tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20303511980715164192024-03-14T13:36:55.948-07:00Two CowboysTravel Cooking Living and Telling StoriesTwo Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.comBlogger276125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-87573232628667119012022-02-21T11:36:00.017-08:002023-11-13T13:07:16.619-08:00Enough is Enough<h2 style="text-align: left;">No More...</h2><div><br /></div><div>It’s been over a year since the last post on this site... </div><div><br /></div><div>I know. It’s overdue. </div><div><br /></div><div>Early on, I’ve vouched to devote my writing only to uplifting messages. My goal was to tell stories of successful entrepreneurs - producers - defying the odds to create and build uniquely valuable businesses. Jewels are in their destinations and beacons are in their communities.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our work celebrated the maker, the foundational seed of our world. Offering inspiration to fellow entrepreneurs for creating, producing and building a better place. We showcased living life to the fullest and encouraged producers to share their optimism and value with the people around them. To teach others the value of making.</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead, the last years of 2020 and 2021 went by like a slow-motion trainwreck. And, it is by no means over. While I am writing this post, the ruin of our world is streaming full steam ahead into ever more profound societal oblivion. </div><div><br /></div><div>Canada is under Marshall Law. People’s livelihoods are confiscated. Banks are looting and locking accounts. Arrests are made in the streets. No travel. Patients were denied appropriate medical care. Contracts are being cancelled. Students are barred from Colleges and Universities. Forced layoffs. Forced Masking. No jab, no job. “Show us your vax-papers.” Apartheid. Segregation.</div><div><br /></div><div>I simply don’t have much positive to write about anymore...</div><div>Yes, you’ve guessed it. We, now, also ran out of positivity. </div><div>The optimism drugs are done. </div><div><br /></div><div>We, too, regressed into self-induced lockdowns, lockouts, closed doors, muzzled mouths, covered faces, nervous glances, muffled voices, and locked doors. Private encounters. No entry. </div><div><br /></div><div>Did we inherit the hermit’s burdened with the ever-suffocating imposed responsibility of someone else’s fear? Yes, we are now socially distant, finally. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are the victims of little people with too much power - politicians, passengers, looters, thieves, technocrats and their power and control-hungry bureaucratic minions.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is a catastrophe. It must end. </div><div><br /></div><div>“It is time to stop the motor of the world.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Until it does, in the words of W.H. Auden:</div><div><br /></div><div>“Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,</div><div>Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,</div><div>Silence the pianos and with muffled drum</div><div>Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead</div><div>Scribbling on the sky the message ‘He is Dead’.</div><div>Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,</div><div>Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.</div><div><br /></div><div>He was my North, my South, my East and West,</div><div>My working week and my Sunday rest,</div><div>My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;</div><div><br /></div><div>I thought that love would last forever; I was wrong.</div><div>The stars are not wanted now; put out everyone,</div><div>Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,</div><div>Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;</div><div>For nothing now can ever come to any good.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Our producers are dead. Our makers left. </div><div><br /></div><div>Where is John Galt?</div><div><br /></div><div>We strike!</div><div><br /></div><div>...</div>Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.comGreenwood, BC V0H, Canada49.087895499999988 -118.678099820.777661663821142 -153.83434979999998 77.39812933617884 -83.5218498tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-51586470946435230762020-11-03T14:26:00.004-08:002021-12-20T14:33:44.680-08:00Two Cowboys is Celebrating What's Right With the World<h1 style="text-align: left;">The Trap</h1><div><br /></div><div>This year has been unprecedented on so many levels. We are lost for words at the madness of 2020. It is tragic that at a time when we need each other more than ever that we are being driven apart. </div><div><br /></div><div>As I am writing, months since my last blog entry, we still face lockdowns, mandatory mask-wearing, travel restrictions, closed borders, business closures, event cancellations, growing unemployment, layoffs, food shortages, deficits, increased inflation, cancelled contracts, snitch-lines, social distancing, riots, and death. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BYLAqIGuPUM" width="320" youtube-src-id="BYLAqIGuPUM"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">Celebrating What's Right with the World!</div><div><br /></div><div>No, it is not a coronavirus. It is not a thing that is doing this to us, our society, and our community. It is also too easy to blame the Chinese, the politicians, or the Government. With all the adversity, we are constantly reminded about the things that are wrong with the world. Are we in this mess because of Climate change, Big Oil, Capitalism, Patriarchy, Intolerance, Income Disparity, Racism, Hate, Colonialism, Apartheid, Trump or Bigotry? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D78WkFAdHKY/X6HYpbpPf2I/AAAAAAADDRQ/Gw6Zd0l38HQl8n8RjpnypnQxtrCK9WKVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2459/8C3AA236-21D0-422D-A500-5EA6602CB86F.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="2459" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D78WkFAdHKY/X6HYpbpPf2I/AAAAAAADDRQ/Gw6Zd0l38HQl8n8RjpnypnQxtrCK9WKVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/8C3AA236-21D0-422D-A500-5EA6602CB86F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>By imparting our responsibility for our salvation to the whiffs and whims of others, we are inviting 2020 to be our world. We blame instead of respond. It is someone or something else that is responsible for making it all a mess. They are screwing it up for everyone, we say. If only there could be fewer men, less money, more credit, lower carbon, less plastic, fewer cars, higher wages, a vaccine, more tolerance, fewer people.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fault and the solution seem to conveniently be just out of reach - to be found elsewhere. You get the picture! </div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Escape to '21</h1><div><br /></div><div>Why has it then become so incredibly challenging to recognize what is right with the world?</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, our world is in large part the product of our thoughts and perception. We have the power to define our experiences and responses to the things around us. We contribute to our collective bubbles - our community, town, Province and Country. </div><div><br /></div><div>How we interpret our circumstances creates our reality and influences the behaviour of those around us. Yes, we are doing 2020 in large part to ourselves because we tolerate it. We are the dreaded virus. Unwittingly, we are also doing it to each other. </div><div><br /></div><div>The bad news is that we will remain trapped for as long as we continue to listen to the echo chambers of society's zombie hums of despair. Endorphin tapping amplifiers of desperation (referred to comically as "social media") will continue to milk our time and attention for calamity. It happens while we become more disconnected, separated from our friends, from our community, our partners, and even our children.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>With a small shift in our perception, we should be able to recognize and create beauty again. We should be able to restore hope in the future. Trust our neighbour's intentions. With a simple decision, we can commit to extending the liberty we expect for ourselves, to each other. We can sidestep blame and engage for prosperity.</div><div><br /></div><div>We need not look elsewhere for a new or better world. We have the mental power within us to make the call. We've had it all along within our grasp. The place to start is with ourselves. A simple decision of "No more!".</div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing will change until something changes. Then, hit the uninstall button. Save yourself. </div><div><br /></div><div>Disconnect to connect. </div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Share a Meal</h1><div><br /></div><div>For eons, food brought people together. We survived by pooling our resources for a meal. We joined forces with neighbours for safety and formed friendships around a fire. The moment we became human was when we shared a meal. This is where we will reconnect. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BGaJBhYIqrg/X6HXbkOGDrI/AAAAAAADDOo/FCpxaQOZRV8bwQasElA8yHZl6vQPgJNAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1821/IMG_6801.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1821" height="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BGaJBhYIqrg/X6HXbkOGDrI/AAAAAAADDOo/FCpxaQOZRV8bwQasElA8yHZl6vQPgJNAwCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h192/IMG_6801.