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