During the summer of 1918, my wife and I embarked on an Alaska trip. We thought we’d be gone about four weeks. 92 days, two trips to the Arctic Ocean and 13,000 miles later we made it home in late August.
While on the trip, I was contacted, via Instagram , by the editor of TCT magazine and asked if I would write an article about the trip. Below are the links to the articles.
I hope you enjoy them and welcome your comments.
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After my cooking demo at the AVID Fall outdoor Expo, I’ve had people ask for my Zucchini and Badlands Chili recipe. Here they are.
INGREDIENTS:
1LB CHOPPED MEAT
1 LARGE ONION CHOPPED
1 15OZ CAN KIDNEY BEANS, DRAINED
1 15OZ CAN DICED TOMATOES
1 PACKAGE MCCORMICK CHILI MIX
1 500ML WINE CABERNET SAUVIGNON (BLACK BOX)
1 BEEF BOUILLON CUBE
1PACKAGE OF MUSHROOMS (SLICED)
OPTIONAL:
1 JALAPENO FINELY CHOPPED OR
GREEN CHILI FINELY CHOPPED
TABASCO OR HOT SAUCE TO TASTE
ADDITIONAL CHILI POWDER TO TASTE
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO THROW IN
GARNISH:
CHOPPED ONION
SHREDDED CHEESE
BROWN THE MEAT WITH THE CHOPPED ONIONS
ONCE BROWNED, ADD CHILI MIX, BOUILLON CUBE AND A THIRD OF THE RED WINE.
ONCE EVENLY MIXED ALL TOGETHER, ADD BEANS AND TOMATOES FOLD EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
FOLD IN THE MUSHROOMS.
YOU CAN ADD YOUR EXTRA INGREDIENTS AT THIS STAGE.
ALLOW THE CHILI TO SIMMER AT LEAST 30 MINUTES STIRRING OCCASIONALLY FOR GET ALL THE FLAVORS TO BLEND.
ADD A LITTLE MORE WINE IF NEEDED, THEN ADD WINE TO YOUR STOMACH.
THIS RECIPE IS EASILY DOUBLED FOR A LARGER GROUP.
SERVE UP AND ENJOY.
MICHAEL E. PEREZ
@BADLANDSEXPEDITIONS
This is a perfect dish for the Skottle or large skillet.
Ingredients:
1 1Lb Package of hot Italian sausage, cut into pieces
2 Red onions, cut into large chunks
1T chopped garlic (I use the prechopped in a small bottle)
1 Package of mushrooms, sliced
4-5 zucchini or squash, sliced
1-2 Cans of diced tomatoes
2 Cups of Cabernet Sauvignon (500ml Black Box)
1 large bouillon cube
Italian Seasoning
EVOO
1 pkg precooked pasta
Directions:
Over low heat, add a little EVOO to the Skottle.
Sauté sausage and onion until the sausage is browned and releases some oil. Increase heat as needed.
Add zucchini, mushrooms, 1T Italian seasonings, bouillon cube, diced tomatoes, and Cabernet Sauvignon, fold into the sausage and onions.
Cook until the zucchini is softened, adding wine as needed.
When the zucchini is ready, add the precooked pasta and cook until the pasta is hot.
Garnish with Parmesan cheese and enjoy with your leftover wine.
This dish pairs wonderfully with a Cabernet Sauvignon or Spanish Rioja.
Michael E. Perez
@badlandsexpeditions
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My latest article “War Cruisers” has been published in the 2019 July/August 2019 issue of 4WD Toyota Owners Magazine. I hope you enjoy and welcome your comments.
If you are not a subscriber of 4WD Toyota Owner magazine now is a good time to subscribe. https://4wdtoyotaowner.com/
Google drive link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rwSZYL248bDuOJqtnwEuYXJw0L9JHu_s
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Part three of the series Arctic Adventures in a vintage Land Cruiser is now live on TCT magazine.
We continue our trip through Alaska and Canada and head back beyond the Arctic Circle.
I hope you enjoy the article ,and welcome your comments. The article starts on page 24.
those of you who missed parts one and two the links below will take you to the articles.
Part one: Arctic Adventures Part One
Part two: Arctic Adventures Part Two
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Selling my beloved 1985 FJ-60. I’ve had it for 20 years and time for a change.
My wife and I recently returned from a three-month 13,000 mile trip to Alaska and Canada in the FJ-60 and it performed as designed. Read about the trip to Deadhorse at the below link.
https://badlandsexpeditions.wordpress.com/2018/12/22/my-latest-article-in-tct-magazine/
I bought the FJ-60 in June of 1998 in El Paso, TX, twenty years ago, being the third owner. The truck has been a Texas truck.
Truck runs and handles great. I get about 11 plus mpg on the highway.
Owning this truck has been a labor of love and I have made a lifetime of trips with it. Certainly, a head turner when you drive it. Just time for someone else to enjoy driving a piece of Land Cruiser history.
The truck currently has 307,000,00 miles on and about 55 thousand miles on the 350 Ram Jet engine. The H55 transmission has about 65 thousand miles. Both the engine and trans were purchased new.
The V-8 conversion was done in 2012 by Wolf Creek Rod Works. The 350 Ramjet was a crate motor not a junkyard engine.
The H55 transmission was purchased new.
Twin stick transfer case
Upgraded front brakes, with 4runner calipers EBC yellow stuff pads.
Rear disk brakes. Rear rotors and pads are new. T-case emergency brake
Rebuilt rear axle. New bearings, gears and locker.
The tires are BFG KM2 M/T 33 10.50 15 with about 15,000 miles along with two new spare tires.
All six wheels are new.
Roof rack with six NATO can holders with cans, 2nd spare tire ,Alu Box and awning.