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>By cooking and eating together again we can change the world for ourselves and for others. Going back to the beginning around a fire should be the best place to make new connections. It is where we can begin again to recognize what is right with the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is why the Two Cowboys encourage you to Eat, Drink and Live. Create a better future for yourself and for your community. Cook. Share. Invite family and friends to join. Meet strangers. Recognize what is right with the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>Welcome to tomorrow!</div><div><br /></div><div>Hendrik</div><div>Cowboy Nouveau</div><div style="font-family: times;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /><h2>Photos</h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOKnmRFlHNo/X6HXUJN6tFI/AAAAAAADDOg/WH4UQkAlvVYQ75ZXf3x_BeG5RbgxMtj_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s3160/IMG_6758.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="3160" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOKnmRFlHNo/X6HXUJN6tFI/AAAAAAADDOg/WH4UQkAlvVYQ75ZXf3x_BeG5RbgxMtj_gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h228/IMG_6758.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Cowboys HQ<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FTHis-6M0kI/X6HXptJPcPI/AAAAAAADDPE/xKovzGKl5gASD2Juft6iACPtj2b1w7eGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/IMG_8614.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FTHis-6M0kI/X6HXptJPcPI/AAAAAAADDPE/xKovzGKl5gASD2Juft6iACPtj2b1w7eGQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_8614.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooking with Fire<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbVsifvtu2I/X6HXyEtlWDI/AAAAAAADDPU/QOdh0KhE-OIaT8qB_AvDW8CtN_idBnSIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/IMG_9045.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbVsifvtu2I/X6HXyEtlWDI/AAAAAAADDPU/QOdh0KhE-OIaT8qB_AvDW8CtN_idBnSIgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_9045.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Feast<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0Greenwood, BC V0H, Canada49.087895499999988 -118.678099820.777661663821142 -153.83434979999998 77.39812933617884 -83.5218498tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-22563327193331670152020-01-28T10:25:00.001-08:002020-02-11T10:07:22.337-08:00Cabin Fever in the Ou Transvaal - Cowboys Cooking with Acacia BBQ<h2>
Cabin Fever Remedies</h2>
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January and February are cold months in Canada. By the time late-February rolls around, Canadians are grumpy. Cabin fever sets. Children and old people go missing. Ice Hockey referees resign, and parents get violent. Strange things that happen in the winter lands of ice and snow.<br />
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We've been living in Canada for 12 winters now. Every year we are still astounded to see just how much of an influence the winter blues have on people around us. Many lucky ones escape to warmer climates. Popular destinations include Mexico, the Southern United States, and a few lucky ones make it Downunder or to our homelands - Southern Africa.<br />
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This year we stayed home under our blanket of white. To counter cabin fever, we relied on our diligent preparation and applied remedies that didn't involve children, violence, sticks, or rock hard rubber disks. We saved items and happy thoughts for the occasion. Some things we used as crutch included a little Mieliepap, Old Brown Sherry, a few vintage Peppermint Crisps, Dry Wors, Jelly Tots, and some frozen slivers of Biltong.<br />
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Then we remembered our African lump charcoal from <a href="https://www.acaciabbq.com/" target="_blank">Acacia BBQ</a>. Willie, one of the owners, left us a stash in the Fall with a mini-braai before he himself escaped to warmer climates. What a happy discovery!<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">The Bushveld Smell</span></h2>
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Why bring Charcoal from the other side of the world to Canada?<br />
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Honestly, unless your first breath in this life was that of a Bushveld Braavleis fire, you will be hard-pressed to follow the logic. In reality, charcoal is a lightweight black carbon residue produced by removing water and other volatile constituents from plant materials (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>).<br />
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Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis - the heating of wood or other organic materials in the absence of oxygen. The advantage of burning charcoal, compared to burning wood, is the absence of water and other components. This allows charcoal to burn at higher temperatures, and give off very little smoke ("...regular wood can release a significant amount of steam, organic volatiles, and unburnt carbon particles - soot - in its smoke when it is not burned completely."). The end result is the solid-state of the one thing that drives the hysteria and New-World religion - carbon. Burn it, and you have pure carbon monoxide - plant food!<br />
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The charcoal you buy for your local BBQ or Braai at your supply store is close to, but not pure lumps of carbon. Where the mass and weight of the material is concerned, one chunk of plant material-derived carbon is much like the next. However, not all plant material is destroyed in the manufacturing process. There remains a faint memory of the origins of the wood due to some unburned content and volatiles. These are the remnants that impart the particular characteristics that differentiate Oak derived charcoal from Muskeet, Applewood, or in the case of <a href="https://www.acaciabbq.com/" target="_blank">Acacia BBQ</a>, African hardwoods.<br />
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That is why a bag of Royal Oak differs from Kingfords, Canadian Maple, and the rest. The mass and density set the temperature, and the time it burns (hence briquettes are very similar in performance). The unburned material and volatiles impart the flavour. It is this flavour of the Bushveld smoke that took us home when we lit our first box of <a href="https://www.acaciabbq.com/" target="_blank">Acacia BBQ</a> charcoal on a little Easy Grill.<br />
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<a href="https://www.acaciabbq.com/" target="_blank">Acacia BBQ</a> charcoal is a product of HB’s Premium Char Imports Ltd. It is available in Canada and the USA. The charcoal they import is the result of 10 years of trials and tribulations to realize the dream of a family business. <a href="https://www.acaciabbq.com/" target="_blank">Acacia BBQ</a> searched all over Southern Africa to find producers that would bring the “braai” (BBQ) experience of Africa to North America. They are conservation-minded and source the materials sustainably while remaining sensitive to the socio-economic issues and opportunities of Africa.</div>
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Observations</h2>
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If you haven't breathed the Bushveld, then you will be forgiven for considering the <a href="https://www.acaciabbq.com/" target="_blank">Acacia BBQ</a> product, just another premium lump charcoal. Burn-time and temperature don't set it apart, and you will be forgiven for thinking it is expensive. Remember, it did come from halfway around the world.<br />
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It is the flavour that sets it apart! We consider the profile baby perfume-like. Yes, we are biased because our memory receptors are triggered to take us to our happy place - a bushveld fire, the sun setting, jackals howling in the background, and a "tjoppie" sizzling on the braai (grill), fueled by African hardwoods.<br />
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We thank Willie and <a href="https://www.acaciabbq.com/" target="_blank">Acacia BBQ</a> for this huge present at a time we needed it most. He gave us another glimpse of heaven and reminded us of where we came from. This is our Valhalla!<br />
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It made -25C a little bearable this time around. We escaped Cabin Fever for another year. If you want the smell of Africa for your meat, then cook with <a href="https://www.acaciabbq.com/" target="_blank">Acacia BBQ</a>. That is why we do it.</div>
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Photos</h2>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com3Greenwood, BC V0H, Canada49.087895499999988 -118.6780997999999849.046306499999986 -118.75878079999998 49.12948449999999 -118.59741879999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-31528805519321391112019-11-25T13:10:00.000-08:002019-12-03T13:25:40.092-08:00Two Cowboys Cooking in 2020!<h2>
Cooking Cowboys</h2>
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Today marks the start of a new chapter in the lives and the stories of the Two Cowboys. We are embarking on the Two Cowboys' "Cooking" adventure.<br />
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"What will be different?" We are glad that you asked. <span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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We live the Two Cowboys Lifestyle, exploring local producers, small towns and celebrating great food. We film it and showcase our experiences through our online content. However, this time, we will also have an open invitation for people to participate. Come and do it with us. </div>
