Sandstorm Managing Director Mark Stephenson, who we met at Outdoor Retailer in 2007 and visited in Nairobi in 2008 (when he actually had us kicked out of our B&B bungalow - long story), has started a blog to chronicle life in Nairobi. Mark moved there full-time last month, and he hasn’t wasted any time getting out exploring the wonders of East Africa.

The blog is a wonderful slice of life there - and a great inside look at a real cottage industry. It makes me miss Kenya a lot - all the friendly people, fascinating bits of craziness, breathtaking landscapes, and of course the wildlife.

Go to SandstormKenya.com and click on the “Blog” link on the left, under “what’s new.”

Overland Journal was pleased to participate in the second annual Arizona Land Rover Rally, which was held in Gold Canyon, just east of Phoenix.  The event was particularly fun for me, as I have been a member of the Arizona Land Rover Owners (AZLRO) in years past, and having just purchased another Discovery, I was able to reconnect with the club and old friends.

The event was held over two days, with easy-to-moderate trail runs held in the Florence Junction area and surrounding mountains.  Over 60 vehicles were lined up on Saturday morning.

Nice license plate!

For the days trail run, I worked with Graham Jackson from Overland Training to conduct the beginners 4wd run, where we traveled the Box Canyon trail.  This is a very scenic route, and I was encouraged by how clean the area was on the whole.  I had stopped traveling in this area because of the trash and vandalism, but I am pleased to say that things are significantly better now.

On the trail, we drove the Overland Journal project Discovery I, which had recently been upfitted with several HD steering components and rear suspension links from Rover Tracks.  I am continually impressed by this Land Rover, and its performance on the trail.

The route was rated as a 2.5 on the 5 scale, and had just enough challenge to keep things exciting.

A student with his LR3.  These vehicles are impressive in stock form
 

Box Canyon is a beautiful trail, and provides access to remote camping and connection points to longer overland routes into the Superstition Mountains

Box Canyon changes significantly from year to year, as the summer rains reshape the canyon bottom.  This year, the trail was the easiest I had seen, but fortunately, there is just enough challenge to make for a great test of all of the new components we have fitted to this pinnacle overlander.

The day ended with a dinner and prize raffle.  A big thanks to the AZLRO for their hard work and for putting on such a classy and fun event!

I remember two things about my initial ride on Scott Brady’s KTM 950: The feeling when I twisted the throttle and experienced a “dirt bike” with nearly twice the horsepower of the Honda 500 Four street bike I rode for several years - and the feeling when I stopped, and had to lean the 400-pound-plus KTM over at about 20 degrees to get a foot on the ground. It’s a great bike, but I’d never have fun riding it, knowing that every pause on the trail would entail a fight with gravity.

Enter the new Overland Journal project adventure motorcycle:

A 2004 Suzuki DR650, a single-cylinder, 650cc adventure motorcycle more suited to my 31-inch inseam.

The Suzuki will serve as sort of the proletarian counterpoint to the excellent but pricey KTMs and BMWs that have been our featured adventure bikes so far. The DR is well-respected in the motorcycle overlanding community; examples have conquered every continent and accomplished global circumnavigations. The fuel economy should be in the mid-50 mpg range.

At present the only thing really bothering me is the motocrossy look of the thing. I’m tempted to take off all the blue and white parts and have them painted the same tan that the conservation project FJ60 will be getting. I’ve already added a beautiful machined aluminum luggage rack from Pro Moto Billet, to which I’ll bolt a 1400 Pelican Case as a weatherproof trunk for cameras, etc. Future additions will enhance long-distance comfort and ability while keeping an overall modest budget in mind. The project will be introduced in the winter issue.

The staff of Overland Journal enjoyed five days in the west-central Arizona desert near Wickenburg last week at the 2008 Expedition Trophy, an event started a few years ago by publisher Scott Brady and editorial director Chris Marzonie.

Thirty attendees spent two days in “overland classrooms” learning everything from tire repair - taught by Adventure Trailers’ Martyn Davies - to first aid to 2M radio skills to global overlanding tips on documentation and conservation / culture (taught by Overland Training instructors). Then for two days they tested their skills in teams and individually on a navigation challenge course, sand driving, getting un-stuck, and various other skills. Sponsors included Equipt Expedition Outfitters, Adventure Trailers, Sierra Expeditions, Overland Journal, Overland Training, DeLorme, Silva, and Jetboil.