Both front and rear bumpers are Stout built as are the sliders and roof rack.
The truck has never been in an accident.
OME heavy springs front and rear.
Rear springs are new OME Heavy with two extra leaves and BOSS air bags.
CB, , AM,FM , XM , Weather band radio with High Gain XM antenna .
The truck was painted about five years ago in maintenance free paint.
Dual batteries with on board charger, Milford cargo barrier,,
rear drawer system, rear seat is removed for better cargo
storage and capacity. new Hella H4 headlights, PIAA fog and driving lights. 360 LED
flood lighting, Remote control GoLight, rear lockrite locker, awning, 40 gallon fuel tank ,
Wagongear tailgate storage system, Iron Pig drivers side seat, Tuffy console with
Federal 100 watt siren , and PA system, rare roof console, hood strut conversion ,
rotating pintle hitch, Solar pigtail for the dual batteries, P/S
awning, power tank Mount, high-lift Jack mount, Daylight running lights, Rear sway bar
, Nitro extra capacity rear diff cover, hood gas strut conversion, 4Runner windshield wiper arms conversion
Extra alternator, hoses ,air filter .This is a link to a write up on the FJ-60 in Toyota trails magazine.
https://badlandsexpeditions.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/my-fj-60-in-toyota-trails-magazine/
Here is a link with more pictures . Some pictures show a winch with no longer part of the truck as well as other options such as radios etc.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9QQudjbfUTxvreXj6
Please let me know if you have any questions.
We are hoping this truck gets to a new loving home.
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Sand Island Petroglyh panel is a about 4 miles West of Bluff Utah. This panel is located on the grounds of the Sand Island BLM Campground on the San Juan River.
The panel is about 100 yards long and is believed to be 800 to 2,500 years old. The panel has big horn sheep, Kokopelli’s . men on horse back and much more.Panels like this gives us a glimpse into the past. If we only knew what it all meant.
This an easy place to get to and is perfect for someone who who has mobility limitations.
H/t’s
https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/cities-and-towns/bluff/sand-island-petroglyphs/
https://bluffutah.org/business-directory/4884/sand-island-petroglyph-panel/
https://bearsearsmonument.org/sand-island-petroglyph-panel/
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251941
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After our trip through the Valley of the Gods we landed in Bluff Utah. It was getting dark, so we checked into the Kokopelli Inn.
The Kokopelli Inn has modest rooms and is great for spending the night. One bonus was the owner’s husband is a Jets fan, so he and Mrs. Badlandsexpeditions had a nice conversation about their losing team.
The main attraction is Bluff Fort. Bluff Fort is a restored/rebuilt Mormon settlement that is a Church Historical site.
In 1878 there was a “Mission Call” to establish a settlement at Montezuma, on the San Juan River, in the southeastern region of Utah.
70 families consisting of 250 men, women and children answered the call and left their established comfortable lives to venture in to the uncharted wilderness.
A scouting party had identified a route that was approximately 125 miles and would take only six weeks. The reality was, the journey was over 260 miles and took over six months through the winter.
The convoy of horses and wagons were stopped at the top of a massive mesa with a 1,200 ft almost sheer drop to the Colorado River. For six weeks, the Mormon pioneers chipped, dug and blasted a passage through this steep (45 degree) gorge. It was named the “Hole in the Rock”.
The Mormons used ropes attached to anchors to control the wagons descent down the steep trail. Many of the women and children slid down on their butts. Finally at the Colorado River, the Mormon missionaries were still a distance from the destination. This obstacle was not the last one on this journey. Cottonwood Hill proved to be a larger obstacle than the Hole in the Rock requiring more blasting than the Hole. Other obstacles were the Slick rocks requiring more blasting and the creation of a switchback road the mountain. The Cedars took the settlers through a dense forest of pine trees that had the men cutting a 20-mile road through the forest. The final obstacle was Comb Ridge where a dugway had to be built to ascend the hill. After six months, the group arrived at present day Bluff; about 20 miles short of their destination Montezuma. Exhausted, the settlers decided to stop there.
The pilgrims built their community in a large square with their small cabins on four sides with the doors all facing the center plaza.
In addition to building their community, a major challenge was irrigation for their fields, and they worked at different methods of getting water from the San Juan river to their fields.
Bluff Fort Historical site does a great job of recreating the actual settlement with replicas of actual buildings as well as the remains of some original buildings. Walking though these modest cabins takes you back in time and you imagine how life was at that time and the hardships. The thick timbers the cabins were made up offered insulation from the heat and the cold and each cabin had a fireplace. Despite the strong construction of the cabins, the roof construction was lacking and the cabins suffered from leaks .
Perhaps I overthink some things, but I could not help imagining the smell of unwashed bodies in summer heat. Especially with all the heavy clothing worn by both men and women as was the fashion at the time.
The restored Co-op store serves as a visitors center and the staff are very well versed in the history of the Fort and the travels of the settlers. There is a short video about the journey the settlers took and was one of the better of these types of videos that I’ve seen.
There are many original photographs of the settlers and given the penchant of Mormons for recording family history we have a good look into life back then. Each cabin featured an audio recording about the family that had lived there and offered a glimpse into their lives. More than one family suffered the loss of the wife/mother during or just after childbirth, leaving the man alone with his four or five children.
This is an exceptionally well-done restoration and a testament to the faith , strength and resilience of these pioneers. It is certainly worth the stop if you are in the vicinity.
H/t to the below links for resource information and for further information on Bluff Fort.
https://bluffutah.org/bluff-fort
www.hirf.org , http://hirf.org/trail-gallery-18.asp
https://www.lds.org/church/news/newest-church-historic-site-dedicated-in-utah-bluff-fort?lang=eng
http://mormonhistoricsites.org/hole-in-the-rock-expedition/
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