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You've seen the movie, now drink the milkshake, pull the pork, rub the butt, bite the brisket, lick the sauce, and share in the adventure.</div>
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We will cook, cater, and eat our way through tremendous food experiences, and we invite you to enjoy it with us. You will be able to learn, cook, sample, and feast with the Two Cowboys and our partners.</div>
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The Two Cowboys Cooking adventure will be in three parts.</div>
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<li><b>The Two Cowboys HQ and Milk Bar:</b> This Spring, we are launching the Two Cowboys Cookhouse (HQ) and Milk Bar "pop-up concept" in Greenwood, British Columbia. It will be our new home base where we will have our kitchen, cookers, and smokers on display as we cook because we love it. At this location, we will redefine what it means to hang out around a fire with friends. During the special events, we will sample-serve traditional hearty to-go fire-cooked favourites and unique and amazing gastronomical marvels. On special occasions, and by invitation, be prepared to bite into delicious apple smoked pulled pork, creative and flavourful arepa creations, boerewors, porchetta, ribs, lamb shoulders, and much, much more. We will complement it with locally sourced cheeses, ice creams, milkshakes, custards, cakes and chocolate dessert creations. We promise that there will always be something new, top quality, and out of the ordinary to savour from the community in Greenwood, BC, on Highway 3.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">Two Cowboys Exclusive Catering Events</a>:</b> With our partners, we are also taking the show on the road. We will be hosting exciting food events in unique and unusual locations in celebration of producers and seasonal local produce. During these events, we will be showing off our gear, instructing, cooking local ingredients, tasting, and enjoying exceptional dishes with our guests and supporters. You will find us at local craft breweries, vineyards, campgrounds, in a tent, on a vacant lot, at a food festival, parking spot, in a forest, or on a beach - wherever we can share the gospel of fire cooking local produce.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.twocowboys.tv/" target="_blank">Two Cowboys TV</a> and <a href="http://www.thiscannotbeit.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a>:</b> All the time, we will continue to produce online content to showcase, chronicle, and entertain you with the adventures of the Two Cowboys lifestyle. </li>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY FEATURED?</a></span></h3>
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Our travels and the time we've spent with many producers over the last three years made us realize one significant fact. Just how right we've been to celebrate the makers and producers in our communities. </div>
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In particular, we marvelled at the dedication of our farmers and food producers to persevere in a world where quality and authenticity remain under threat. It is why we are motivated to showcase and celebrate even more of their work by preparing, cooking, serving, and sharing their products and those of our partners that allow us the opportunity to do it. </div>
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There is a profound reward for makers in the simple act of creating and adding value. In its purest form, we've recognized how people change for the better in health and outlook when they embark on something as simple as regularly finding, cooking and sharing food. By doing it over a fire, it becomes even better - no matter the weather (Yes, we are cooking in the middle of the Canadian Winter). </div>
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We continue to pursue and share our passion online and offline, for this highly rewarding and sacred ritual. We also endeavour to bring even more people into the fold of preparing and eating real, locally produced, and self-cooked food. We hope you can share the journey with us as this unique adventure continues and promises to become something impressive.</div>
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See you on the road!<br />
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P.S. If you want to partner with the Two Cowboys on any of the above, then please <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">get in touch</a>. We are on the lookout to feature produce, partners, chefs, hosts, and unique locations for the festivities.</div>
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Photos</h2>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com1Greenwood, BC V0H, Canada49.087895499999988 -118.6780997999999849.046306499999986 -118.75878079999998 49.12948449999999 -118.59741879999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-22320062019649095162019-09-10T06:32:00.000-07:002019-11-25T13:13:56.273-08:00Off the Desk and Into the Sauce with House of Q in Vernon, BC<h2>
Share It</h2>
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If you are tired of mixing the same seasoning spices every time you cook a steak, then you have to meet Brian Misko. If you are not up to making your own BBQ sauces from scratch, when quickly needing to grill a pork chop, or slow smoking a butt, then <a href="https://www.houseofq.com/" target="_blank">House of Q</a> is your home. You have something in common. If you are in need of tasty BBQ seasoning spices and sauces for your cooking hobby, there is a Q solution.<br />
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Brian built a business from it. He created base seasoning and saucing for his out-of-control hobby and then shared it with other like-minded BBQ and grilling enthusiasts. It quickly became the go-to for customers pressed for time, with no appetite for compromise. People that require award-winning foundations for their love of meat. He called it <a href="https://www.houseofq.com/" target="_blank">House of Q</a>.<br />
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Successful companies come from innovative entrepreneurs that invent products or services out of necessity. People who take their products to market for others to also enjoy. Brian is one of the best examples of how to start such a business. He is selling something he made, like, and use regularly. By doing it, he is adding value with his products, advice and support, to other like-minded enthusiasts in his BBQ industry.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></h3>
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Episode 1 - Cooking with Yoders</div>
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Episode 2 - Cooking with Q</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY FEATURED?</a></span></h3>
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Escaping the Pod</h2>
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It is an all too familiar, yet, still an inspiring story. According to Brian, it started around 2004. His cubicle in the software industry became too small. His escape was the discovery of his love for cooking. More and more of his time went into this passion. BBQ competitions followed. Before long, a little media attention, and voila! <a href="https://www.houseofq.com/" target="_blank">House of Q</a> was born as a byproduct of this drive for award-winning food.<br />
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BBQ'ers have few choices for making a living from their passion. Some will call it art. Many cater to functions. A few start restaurants or smokehouses. Even fewer become entertainers. Starting a manufacturing business and launching a consumer brand with the name "<a href="https://www.houseofq.com/" target="_blank">House of Q</a>" is probably one of the hardest and gutsiest ways to earn a living.<br />
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Brian escaped his pod. Today he spends his time honing his competitive cooking streak, developing new products, promoting them where he can, and inspiring others to discover their own food passions.<br />
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What he makes, promises to deliver a little help on the way to BBQ salvation. It includes a cookbook, seasoning spice blends, and sugary smokey spicey sauces - the necessary base ingredients for old-fashioned low and slow Southern BBQ. In his free time, he is generous with his advice and his commitment to inspire healthy living through good eating, and the art of cooking with fire.</div>
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Observations</h2>
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Here is where the House of Q meets the Two Cowboys. We eagerly promote something we enjoy.<br />
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The Cowboys likes using Brian's products. It saves us from assembling our own beef pepper seasoning, which mostly contains the same ingredients. Q's all-purpose seasoning works equally well on pork ribs and chicken. We cannot decide if we like the Rocking Red or the Apple Butter Sauce more. We guess it depends on our mood and the amount of beer lubricating our cook. All we know is that our pork has never tasted more "Appelly" and "Zingy" when combining the two.<br />
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When it comes down to it, we share a passion for cooking with Brian. We agree about the need to advocate for more people to cook, grill and BBQ at home. You eat better that way. We both buy from local food producers, sourcing in-season ingredients for our cook, and include more fresh vegetables and meat protein in our diets.<br />