Twelve people from the new Overland Society organized and taught the event. Here are some of our favorite highlights from camp, class, and course:

A pinnacle pair: Overland Journal contributor Andrew Moore’s beautiful Land Cruiser Troopy (which has an LP conversion), followed closely by my ‘new’ FJ60 with its 3.0L turbo-diesel from TLC. 

Africa editor and director of Overland Training Graham Jackson and his wife Connie Rodman set up their Defender 110 - which has taken them from London to Cape Town and will be seeing them across Australia as well.

My FJ60 at my camp with Jonathan - testing out the Black Pine Turbo Tent:

Checking in after the Navigation Challenge (medical column editor Ed Beggy gets the details; Scott Jensen, who has written on 2M radios for Overland Journal, shows one of the DeLorme units provided to each participant). 

Tackling sand driving with a very nice Defender 90.

Martyn Davies of Adventure Trailers taught the essentials of repairing tires in the field - from stitching up a sidewall to plugging to breaking and resetting a bead.

And finally, my traveling overland bar - a vintage set found on eBay for $8:

Overland Journal reader Corey Tando, whose forum Yotatech.com is one of the best resources out there on all things Toyota, sent us this note after reading about the new Overland Chef column. 

This recipe my mother use to cook for us back in the 70s.

Someone left it on her office desk way back then, she never did find out who left it.

It is very good though, and makes for a great side dish.

This is the info on the card they left on her desk:

 

Margaret K’s Swiss Green Beans

1 cup of sour cream

4 cups cooked French cut (or canned) green beans, drained

1/2 lb Swiss cheese

2 Tablespoons butter or margarine

2 Tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon grated onion

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper (you could substitute these two with seasoning salt of your choice)

2 cups of crushed Cornflakes

 

In a mixing bowl add the two tablespoons of melted butter, stir in flour, onion, sugar, salt and pepper.

Add sour cream, mix until blended.

Fold in the drained cooked beans.

 

Put in a greased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.

Grate the Swiss cheese and sprinkle on top.

Spread the Cornflakes over the top of the rest.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.

 

This may be made ahead of time at home and baked later when at camp.

 

*Note*

I am  not familiar enough with Dutch ovens if you could have this already in it and kept in the fridge before a trip, then take it out of a fridge/cooler while in camp to cook.

 

I can tell you though, there were never any leftovers from this when my mother use to make it for dinner for us long ago.

 

Corey Tando

YotaTech.com Administrator

This is a great, very old recipe that has an interesting past. There is a 1950s version, made with Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup and canned onion rings, that was developed and popularized by the Campbell’s “test kitchen” to further increase the popularity of their convenience foods. But Corey’s mom’s version actually hints that this recipe has its origins in classic French cooking - vegetables in a cream sauce, topped with a gratin and cheese, then broiled. Delicious! Thanks so much Corey. (Oh, and regarding the Dutch oven idea - cast iron reacts quickly to any acidity in foods, so it’s probably best if you pre-mix in a Tupperware, then add to a pot to finish it at camp.)

Corey’s fantastic FJ camp setup:

We just finished putting about 300 miles of mixed driving on the FJ60 Conservation Project Vehicle. The result: 25.8 miles per gallon. Pretty good for a heavy-duty expedition rig with significantly better power than it had from the factory. The 3.0 turbodiesel continues to impress us with its effortless -and economical - performance.

In the Fall 2008 Overland Journal, we debuted the new Overland Chef column, a celebration of good camp cooking, equipment, and tips on useful things like storage and nutrition for long trips. Each issue will feature a menu and one recipe, with the rest of the menu’s recipes posted on the blog. (To search future recipes, use the Overland Chef category link at left.) 

