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The Pioneering Spirit
Traveling Africa

Category Archives: Preparations

PreparationsSnort

Getting Ready for Take-Off

Jared December 16, 2016 Comments are off 3213 Views

It’s called Slaying the Dragon within the international travel community. I think that starting from the USA may give us an unrealistically simplified view of the process of shipping a vehicle overseas. I will wait until we are driving...

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PreparationsSnort

And We’re Off…

Jen November 25, 2016 Comments are off 2859 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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PreparationsSnort

Sand Dune Driving for Africa

Jared September 23, 2016 Bill Burke, Christmas Valley Oregon, Sand Dunes 2 Comments 3280 Views

“It’s amazing the number of great people I have in my life that I would have never met if I didn’t own a Jeep.” We first met Lonnie on a trail run to the Tillamook National Forest. His orange...

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Equipment and GearPreparationsSnortSponsors

Midsummer Update

Jared August 10, 2016 Comments are off 3412 Views

  During the last year of our planning, Pronghorn Overland Gear has been one of our most excited supporters. They committed to work with us early in the process, and are always excited to hear about what we are...

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mediaPreparations

East Oregonian Newspaper Interview

Jen May 31, 2016 Interview, media, Preparations, Snort Comments are off 3216 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 3644 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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Equipment and GearPreparationsSnortSponsors

Reunited

Jared April 12, 2016 1 Comment 4348 Views

On March 29th, it happened. The event we had anticipated eagerly and anxiously, that would allow us to set in motion other pieces to the puzzle of getting our Africa trip off and rolling. We got the call from...

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PreparationsSnortSponsors

Our First Interview

Jen March 1, 2016 Interview, Podcast, Preparations 1 Comment 2828 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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Equipment and GearPreparationsSponsors

Safe Jack Visit

Jared February 15, 2016 Comments are off 4382 Views

Recently we got to meet one of our sponsor companies face to face, sharing with them what we plan of doing on the trip, and connect with them more richly than can be done with just Emails and phone...

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PreparationsSnort

The Jeep goes on a trip without us!

Jared December 16, 2015 Bruiser Conversions, diesel conversion, engine swap, Florida, Preparation Comments are off 3904 Views

It is a little unsettling to watch your vehicle pull away, loaded on a car hauler semi trailer, when that vehicle will be your “home” for the next two or three years. That’s right, last night, we finally loaded...

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Preparations

Health & First Aid

Jen November 24, 2015 First Aid, Health, Medical, Preparation Comments are off 2548 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 4144 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 3670 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 3115 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 3174 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

Getting Educated

Jared August 27, 2015 4 Comments 2993 Views

We spent most of last week on the road, heading to McCall, ID for Wilderness First Aid class.  On the way, we stopped for a visit at my Dad’s place.  It was good to spend some time with them,...

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Preparations

Pretirement at last

Jared August 9, 2015 4 Comments 3369 Views

Our last day of work was Friday, so we have now officially joined the ranks of the unemployed, the retired, and/or the crazy, tribe of couch surfing travelers.   Whatever you call it, we like it.  This is not to say...

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Preparations

Our first Big Step

Jared July 19, 2015 3 Comments 3435 Views

We’ve taken our first Big Step towards our trip through Africa.  On Friday, we sold our home.  That same day, we loaded most of our household items and headed to put them into storage.  By the end of the...

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Preparations

Here. We. Go…

Jen May 6, 2015 9 Comments 4473 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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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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