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Above all, we love sharing our passion with the people we call our friends. There is nothing better than to cook with fire, doing it for, and with the people we love, and findings innovative ways of telling the world about it. That is why we like a little House of Q. It comes from the same place.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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P.S. <a href="https://www.houseofq.com/" target="_blank">Get your House of Q products here</a>.</div>
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Hendrik</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span></div>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0Vernon, BC, Canada50.2670137 -119.2720107000000150.1045087 -119.5947342 50.4295187 -118.94928720000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-83632707804063321492019-08-27T09:19:00.002-07:002019-08-28T06:19:59.882-07:00The New Old-World of Greenwood City in Boundary Country, British Columbia<h2>
Old Stuff</h2>
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When one visits old-world destinations like Venice, Paris or Amsterdam, you become aware of the stark contrasts between the day-to-day hustle and the much, much longer and older timelines that birthed their character, their people’s cultures and unique personalities. </div>
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In our migratory New World, like Canada or New Zealand, we don’t have a similar appreciation for omnipresent antiquity and the uniquely localized identities of the people. Sometimes, it is even hard to distinguish Calgary from Denver or Regina from Edmonton. If we did, we would discover and appreciate that here too is an “old world” charm, woven into the fabric of what, and who we are. Examples like Montreal and Quebec City come to mind. </div>
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However, further West, we easily forget. Too quickly we lose the charm of our heritage as we hastily pave over it, strip mall, tear down, franchise, and progress it to oblivion. If we look around, we will realize that there are gems to be discovered. Dare I say it, places to be protected and cultures to be preserved and celebrated.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></h3>
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New World Gems</h2>
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Talk about the <a href="https://www.greenwoodcity.com/" target="_blank">City of Greenwood</a> with any modern-day Canadian, and most will shrug with just one comment, “Where is that?”. When you visit Greenwood, something grabs your attention about British Columbia’s smallest city, a one-time candidate for the Provincial Capital, and the previous seat of the Provincial High Court. Everyone in the West knew about Greenwood in 1897.</div>
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Walk the streets (yes, not speed through it on Highway 3, at 100km/hour) and you become acutely aware of its rich history, thanks to the ongoing efforts of the few remaining residents. They are desperately trying to preserve the crumbling buildings, hold on to the rich can-do mining character, and tell the boom-and-bust stories of days long gone.<br />
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There is a character to Greenwood and a hardy identity to its people. It needs to be rediscovered and celebrated. In Greenwood, the old-world charm of the Canadian West and the pioneering spirit of Canada is particularly strong. Even its time-worn accelerated degradation and central location in the Boundary Country offers an eerie charm or omen to the still remaining places around it. It reminds one of that powerful and always-present inescapable universal flow.<br />
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Flow of Time</h2>
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Humanity is insignificant within its force. Regardless of who we are, where we are, what we had for breakfast, or how we drink our coffee, our world will keep on spinning at a speed of 1,800 km/hour. We will continue to be screeching around the sun at 108,000 km/hour, as our solar system spirals at 750,000 km/hour through this galaxy. Our planets will continue to exist for another 4 billion years, our Universe expanding for another 13.5 billion more.<br />
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Within this mind-numbing magnitude, we are part of the flow, and we are because of the flow.<br />
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All we can do is hang on to a minuscule significance, oblivious of the speed at which we hurtle through time and pace. For us, the sun came up in the morning and will go under this evening. The seasons will pass. Life will begin, friendships made, and partners lost. Civilizations will rise. Some will fall. Industries will blossom and die, presidents elected, killers executed, trees grow, suns collapse, species disappear, climates change and Black Holes born. Gold will be discovered. Fortunes made, and many will be lost.<br />
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We will grow old. Our lives will end. Soon, someone will forget.<br />
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We stand alone against the massive freight train of life. In the blistering madness of its momentum, we can only try to find a place - our place, a sense of purpose, some significance. A point to it all. The best we can hope for is conscious glimpses grasping at fleeting, subjective moments of awe, splendour, beauty, love, acceptance, and pleasure in the places and with the people we love.<br />
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There is no Heaven, no Valhalla, karma, or fortunate re-dos waiting on the other side.<br />
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This is it, a sliver of existence in time, a minuscule place in the Universe. Living is all we get. Holding on is what we have. The big question then is, “What to do with it?”<br />
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The answer, “Be”. The world forgets easily but definitely.<br />
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Greenwood, BC</h2>
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<a href="https://www.greenwoodcity.com/" target="_blank">Greenwood</a> is all about history, it goes back to 1891 with the discovery of gold, silver and copper in this once thriving mining camp. Incorporated as a city on July 12, 1897, the BC Copper Company smelter was built in 1901 and brought prosperity to the city, becoming known as the “hub” of the Boundary. The surrounding mines brought fortune seekers from many parts of the world, but the boom was short-lived. After the first World War, copper prices plummeted and Greenwood’s success soon diminished. People left in droves and by 1940 the population had dwindled to a few hundred.<br />
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The forced internment of Japanese Canadians off the west coast of British Columbia in 1942 changed the course of Greenwood’s history. A ghost town from its former glory days, Greenwood became BC’s first internment camp. 1,200 people were crammed into the many empty buildings, hotels and houses; remnants from days long ago. The little city once again began to thrive.<br />
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The city has proven its resiliency over the years and now demonstrates an excellent destination for history buffs. Many adventures await you in this historic little city.<br />
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Observations</h2>
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Enjoy the little feature we’ve put together about the <a href="https://www.greenwoodmuseum.com/" target="_blank">museum</a> of <a href="https://www.greenwoodcity.com/" target="_blank">Greenwood</a>. Yes, it is a <a href="https://www.greenwoodmuseum.com/" target="_blank">museum</a>, but we know it is also the memories, character and the personality of its people. We have already invested in Greenwood and is soon becoming residents of this charming little gem.<br />
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We invite the world to come and visit, stay and build a life with us.<br />
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Come to see <a href="https://www.greenwoodcity.com/" target="_blank">Greenwood</a>.</div>
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Our New Home</div>
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Hendrik</div>
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Boundary Cowboy</div>
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Photos</h2>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com2214 S Copper, Greenwood, BC V0H 1J0, Canada49.0901759 -118.677230728.4478954 -159.9858247 69.73245639999999 -77.3686367tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-31446133743927057152019-07-31T07:27:00.001-07:002019-07-31T07:40:45.752-07:00The Second Grand Party in the Street in Downtown Grand Forks, British Columbia<h2>