Fall 2008 featured this delicious menu:

Starters & Drinks ~ Spiced Nuts and Dried Fruit, Dawas for sipping

Dinner ~ Chicken en Adobo with Tropical Lentil Salad, Grilled Zucchini and Green Chile

Wine Pairing ~ For white, a soave or vernaccia di gimignano; for red, a rioja

Dessert ~ Grilled Mango with Honey

Equipment for this menu: Two-burner stove (one-burner will work as well); pressure cooker (I use the GSI 3.5-quart hard-anodized model, only 4 pounds, is compact, and cleans up easily); grill for campfire

Dawa

Recipe from: African Kitchen by Josie Stow

Serving Size: 4

• Crushed ice
• 1 lime, cut in wedges
• 8 tots vodka
• Clear honey

Put a lime wedge in each glass and fill 3/4 full with crushed ice. Pour 2 tots vodka into each. Dip the sticks into honey and coat. Place sticks in glasses and serve.

Spiced Nuts and Fruit

Recipe adapted from: African Kitchen by Josie Stow

Serving Size: 4

The recipe calls for tossing mixed nuts (macadamia, cashew, almond, pecan, etc.) and dried fruit (prunes, apricots, cherries, etc.) in hot olive oil in a big fry pan over an open fire and then sprinkling with freshly chopped cilantro and chile and grated lime or lemon peel. If this sounds like a bit too much work, I’ve had good luck heating oil with chile to get the heat going, then tossing the nuts and fruit and sprinkling with fresh lime juice. Alternatively, sprinkle with a spice flavor mix like Penzeys Cajun Seasoning or Vindaloo curry (very hot!). I usually stock a snack bag of good-quality nuts and dried fruit mix from our Sunflower natural foods market (untreated, no salts, no coconut or cereals) that make this dish really easy.

Tropical Lentil Salad

Bananas and beans sound weird? Trust me, this is great.

Recipe adapted from African Kitchen by Josie Stow 

Serving Size: 4

• 1 cups green lentils
• 2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 2 bananas, semi-ripe, cubed
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 - 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• salt and pepper

Lightly sauté onion, bell pepper, and garlic in a saucepot; add lentils and briefly saute. Add water, bring to boil, reduce heat and cook until done. Cool. Stir in bananas, vinegar, and cilantro (to taste). Chill if possible. 

Notes: If you don’t have cilantro, substitute with a dash of curry powder or cinnamon spice. Red wine vinegar works if you don’t have balsamic.

Grilled Zucchini and Green Chiles

Serving Size: 4

Grilled vegetables are easy and incredibly delicious. For four people, slice three medium or four small zucchini lengthwise, about 1/4″ thick. Lightly coat with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until lightly colored with grill hash marks but not so soft they wilt. For the green chiles, toss Anaheims or similar on the grill and cook, turning often, until blackened. Put them in a covered pot or ziplock bag to steam for about 15 minutes, then the skins will slide right off. Use unpowdered nitrile gloves to handle them or tongs and forks. Slice into strips and serve with the zucchini.

Pressure Cooker Chicken en Adobo

Recipe by: Roseann Hanson

Serves: 2

Time to cook: 12 minutes plus 10 – 15 to cool down 

• 4 chicken thighs
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, scant
• ½ onion, sliced or diced
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 dried chipotle pepper (smoked jalapeño)
• 1 bay leaf
• ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
• ¼ cup vinegar (cider or white wine)
• ½ cup water 
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

In the pressure cooker, brown the chicken in oil and remove to a plate; sauté the onions until translucent, then add the garlic, chipotle pepper, and bay leaf and sauté for just a minute or two more, until the garlic is aromatic. Pour in the soy sauce, vinegar, and water, then return the chicken. Secure the lid, following instructions for your cooker. The GSI over medium-high heat cooks at about 12 PSI. Bring to full steam, and cook for 12 minutes (less if higher PSI). While the chicken cooks and fills the air with the maddening, piquant aroma of adobo broth, finish making the salad, and slice the zucchini and toss them on the grill with a couple of green chiles. You can let stand 10 minutes or more to let off the steam and deepen flavors. Remove the chicken, add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the sauce (dissolve it first in a little water, to keep it from lumping) and simmer until thickened. Serve with warmed flour tortillas (rice is also excellent; I prefer not to have to cook too many items).

Note: after making this a couple more times, I recommend taking the skin off all but 1 of the chicken thighs, to reduce the fat. I’m not anti-animal fat, it’s just that it can be too oily tasting with full skin-on thighs. Alternatively, use breast meat or legs.

