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The Pioneering Spirit
Traveling Africa
Jen

19 Articles

EmploymentEquipment and GearSouth AfricaUnited States

Introducing… Cawood Anchor USA

Jen December 30, 2021 Cawood Anchor USA, Ground Sheet Stake, Guy Line Anchor, New Business Comments are off 1640 Views

We have exciting news! Finally, after about a year of work (and a lot of patience) we are up and running with out business. Let me give you a little background on how Cawood Anchor USA came about. While...

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ArizonaEquipment and GearNevadaOregonSnortUnited States

Summer Fun 2021

Jen November 4, 2021 1960 Valiant, 1969 Buick Sportswagon, Cathedral Gorge State Park, Colorado River, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Great Basin National Park, Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge, Lee's Ferry, Owyhee, Petrified Forest National Park, Steens Mountains, Valley of Fire State Park Comments are off 1707 Views

Wow!  What a busy summer we had!  What seemed like maybe a month or so, has turned into 6 months.  Thus, the account of our last 6 months will be more in photos than lengthy story. In April when...

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ArizonaSnortUnited States

Winter In Arizona

Jen April 18, 2021 Canyon Solitude, Desert Museum, Ironwood Forest National Monument, Mt. Lemmon, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, San Xavier Mission, Tucson, Tumacácori Mission, Yuma Comments are off 1933 Views

Our route from Houston, Texas to Tucson, Arizona was direct and quick.  We had managed to escape freezing temperatures thus far and wanted to continue this trend.  Our overnight stopovers were chosen based on night time temperature forecasts, hoping...

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SnortUnited States

COVID, the Summer of Breakdown and the last of 2020

Jen January 2, 2021 Alvord Desert, Arizona, Big Bend National Park, California, Death Valley, Nevada, Oregon, Padres Island National Seashore, Saguarao National Park, Texas, Utah, Washington Comments are off 2163 Views

Well, it certainly wasn’t the year any of us had planned.  As the world shut down, we found ourselves in Las Vegas, Nevada.  We were to be part of an annual friend get together and the yearly holiday known...

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media

Remember the Overland Adventure?

Jen October 8, 2020 Four Wheeler Magazine, Overland Adventure Comments are off 1840 Views

We were recently interviewed for a Four Wheeler Magazine article that ties back to the Overland Adventure we did in May 2019. They have been doing stories about the participants, one per issue, and our turn is coming up....

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EmploymentMilestonesUnited States

Our First Year(ish) Home

Jen April 10, 2020 Comments are off 2501 Views
Yellowstone

Well, what better time than sheltering in place during COVID-19 to bring our blog up to date.  It is a bit shameful to realize that we have been home for 16 months and have not updated you all on...

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Rwanda

Rwanda

Jen November 19, 2018 Genocide Memorial Comments are off 2957 Views
Meeting up with Blanca

Rwanda would be the second smallest county we would visit in Africa, but with a population of over 11 million it would be the highest population density with over 1000 persons per square mile.  With very little tourist infrastructure...

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Uncategorized

Homage to Portland

Jen December 9, 2016 food, portland 1 Comment 3216 Views

There are many wonderful aspects of Portland that we will miss.  One will be the bounty of deliciousness that has passed across our palates. Portland has become a hotspot of up and coming chefs to test out their skills on...

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PreparationsSnort

And We’re Off…

Jen November 25, 2016 Comments are off 2866 Views

We have a departure date!  One-way tickets to Africa are purchased and shipping for Snort is arranged.  We are feverishly finishing up last minute details on Snort, sorting out paperwork and other particulars, then will need to pack Snort...

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mediaPreparations

East Oregonian Newspaper Interview

Jen May 31, 2016 Interview, media, Preparations, Snort Comments are off 3223 Views

A week or so ago, we were in touch with the newspaper of Jared’s hometown and were interviewed about our upcoming trek through Africa.  We can now add print media to our collection of interviews (now two in total) and...

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Preparations

Family, Friends & 5000 Miles

Jen April 26, 2016 Family, Friends, Pronghorn Overland Gear, Repairs, USA Comments are off 3649 Views

Driving across the U.S. was not just about breaking in the Jeep, it was about the people we would see, both those we know and those we would meet along the way.  After leaving our gracious hosts, Pradeep and...