Good Grand News</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Saturday 2 May 2018, the news stated: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>“Catastrophic floods in parts of southern British Columbia have forced nearly 2,800 from their homes and warm weather expected in the coming days could worsen the problem. In Grand Forks, B.C., a community about 520 kilometres east of Vancouver, homes are submerged in brown, murky water. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary said fire rescue technicians have rescued more than 30 people by boat in the town. Two days of heavy rain caused flooding in Grand Forks. It’s the worst the region has seen in 70 years, roughly two feet (0.6 metres) higher than ever recorded.”</i> (<a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/b-c-town-submerged-by-worst-flood-in-70-years-30-people-rescued-1.3926926" target="_blank">CTV News</a>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Sunday 21 July the news read: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>“The citizens and business in Downtown Grand Forks are showing tremendous resilience and perseverance as they slowly recover from the flooding of 2018. It is a little over 1 year, and businesses are opening again. New businesses are moving to town. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>Look out for a new Craft Brewery, Ice Cream store and others are planning to locate and build their futures in the town as well. They are all discovering and coming for the small-town charm, better lifestyle, and slower pace of this oasis in British Columbia’s Boundary Country. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>To demonstrate how attractive the community of Grand Forks is for business, the <a href="https://boundarybc.com/event/party-in-the-street/" target="_blank">Downtown Business Association</a> hosted its 2nd Annual Party in the Street. They invited people from the Boundary, Kootenay's and Okanagan Area to celebrate the rebuild and rebirth of Downtown Grand Forks, after the floods. It was a grand party! Grand Forks is open for business, again.”</i> (Two Cowboys News)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></h3>
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Party in the Street</h2>
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The Cowboys were fortunate to get an invite to the Party in the Street. We celebrated with the people of Grand Forks. While there, we wanted to find out what the business outlook is after a hard year of cleanup and rebuilding. Are there people who are positive about the future? Is there an opportunity for existing businesses and new business to rebuild and grow?<br />
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What struck us was how welcoming is the Grand Forks community. They want people to move to the area, to establish businesses, and to open stores in the downtown business district. Grand Forks is not just open for business. They are using the events of the past year as an opportunity for the rebirth of the sleepy town. They are hosting events to celebrate and promote the opportunity.<br />
We’ve seen that significant news events attract attention to places that people may otherwise not think about. Canmore in Alberta received global attention with the flooding of 2013. We were there. The publicity built momentum for growth.<br />
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As a result of the attention, more people were charmed by the attractiveness of the location and visited. Some even relocated, even though Canmore has one of the most expensive real estate markets in Canada. Some will agree that the town is still benefiting from this momentum almost 5 years after the event. While Alberta is in an economic downturn since 2014, new businesses are being established in Canmore. More and more people are moving to the area for the lifestyle, natural beauty, and proximity to Alberta’s big business and tourism markets.<br />
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We predict, similarly, that Grand Forks has an opportunity to mine gold from the unfortunate events of 2018. Through the ongoing publicity of the flood recovery and the positive developments related to the circumstances, they help people discover and appreciate that there are still places in Canada like Grand Forks. Places where small businesses are embraced and encouraged to start or relocate. Where the economics of the area still make it possible for small entrepreneurs to live and work and have a lifestyle location. It offers excellent infrastructure, a great climate, and proximity to larger markets such as the tourists of the Okanagan.<br />
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Grand Forks is open for artisan butchers, bakers, growers, makers, retailers, and related services. The <a href="http://www.boundarychamber.com/" target="_blank">Downtown Business Association</a> is keen to see more people open and operate their businesses in Grand Forks. Even the City Council is making it easier to do it. Property is still affordable, and the lifestyle is superb with trails, sunshine, and shorter winters.</div>
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Observations</h2>
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We are glad we could meet some of these remarkable people during the Party in the Street. We look forward to bringing you more stories about the businesses and people of the town and of the Boundary Country of British Columbia.<br />
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We too succumbed to the charms of the "old frontier" and want to help promote it as the “new frontier” for artisans and lifestyle entrepreneurs. That is why we decided to live here and make the <a href="https://boundarybc.com/" target="_blank">Boundary Country</a> our community and our people.<br />
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You should come and see it for yourself!<br />
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Hendrik</div>
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Boundary Cowboy</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span></div>
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Photos</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open for Business!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Road to Grand Forks</td></tr>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0Grand Forks, BC V0H, Canada49.0300946 -118.4451391999999748.988449599999996 -118.52582019999997 49.0717396 -118.36445819999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-62294121758525250332019-07-29T09:54:00.001-07:002019-08-13T12:05:55.639-07:00Do You Want A Healthy and Fulfilling Life? Start by Making Toast or Frying an Egg<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">The permutations and cultural preferences in food preparation are colourful as the people of the world. Every corner of the planet is full of uniquely regional ingredients. The way to prepare ingredients for a meal also uniquely developed with, and lead to the way people are living and working in a particular area. Our cultures, tastes, rituals and preferences developed around our food and meal habits. </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">The best way to maintain and celebrate our identity is thus with our people’s unique foods. Our food not only feeds and nourishes but also directs our mental state and determines our physical health.</span><br />
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Catalysts</h2>
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There are two ways we can grow or change. Either, life does it to us, or we do it to ourselves. In both these cases, a catalyst is required to get things underway. A catalyst is a person or thing that precipitates an event that leads to a change in circumstances or behaviour. If you want to have a healthy and fulfilling life, with good friends, you need a catalyst. </div>
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There is ample evidence that because of the relationship with our food, we as humans developed into the uniquely dominant species that we are. When we prepare food, we learn, we share, and we make friends. When we are involved with our food, we are more likely to eat better, and as a result, live healthier and happier lives. Unfortunately, in our “modern” world, this involvement is fast becoming a casualty as the majority of people are losing the opportunity or the interest to cook. </div>
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In this blog post, we are making the case that it is time for us to start cooking again. Our food is the catalyst for our health, fulfillment and we are likely to have more good friendships. It is as simple as starting with making toast or frying an egg.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></h3>
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You Need a Yoder!</div>
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Make It</h2>
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Our development and evolution are directly influenced by our relationship with our food. Consciously or unconsciously, a lot of what happens in our lives still have some connection with what, how, when and with whom, we eat. It is evident from the amount of information published about our diets, and about the ongoing conversations, we have with the people around us about what we choose to eat. Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Meatatarian are now commonly used houshold terms and pops up often in day-to-day conversations. This blog is not about defining our relationship with food, but rather, making the case that our food is the catalyst for a whole lot more meaningful living. Let me walk you through the logic.<br />
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Our unique approach to nourishment turned us into responsible learning organisms. The best learning we can do is to discover how to feed ourselves. Knowing how to hunt, grow, prepare and enjoy our food was always the basis for our survival. Unfortunately, this knowledge is increasingly in short supply in a society where it became easier to UberEats or HappyMeal than to crack an egg or fire up a grill. Heaven forbid we find out where eggs actually come from or visit a pig farm for bacon!<br />