Grilled Mangoes with Honey

Serving Size: 4

Slice the sides off 2 large mangoes (the 2 hemispheres around the hard core) and then score the insides of each all the way to the skin (but not through the skin) in a grid. Paint with a little oil, then grill over a fire until nicely colored but not too dark or burned. Drizzle honey on each and serve.

___________________________________________________________

Share your menus, recipes, and overland cooking tips with us at editor (at) overlandjournal (dot) com.

After a five month wait, I picked up my 1984 Toyota Land Cruiser from TLC 4×4 in Van Nuys, California - with its brand new International 3.0-liter turbo diesel and new 5-speed Toyota transmission (see Overland Journal Spring 2008), and lots of other modifications and upgrades.

The engine-transmission combination has exceeded my expectations to a huge degree. The power is phenomenal, and the torque blew us away. Climbing out of the Los Angeles area out I-10 toward Palm Springs we were pulling hills in 5th gear and still accelerating. It is quiet and has no “diesel smell.” Throttle response is very quick for a diesel (especially compared to the 75-series Land Cruisers I am used to driving in Tanzania and Kenya).

The upcoming Fall 2008 Overland Journal will feature a 2-page update on this engine, specifications, and other upgrades. (Mailing later this week.)

I was lucky enough to head straight for Prescott, Arizona, where the debut first comprehensive Overland Certification Course was being held by the team of Overland Training; my husband, Jonathan, executive editor of Overland Journal, was teaching one of the course components.

I audited the first three days of the course, and was able to put the FJ60 through its paces - and blew everyone away with its performance. Something about that diesel engine and LC combination had relatively normal people walking up to my window with silly grins on their faces and then they’d make diesel engine noises.

Here are some shots of the first Overland Training overland certification course:

With front and rear ARB lockers, climbing a significant obstacle like this was a cakewalk (and thanks to expert marshall and instructor Scott Brady).

Scott explaining vehicle stability on a steep (24-degree) side-slope.

Throttle response/feel is so fine that navigating a rock garden was also an easy task, even with the manual transmission; the rear ARB locker and BFGoodrich All-Terrains aired down to 18psi also helped.

Full Old Man Emu suspension gives the 60 amazing travel on cross-axle obstacles.

The first comprehensive Overland Training course class, left to right: Jeremy Edgar, Toyota Tacoma; Brian McVickers, Land Rover Discovery; Kristina Hall, Land Cruiser FZJ80; me with Jorge Valdes, who came from Florida for the course and leads Land Rover overland trips in South America; and Dave Nordstrom, with his new Earth Roamer XV-JP, based on the Jeep Wrangler JK.

Photographer Iain Crockart piloted a Royal Enfield motorcycle through the Himalayas, reaching elevations of 17,000 feet. He documented the journey in an 80-page, full-color book that captures the thrill and terror of riding across the roof of the world.

But you can’t simply buy A Motorbike Adventure/Himachal Pradesh/India. It’s only available if you make a donation on Iain’s website, where he is raising the £5,000 necessary for him to take part a charity adventure motorcycle ride called Enduro Africa, which supports three children’s charities in Lesotho and South Africa. Iain has already contributed £2,500 of his own money; your donation will help fill in the other £2,500 and directly benefit children in this very poor region. In addition to which you’ll enjoy a beautiful and inspiring book.

Take a look through the striking sample photos on Iain’s site. Then, please be generous!

http://www.iaincrockart.com/  

Several of our partners and advertisers helped us out by distributed nearly 300 copies of the magazine at September’s LRO Show in Peterborough, England - the largest Land Rover event in Europe, with 15,000 visitors. Nene Overland, Land Rover Experience Malverns, and Sahara Exploration Ltd. said the magazines went like hotcakes. Laura at Sahara Exploration sent this photo and note. Thanks to everyone who helped us spread the word!

We got back from the show late last night, we had a fantastic weekend and the sun was shining both days for the first time in weeks.  Your magazine went like hot cakes on the Saturday, so much so I had to save a box for the Sunday.  It was very well received and lots of people had heard about the magazine and regularly read the website. I have attached a picture of our stand at the LRO show; we made up an Overland Journal poster to advertise the mag as well. 

Kind Regards,

Laura