Specifications
12
HODGY’S TIPS
GEARING UP FOR YOUR TRIP
While we all look for that new
buzz in life and the chance to
find something new, exciting,
unbelievable, beautiful or just different
in this big country; the journey can
take you to some amazing places.
I’ve been so fortunate in my life
to have experienced some really
special, nature rich environments,
but they’re very rarely next to the
highway or in the park down the
road. Generally, the more effort
you put into travel and greater the
distance you get between you and
suburbia, the more special the whole
experience.
These days, remote travel doesn’t
mean you may have to live off jerky,
muesli bars, Goannas, Grubs and
water. Camp cooking books and
adventure DVDs by legends such as
Malcolm Douglas, who was and still
is my hero, and companies such as
Hillbilly Camping gear, who have a
200 recipe camp oven book, take all
the guess work out so amazing meals
can be whipped up with confidence.
Long trips mean meat such as lamb,
beef, pork and chicken roasts need
to be kept frozen - and obviously an
Engel fridge is the best choice. But for
trips that are only 3 or 4 days long,
the new generation of Poly eskies
are as good as ice boxes get and
keep things more than cold enough.
Inner and outer skins, bungs, hinges,
handles and seals are all top notch
and built to take a real flogging. Even
someone as “heavy” as me can use
it as a seat without worrying about
warping or twisting it.
Not everywhere sells block ice, and
I tend to make mine in the freezer at
home with old 2 litre juice bottles,
or ice cream containers and put a
few on the bottom. Beers that need
to be dead cold are then nestled on
top of the block ice and a couple of
bags sprinkled amongst them, and
then tucker on top. This lasts much
longer with the additional blocks. In
fact I’ve got up to a week out of the
above system. Ice slurries for keeping
fish fresh are noticeably slower to
melt, considering the air seals are so
effective, and the inners of the skins
are void of air pockets or bubbles.
Obviously, less expensive usually
means lesser quality, so that $50
special at the super market is going
to cost you much more in ice and
wasted food if the inevitable happens
and the food goes off. Confidence
in your equipment is as big a
concern as any other part of travel
and camping, and apart from your
vehicle, water and swag, the most
important thing to make sure is up
to scratch is the refrigeration or food
cooling system. Once a day, tilt the
esky up so that any water gravity
feeds towards your “bung hole” and
drains. This will make sure ice is at its
coldest. Water will melt ice quicker
so it’s important to get rid of it every
day.
So while my Engel Eclipse is a
valuable part of my kit for long
term travel, my Engel esky is just as
important for the shorter trips and for
keeping fish in slurries. Often both
are taken if the main ambition is to
top up on top class fillets for the table
at home. Only fish that are needed
for the immediate future are taken,
and fish that have been frozen for
more than around two weeks, in my
opinion, are inferior eating. This also
means that I “have to” go fishing
when the fillets run out too! Ahhhh,
the things we have to do hey!
Get out and enjoy this country, and
remember to gear up properly, stay
safe and tread lightly.
Dave (The Barefoot
Fisherman) Hodge
David Hodge aka
Hodgy, appears
Nationally at
shows and events
presenting lure
casting tricks,
sharing his fishing
knowledge and
tips.
Get the right gear to suit your needs
WITH YOUR ENGEL