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Our fulfillment as human beings suffered when Google Search replaced hunting, opening the fridge replaced foraging, and the submit button on a takeout app or the on button of the microwave replaced food preparation and cooking. When we are no longer directly involved with what we eat, we deny ourselves the most primal and uniquely human opportunity for intellectual development - learning about our food and how to prepare it. Our chance and ability to learn through sourcing and preparing a meal is lost, and with that, a whole lot of personal value eliminated.<br />
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Yes, we are learning organisms. Our position in the food chain and dominance on planet Earth came about because of the energy we've put into building our intellect around food. It also influenced the development of our social structures to help us source and maintain our food supply. Even our physiology developed to make our minds our most dominant survival feature. Instead of physical strength, speed, or agility, our best tool to survive and evolve became our ability to learn, reason and remember how to stay safe, what to eat, where to find it, and how to prepare it.<br />
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To have a more fulfilling life, we should cherish the opportunity to learn about our food while preparing a meal. It starts with something as simple as making toast or frying an egg.<br />
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Share It</h2>
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Our species' first priority for our intellect was and still is, to learn how to survive. Our survival depends on how well we can procreate, protect and nourish ourselves. We quickly learned as humans that we share this as a common goal with those closest to us. We learned a long time ago that it is easier to cooperate with those that have the same needs. It is more valuable to do it with those we care for most, like a spouse, parent, child, or sibling.<br />
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With this as a priority, our intellect developed to enable us to maintain and benefit from cooperation. The way it started was with our need to eat and survive. To meet this need, we learned to foster relationships and cooperate. The way we relate and interact with others followed a similar logic. It means that when we forage together, prepare and share a meal, we are more likely to have things in common and successfully cooperate as a result.<br />
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We are better able to foster meaningful relationships with those that share in the task. It satisfies another of our critical primal urges - our need for acceptance. It is how good friendships start and is maintained. People that cook and eat together are more likely to develop and foster healthy, meaningful relationships.<br />
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Love It</h2>
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Preparing food is work. Not knowing what and how to prepare food makes it even harder work. Yet, herein lies the opportunity to learn and discover what makes each one of us healthy and unique. We have to eat. We may as well eat with a purpose and do it with the people we love.<br />
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The permutations and cultural preferences in food preparation are as colourful as the people of the world. Every corner of the planet is full of uniquely regional ingredients. The way to prepare ingredients for a meal also uniquely developed with, and lead to the way people are living and working in a particular area. Our cultures, tastes, rituals and preferences developed around our food and meal habits. The best way to maintain and celebrate our identity is thus with our people’s unique foods. Our food not only feeds and nourishes but also directs our mental state and determines our physical health.<br />
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When this alignment is violated, a delicate balance is destroyed with dire consequences for society. It has health consequences and ultimately contributes to the disruption of culture and identity. For example, societies not accustomed to high carbohydrate intake and sugary foods become diabetic and obese. It's been happening all over the world. The best model can be found in the Pacific Islands, where diabetes became an epidemic because of the change in the food supply. Where dairy isn’t a staple, people are lactose intolerant. This is the case in some Chinese populations. Yet, they are consuming more and more dairy because it became more readily available, and in some cases, even fashionable regardless of the health consequences. The biggest offender of them all, processed foods, introduced carcinogens that destroys unique and essential gut bacteria. Our gut bacteria help with digestion, and it has been proven that it also has a link with a person’s mood and mental health. Processed food leads to increases in the occurrence of gastrointestinal disorders like gluten intolerance, autoimmune diseases, and even depression. The Inuit needs their seal blubber not only to survive, but to be healthy, and to be Inuit. The same with the Bushmen hunting in Africa. They need their meat and to celebrate every hunt. It is who they are.<br />
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It is far too easy for us in our global convenience-driven societies to abandon cultural and meal conventions. Many of us cannot remember what and how our people used to eat. We have to revisit the cookbooks of our forefathers to rediscover our preferences and tastes. These conventions developed over thousands of years. It made us what we are physically, mentally and culturally. By abandoning it, we are not only risking our health. We are risking our mental state and who we are. It is becoming quite apparent that we are unfortunately too eager to embrace new meal conventions, and there is a price to pay for doing it.<br />
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The bottom line is, regardless of the improved availability of all kinds of ingredients and foods, thanks to globalism and large multinational food producers, we remain captive physiologically and culturally to what is our diet. If we violate this accord with a BigMac or SugarySlurpee, we risk physical and mental health.<br />
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When we prepare our own food, it is easier to pay attention to what is good for us to eat. We can source the right ingredients and cook it in a way that aligns with our preferences, cultural identity and, with our physiology. Not only will we be eating better. We will also be healthier and happier as a result.<br />
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Observations</h2>
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I started this blog post with the statement that a healthy and fulfilled life, with good friends, begins with making toast or frying an egg.</div>
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It doesn’t have to be toast or eggs. What it should be is a daily dedication to source ingredients and prepare meals to share with those we love. The result will be a lifelong learning experience as we learn not only how to prepare our food, but also how our food brings our friends and family together for healthier and more rewarding lives. It is what we’ve been doing for thousands of years. We should do it again. At our very foundation, it is who we are.</div>
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Hendrik</div>
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Cooking Cowboy</div>
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Photos</h2>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0Bridesville, BC V0H 1B0, Canada49.037014 -119.1521520999999728.394674 -160.46074609999997 69.679354 -77.843558099999967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-56166957682856365612019-07-04T15:49:00.002-07:002019-07-04T15:55:42.106-07:00Two Cowboys are Pulling Some Pork with No Sleep at Porkapalooza in Edmonton, Alberta<h2>
Father's Day</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">You are a Dad. Where would you like to be on Father's Day?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a happy place for the Cowboys on any given day. It is right next to a cooking fire, with a cold beverage in hand, surrounded by our favourite people. It doesn't matter what day of the year it is, the weather, or what we are supposed to be cooking and eating. Simply, there is no fun in cooking or drinking alone. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We treasure </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">barbecuing, braai or merely preparing and sharing food. This ancient social ritual and tradition come naturally to us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it is Father's Day, the one day we as fathers can choose what it is we want to do, then it is only logical for us to look for the biggest celebration we can find </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">of our primal right of passage</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">During 24 hours, we want to </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">congregate with </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">well-lubricated bacon and smoke-reeking fellow devotees</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;"> around open fires, and our favourite cooking machines</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">. These are folks, that know what it takes to patiently savour every moment tenderizing Pork Butts, melting Briskets and crisping Pork Ribs. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">is a bonus if we can also have our families with us on the day. </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">That is why we salute </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.albertapork.com/" style="font-weight: 400;" target="_blank">Alberta Pork</a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">and <a href="https://porkapalooza.ca/" target="_blank">Porkapalooza's</a> </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">organizers for making our Father's Day an extra special day for us this year. We attended our first ever <a href="https://porkapalooza.ca/" target="_blank">Porkapalooza</a>, which included all the above, and we lived to tell the story.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY FEATURED?</a></span></h3>
