last-ditch attempt to pick up the pace.

0:58:050:58:09

We are covering some good distance at this speed, at least.

0:58:090:58:11

But their camels become increasingly difficult.

0:58:110:58:14

Coming off, coming off!

0:58:140:58:16

Stop!

0:58:160:58:17

Fucker!

0:58:170:58:18

CAMEL GROWLS Wait. Wait.

0:58:180:58:21

Their fragile relationship is pushed to breaking point.

0:58:210:58:24

Aargh!

0:58:240:58:26

And their dream of reaching the Empty Quarter's famous quicksands

0:58:260:58:30

is put in jeopardy once and for all.

0:58:300:58:32

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