a review: the tembo-tusk skottle - @tembotusk #overland #cooking
Tembo-Tusk Skottle
Function and Design:
I have had a chance to use the Tembo-Tusk #Skottle on several occasions over the past months and I am really enjoying it. You're probably asking yourself “What is a Skottle?”. It is a South African outdoor cooking contraption essentially, according to Tembo Tusk, and it is pronounced Skō Til or Skaw-Til. It is a simple design, essentially it is a big wok which makes it extremely versatile for meals on and off the trail.
The history of the Skottle comes from a South African farmer finding a secondary use for old harrow discs by turning them into an outdoor cooking utensil that could be used while out in the fields. The Skottle caught on with the public in the 1940s and 50s and is now synonymous with grilling in South Africa. Anything that can be cooked in a pan, skillet or on a grill can be cooked in a Skottle. Bacon, eggs, sausage and hash browns are a great example for breakfast. Lunch or dinner can be as easy as stir fry veggies, steak, and chopped potatoes. There is no better way to cook Boerewors Sausage (South African Farmer’s Sausage) or any other sausage for that matter. Nothing tastes better than a thick cheese Quesadilla grilled on a Skottle. You can cook hamburgers and fajitas as well with ease. As you can see, there is very little you can’t cook on a Skottle!
“TemboTusk Skottle is designed to be used with an inexpensive Coleman style single burner and a gas bottle. The burner simply hangs in the frame welded to the bottom of the Skottle pan. Typically a Coleman burner uses a disposable 16oz gas bottle for fuel. With a proper adapter a larger propane bottle can be used. A Coleman one-burner produces 10,000 BTUs of heat energy which is more than adequate for use with the Skottle.”
“The TemboTusk Skottle comes with a frame to hold the burner and three legs to support the pan. The legs are removable and can be stored separately. The Skottle is 18” across and stands 28” tall with the legs installed.”
Overland Applications:
I feel that due to the ease of use and its versatility that the Tembo-Tusk Skottle would be a welcome addition for any overland traveler. Due to its uniqueness and ease of use and setup I feel that it could be used as the only means of cooking on the trail, or you can take it along for quick lunch stops or just for certain dishes. I plan to give it a good amount of testing this season taking it on all of our trips. I will even be looking for a means to transport it a little more easily by finding a carrying bag for it. This in my opinion is the only thing missing as far as I am concerned. The burner and propane tanks don’t take up much room and if you are so inclined you can purchase a 1 gallon propane tank and an adaptor hose for around $70 for both and then do away with the small green propane tanks all together. We do have both options so I plan to see which one I like best and use that while out on the trail.
Day to Day Applications:
“The Skottle also functions like a cast iron skillet as well, you season it with use and it gets better and better the more you use it. The easiest way to recondition the Skottle is with olive oil or any cooking oil and heat on a gas or charcoal barbeque to 450 degrees or until the oil on the metal stops smoking. Like a Dutch oven or cast iron pan, the more the Skottle is used the better the non-stick cooking surface becomes. I plan to use it on every trip and plan meals around it since it is so easy to set up and use.”
My favorite things to cook with are cast iron skillets, which is why I think that this has some day to day applications as well. I have already used it 2 times at home and once at Jeremy’s house since we received it. I am really looking forward to trying it out on our first trip that’s coming up in May. I will keep you all posted as to how it does on the trail, although I doubt it will be anything but excellent. It is easy to clean as well, and once it is really seasoned I imagine it will just wipe out just like my cast iron skillets at home do now.
Final Thoughts:
My final thoughts on the Tembo-Tusk Skottle are that it's a fun and unique way to cook that will entertain the whole family. It is one truly awesome product and I plan to use it as often as possible while we are out on the trail this year. We are planing to go on extended trips this season which will give us more time on the trail and more opportunity to perfect using the Skottle off the beaten path. I plan to take plenty of pics and include it in some of our cooking segments as well, so you will get a chance to see it in action yourself and decide if one is a good option for you.
The Skottle price that is listed on the website is $95 which in my mind is a great deal! For more information you can visit the Tembo-Tusk.com website and check out the other wonderful products that they make there too. I would highly recommend considering the Skottle if you are looking for one piece of cooking equipment that is truly versatile and will always perform. Thanks again guys for hooking us up with this awesome product!
Cheers
For more info you can visit Tembo-Tusk.com
a review: the overland oil bag @broverland #edc #offroad #storage
FUNCTION AND DESIGN
A few weekends several months ago, Jason showed me this bag and I was immediately impressed with its construction and rugged good looks.
The Overland Oil Bag's materials are extremely heavy duty for good reasons; this bag is designed to hold motor oil, gear oil and other dirty auto fluids. Judging by the heavy tarp like interior this bag manages a mess quite well.
I immediately found myself thinking that the Overland Oil Bag was just too nice to throw some nasty oil cans in, so I quickly adapted this bag for every day carry. Blue Ridge Overland Gear was kind enough to supply a shoulder carry strap for this bag. The shoulder strap is very comfortable and incredibly well built; sort of reminds me of a burly seat belt with a really nice padded section carefully stitched to it.