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Porkapalooza</h2>
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The festival was a free two-day event that celebrated all things BBQ with one of Canada's largest <a href="https://www.kcbs.us/" target="_blank">KCBS</a> sanctioned BBQ competitions. <a href="https://porkapalooza.ca/" target="_blank">Porkapalooza</a> is one of four Alberta Cup BBQ competitions taking place year.</div>
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Anyone was welcome to attend (even the Vegans), and it included plenty of activities for families and food lovers to enjoy. Guests were invited to check out guided tours of the competition area and cooking demonstrations from professional chefs. While the parents submerged themselves into the BBQ underworld, the kiddies were kept busy in a play area and a Kids’ Zone.</div>
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The competition featured over $15,000 in prize money with almost fifty teams vying for the prize money. It also included a chef’s challenge and special young chef event.</div>
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The festival is organized by the <a href="https://porkapalooza.ca/" target="_blank">Porkapalooza</a> BBQ Festival Society, a non-profit organization, with generous financial support from <a href="https://www.albertapork.com/" style="font-weight: 400;" target="_blank">Alberta Pork</a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>and other amazing sponsors.</div>
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Observations</h2>
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Everyone in Western Canada BBQ land has their own reasons why <a href="https://porkapalooza.ca/" target="_blank">Porkapalooza</a> is the highlight on their annual calendar. For many, it is a chance to learn, catch up with friends, hang out with mates, be serious about cooking, have fun, or compete to win. Vendors bring their latest BBQ gadgets to try, and producers showcase their meat, sauces and other ingredients. Teams compete to validate their skills, test their equipment, eat good food, and generally solicit favour with the <a href="https://www.kcbs.us/" target="_blank">KCBS</a> gods.<br />
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We are glad that we had a chance to be part of Porkapalooza 2019. Even though we've been hanging around the Alberta smokers for a few years now, we could never fit this pinnacle event into the calendar. We are glad we finally did.<br />
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We are also glad we got to know more of, and about, the people passionate about BBQ. We are thankful for the new friendships and appreciate the support they've shown for the Cowboys. We feel like we succeeded in getting a seat at the smoker!<br />
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Enjoy the highlights of the event as we introduce you to a few of our new BBQ friends and catch up with others. Sincere thanks to Darcy and <a href="https://porkapalooza.ca/" target="_blank">Porkapalooza</a> that made it possible for us to be there. We look forward to seeing you all back in 2020. Who knows, maybe the Cowboys will compete and win a few prizes next year. Maybe we should also throw a hat in the ring...<br />
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Hendrik</div>
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Cooking Cowboy</div>
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Photos</h2>
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Hot Hot Hot</div>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com07515 118 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5B 0J2, Canada53.56834 -113.45575832.9260075 -154.764352 74.2106725 -72.147164tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-7444129614352346822019-07-04T11:35:00.002-07:002019-07-04T11:37:02.945-07:00Two Cowboys Sinks a Put for the Canmore and Area Healthcare Foundation in Canmore, Alberta<h2>
More Than Expected</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Communities are defined by how well its people take care of each other. However, we don't always appreciate or is aware of who these "caretakers" are that we rely on so leisurely. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In our "modern world", we've become so far removed from the people that make our civilized lives possible that we no longer appreciate who they are, and what they do. </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">How well do you know your neighbour? </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Do you know the name of the kid behind the coffee machine that served your Espresso this morning, or your fries for your poutine last night? Dare you ask and care about how your pharmacist's day is going?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Let's make it serious. Do you know who paid for the heart monitor used when your wife was at the hospital's emergency room? Who bought the chair in the waiting room you slept on outside the maternity ward while waiting for your son to be born? What is the name of the Doctor who treated your daughter when she fell off her bicycle, on her way back from school?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY FEATURED?</a></span></h3>
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Community for Community</h2>
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We go through our days often unaware of the people behind the scenes that make a difference to our lives. Sages are touching us and shaping our every day, positively. We will never meet them.<br />
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It is easy to take the little things for granted. Marriages and friendships fall apart when we no longer pay attention to the value of what is often considered trivial. Relationships suffer when we stop saying "good morning" or forget to ask, "How was your day, my love?". In the same way, it is even easier to just assume that someone else is taking care of the big things. Our roads, water, hospitals, schools, sanitation and our safety. Isn't it is the Government's job? People are getting paid to do it. I pay taxes, that is why it is there. That is why I am entitled to it.<br />
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Herein lies the problem. Government, our taxes, and public servants don't always take care of things. It becomes quite evident when the system breaks down. The world is full of examples where bureaucracies misbehave, fall apart, or abuse their role with catastrophic consequences for the societies they are meant to serve.<br />
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In South Africa people in towns are no longer safe, no longer have clean drinking water or electricity. Municipalities no longer remove garbage and streets and sidewalks haven't been maintained in years. The "system" fell apart. Public servants became more interested in serving their own bank balances and exorbitant mortgages, than serving the people that are funding their purpose and existence.<br />
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With towns in peril, local community members came together to take care of each other. Neighbours are now patrolling streets and keeping each other safe. Areas are generating their own electricity and neighbours are collecting each other's garbage. People are taking care of each other. They know who is making their town livable and they take responsibility for each other.<br />
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Canmore Community</h2>
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In Canada, we are fortunate to have public healthcare. There is a massive system of bureaucracy somewhere in Edmonton, Vancouver or Toronto, with Billions of Dollars responsible for being there when we get sick or have a health emergency. We assume that the Government fits the bill for our much needed and essential health services. We certainly pay a fair chunk of our income in taxes with the belief that our public servants have our best interest at heart and will be there when we need it most.<br />
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However, there are cases when our system fails us, and much-needed resources are prioritized elsewhere. This is when the luxury of leaving our salvation to someone else costs us personally and our community in much-needed services or resources. It simply leaves us with two tasks. To put pressure on the health care system to prioritize resources our way, and coming together as a community to take on the responsibility of taking care of each other.<br />