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Uncategorized

A Simple Way to Support Us Through Your Normal Shopping

Jen March 15, 2016 Comments are off 2989 Views

We have become fans of Amazon over the years.  Honestly, it is convenient, and when price shopping, it often cannot be beat.  Thus, when we discovered that Amazon had an affiliate program, where we provide advertising for them on...

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PreparationsSnortSponsors

Our First Interview

Jen March 1, 2016 Interview, Podcast, Preparations 1 Comment 2833 Views

We were interviewed by The 4×4 Podcast a bit ago to talk about our upcoming trek!  We had never been interviewed before and I would say were a bit nervous.  Thus, we were quite happy when the podcast was...

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Preparations

Health & First Aid

Jen November 24, 2015 First Aid, Health, Medical, Preparation Comments are off 2550 Views

We have never really thought of ourselves as big planners, more of the ‘play it by ear’ folk.  However, when taking on Africa with our Jeep and each other, we seem to be a bit more on the detail...

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Preparations

A Plan Is Just A Point From Which To Deviate…

Jen November 2, 2015 3 Comments 4157 Views

As humans, it would be ridiculous for us to think that everything will happen as we’ve planned it; as overland travelers, even more so.  It would also be silly for us to not go with the flow of change,...

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Preparations

Tradition- Part Three

Jen October 17, 2015 big barn brewing, columbia gorge, crabbing, green bluff, hood river fruit loop, newport oregon, steptoe butte state park, the pioneering spirit, the road chose me 1 Comment 3675 Views

With the Pendleton Round-Up behind us, we headed to the Spokane, Washington area to spend a few weeks and visit a large portion of Jared’s family. What a treat it was! We were able to see lots of family...

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Preparations

Tradition- Part Two

Jen September 28, 2015 happy canyon night show, Pendleton oregon, Pendleton Round up, the pioneering spirit 2 Comments 3119 Views

After a week of camping in the Eastern Oregon desert with my family, we headed to Jared’s hometown and a week of rodeo with family and friends.  The Pendleton Round-Up has been going strong for over 100 years, due...

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Preparations

Tradition

Jen September 16, 2015 2 Comments 3176 Views

One last camping trip in the States had to be fit in before leaving for Africa.  This secret location in the Eastern Oregon desert is a place that most refer to as dirty, desolate or too far from civilization,...

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Preparations

Here. We. Go…

Jen May 6, 2015 9 Comments 4478 Views

We have spent many hours, first dreaming, then planning, and now, finally, making things happen.  We are going to drive through Africa!  We are not the only ones who have made this trek, and for that we are grateful....

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thepioneeringspirit

Some might say that we have a lot of spices… I w Some might say that we have a lot of spices… I would agree.  But we don’t like to skimp on flavor and are always up for new recipes. 
Today was a spice inventory day.  Top up the spice jars and figure out where we are lacking. 
I like to buy my spices from @thespicehouse .  They are a great quality spice, but the seller for me, apart from other quality spice providers is their Flat Packs!  They cost about the same as a jar of spice in the grocery store, but come in this great resealable flat package, and a bit larger quantity.  I don’t need more spice jars, just more spice!  Also, flat packs ship free!  They are a great option for us foodies that live on the road.

#thepioneeringspirit #inventoryday #thespicehouse #cookfromscratch
The skies here at @organpipenps do not disappoint. The skies here at @organpipenps do not disappoint.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is one of our favorites! 

#darkskypark #organpipecactusnationalmonument #thepioneeringspirit #desertlove
Not quite the trip to Tucson we had envisioned. W Not quite the trip to Tucson we had envisioned.  We had grand plans of connecting up with a multitude of friends, instead we hung out in camp with colds.  Thankfully the sunsets and saguaros kept us company!
Dried mushrooms are a great add to some dishes. B Dried mushrooms are a great add to some dishes.  But grating them is a bigger task than I prefer.  We have this great little gadget that fits on our immersion blender that acts as a small food processor and spice grinder. 
So today, in preparation for tonights dinner, beef and mushroom ramen (not from a package) I made mushroom powder to add to the broth.

#thepioneeringspirit #eatwell #driedmushroom #fromscratchcooking
Popped into Phoenix for a Halloween adventure with Popped into Phoenix for a Halloween adventure with family. 
#thepioneeringspirit #halloween #familytradition #illmanthecandybowl
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