Another nice feature is the paracord weaved to the front; intended for the supplied drop tarp but easily retrofitted to carry coats or wet gear.
OVERLAND USES
Blue Ridge Overland Gear designed this bag to carry fluids and I am starting to understand why. The 4Runner has about 160,000 miles on it now; although it is a Toyota, it's probably a good idea to start being more prepared for fluid leakage.
I also have used this bag for recovery straps and other basic recovery gear to keep handy and organized in the vehicle and ready to grab at a moments notice. My original intent was to incorporate recovery gear into a rear drawer setup but I'd like to keep it more accessible in the event the rear hatch can't be opened; i.e. tree, water, etc.
Lined with vinyl coated polyester, this bag is the perfect companion for dirty bottles, tools and clothes.
DAY TO DAY
I carried this bag for a few months to work and on work trips and it carried notepads and my work tablet quite nicely. Even though its not intended to be an EDC bag, I think it could benefit from a webbing loop stitched inside for clipping accessories, pens and such.
In my eyes, with a simple modification The Overland Oil Bag would make the perfect EDC bag.
The Overland Oil Bag pictured with some fluids I like to keep handy on each trip.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I foresee myself dedicating this bag to overlanding; however, I'm on the fence with fluids or recovery gear - I just remembered Blue Ridge Overland Gear makes a pretty sweet recovery bag too!
I just need to define my needs more and go with it. Whichever route I take, I imagine the Overland Oil Bag will last an incredibly long time and take loads of abuse on our trips. Whatever you decide to throw at this bag will work, its more about defining your needs and committing.
The Overland Oil Bag comes in at a price point of $43.99 and there's really nothing on the market that compares to the quality and craftsmanship that went into this bag. It even came with a tag bearing the signatures of the team that cut, stitched and quality checked it!
As a side note, we can attest to the Overland Oil Bag's water tightness after loading it with brews and ice at the Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival, ha!
weekly video xxxiii - crazy boat ride through the horizontal waterfalls. #all4adventure #theruggednorth #northernterritory
Weekly video XXXIII - Crazy boat ride through the Horizontal Waterfall, All 4 Adventure.
I wanted to give a shout out to the guys from down under, All 4 Adventure is a group of adventure seekers who want to share their passion and love for Australia with the rest of us.
"About All 4 Adventure Series 6: The Rugged North ►
The Rugged North sees Jason Andrews and Simon Anderson heading out for another wild adventure starting in the remotest areas of Western Australia’s Kimberley region and spanning right across the Northern Territory and into Queensland's Gulf country. The 4WDs get a punishing as the guys tackle tracks that haven’t been traveled in years, and then the boys take to the water for some long distance runs off-shore and a heart-stopping ride through the treacherous Horizontal Waterfalls. There's plenty of fishing action, as well as spectacular scenery and fascinating history."
More at All 4 Adventure.
today's beer of the day 22 - bell ringer. @rjrockers #doublepaleale #craftbeer
Today's Beer of the Day 22 - Bell Ringer, RJ Rockers Double Pale Ale.
"This robust brew enters the first round swinging. With a swift flavor combination of hops and malts, Bell RInger is truly in a class of its own. Let down your guard and enjoy the bite druing the finish. It may just bring your quest for the perfect craft beer to an abrupt end. "
The color of this beer was a milky red with a decent head when first poured. Some carbonation was noted as it rested. There were floral notes as I first caught a hint of the beers aroma. As I took my first sip of the beer I could taste the malts and it had some bitterness at the finish. This was a thick brew, it almost felt like it coated the mouth as you poured it in. It was also smooth and the bite at the end was a good way to finish it off. I really enjoyed this beer and at 8.0% ABV and with a 48 IBU whats no to like. I would definitely drink this beer again, I recommend you give it a try as well.
More at RJ Rockers.
Beer purchased at Lewisburg Spirits and Wine. lewisburgspirits@suddenlink.net
weekly video xxx - abiqua falls first descent. @gtnews #jessecoombs #whitewaterkayak
Weekly Video XXX - Abiqua Falls First Descent by Jesse Coombs. A Lucas Gilman film.
I know what you're thinking, but the 3 X's don't mean this video is inappropriate for young viewers. On the contrary, it is a thrilling must watch for everyone and I think that you will enjoy it.
"On a brisk March day in 2011, Jesse Coombs wedged himself into the 6-foot hull of a whitewater kayak and pointed the lightweight craft toward the lip of a waterfall on Abiqua Creek, a little-known stream in the Cascade foothills near Silverton. As the current took his boat and pulled it over the horizon line, handing his fate over to gravity, he would have three seconds to ask himself whether he had made a very, very bad mistake.
Three seconds, it turns out, is about how long it takes to fall 96 feet, the height of Abiqua Falls.
And at the end of those three seconds, Coombs was bobbing safely in the plunge pool at the cataract’s base, raising his paddle in triumph after completing the first successful descent of Abiqua Falls. Later he would discover he had suffered a collapsed lung and a fractured shoulder socket in the process, injuries he insists sound much worse than they were."
More at Gazette Times.