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The <a href="https://canmorehealthfoundation.com/" target="_blank">Canmore and Area Health Care Foundation</a> is a community organization that is tasked with these two crucial asks for the people of Canmore, Alberta. Their mission as a community-initiated organization is to obtain and provide charitable financial resources for the continuing improvement of the health facilities and services of the Canmore General Hospital. They encourage philanthropy and guard these financial resources to benefit the community's health needs. It is the people of Canmore taking care of each other where the public health services don't meet requirements or fall short.</div>
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Observations</h2>
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Soulafa Al-Abbasi invited the Cowboys to be part of this year's <a href="https://canmorehealthfoundation.com/" target="_blank">Canmore and Area Health Care Foundation</a>'s annual charity golf fundraiser. The goal was to have fun, entice more charitable giving, and more importantly, to tell the story of the Foundation's existence and the vital work they do.<br />
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We were residents of Canmore for eleven years. All this time, we used the Canmore Hospital and its facilities not knowing about the <a href="https://canmorehealthfoundation.com/" target="_blank">Canmore and Area Health Care Foundation</a>. We've always assumed that thanks to generous public funding through our taxes, of Alberta Health Services, that Canmore has an excellent healthcare facility. Now we know that we also benefitted from the work of the Foundation. More importantly, we benefitted from the charitable contributions of our neighbours towards access to better healthcare.<br />
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Every resident of Canmore is likely to come in contact with the Canmore Hospital sometime during their lives. Here is the ask, when you know that the hospital is in your future. Don't you want to be sure that the Canmore Hospital will be ready and able to treat you, as you would like to be treated when you need it most?<br />
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If you do, then make the <a href="https://canmorehealthfoundation.com/" target="_blank">Canmore and Area Health Care Foundation</a> part of your charitable contribution. If it is not a monetary contribution, give your time. You will get back much more than you give thanks to your neighbour, who is also contributing for your collective benefit. This is the community looking after each other, in its purest and basic form.<br />
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We thank Soulafa and the <a href="https://canmorehealthfoundation.com/" target="_blank">Canmore and Area Health Care Foundation</a> for the opportunity to share this positive story. We thank them more for the heart monitor they bought for my wife to use when she was in the Hospital's Emergency Room on Friday, 20 July 2019.<br />
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It reminds me of a sign I once saw on the wall at one of our best clients. It said, "When you learn, teach. When you get, give." We implore you to give generously!<br />
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Hendrik</div>
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Canmore Cowboy</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span></div>
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Photos</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sinking a Put</td></tr>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0Canmore, AB, Canada51.0892428 -115.3597128999999850.9295878 -115.68243639999997 51.2488978 -115.03698939999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-61520359538557974302019-06-09T12:14:00.000-07:002019-06-09T12:27:42.619-07:00Good Food is Food You Cook Yourself - BBQ and Grilling is as Basic and Easy as it Comes in Alberta, Canada<h2>
What You Are Eating</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Fast food" is everywhere. It means, unfortunately, that bad food is too. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because it is easy to get cooked food fast, many people are forgetting how to prepare it themselves and are probably unaware of what they are really eating. I know this is a gross generalization. It may upset some people. These may be the very people that never paid attention to how grandma boiled potatoes or pulled a roast chicken from the oven. I bet they can't even fry an egg.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a whole generation of Millenials that think milk comes from a factory and burgers should be made in laboratories. Most of what they regularly consume comes from an oil fryer, and they </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">have their local restaurants, and food establishments on speed-dial through technology like</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> "</span><a href="https://www.skipthedishes.com/" style="font-weight: 400;" target="_blank">Skip the Dishes</a><span style="font-weight: 400;">" and "</span><a href="https://www.ubereats.com/" style="font-weight: 400;" target="_blank">Uber-Eats</a><span style="font-weight: 400;">"</span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">. No wonder they gravitate towards veganism! They are unlikely to be eating enough good food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Here is the revelation. Whatever you order from a restaurant is probably sub-standard. You can buy better at the supermarket, cook it yourself, and it will ultimately taste better, and perhaps be even cheaper. By cooking for yourself, you may learn something. You will definitely also make a few friends along the way when you also share your work with those around you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">If you don't cook your own food, you are probably not eating well. </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Let's take a closer look at the economics of a food establishment in today's world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></h3>
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Heritage Heat Ep1</div>
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Alberta BBQ Ep2</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY FEATURED?</a></span></h3>
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Buy vs. Cook</h2>
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This is the scenario. It is a case that will probably be out of reach for most people. However, it will put in context what good restaurant food may look like. What will be a fair price at an upmarket downtown establishment, when we order a 450g rib steak, scalloped potatoes, another green vegetable and a salad?<br />
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Without the trimmings, side dishes and drinks, and excluding tip and tax, the steak alone will probably set you back around CAD$45 - CAD$50. How did they get to this price? Consider that you have the cost of the slab of beef, the skill of the chef/cook, some seasoning, the overhead of the facility and the margin built in as cost to the price of the meal?<br />
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According to "<a href="https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/gross-profit-margins-upscale-restaurants-28359.html" target="_blank">Forbes</a>" magazine, the average gross profit margin for a fine-dining restaurant is around 60% with a food cost percentage between 38% to 42%. Because we are looking a premium piece of produce, there is a good chance that the portion of meat that is served in this scenario set the restaurant back around $21.<br />
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Remember that the meat is the star of the meal, and clearly, it is the most expensive part of what is served, so everything else should contribute to pay the rent and wages. The potatoes, vegetables, salad, wine, etc. must deliver substantially better margin than the 60% (charged over and above in this case).<br />
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Here is the surprise. The price the consumer is willing to pay ultimately determines the profit a restaurant can squeeze out of a meal. If you and I are eager to slap down $50 for a steak, then a good restaurant will creatively engineer their food and overhead costs to maximize the return from that $50 of wallet spend, without diminishing their brand or upsetting customers with a sub-par experience.<br />
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The question is, what can they get away with?<br />
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This is where creativity starts in the restaurant business. Either they have a heck of a deal to get prime produce really affordable (because they buy vast quantities, know the farmer, grow their own beef, blah, blah, blah, or let's just say it is where the cook/chef's talent come to shine. They likely take an average (or below-average) cut and dress it up to be served as a prime cut for a top dollar.<br />
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Now, think what you get served at a fast food restaurant. Where is the margin coming from in a $10 Happy Meal? Not so happy anymore, are we? No wonder, they try their best to obscure what you are really eating from the fryer.<br />
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You can cook for yourself. Visit the grocer or butcher and buy a prime piece of meat. Drop it on a hot grill for 4 minutes a side. Slap it with some garlic butter and a little S&P and another couple of minutes in the oven. See how that compares to your $50 barely adequate rip-off restaurant steak.<br />
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I cannot fathom why I would choose the restaurant's steak over my own unless I have money to burn or masochistically feel like tendering for a round of prime indigestion. The point is, you may ultimately spend the same money if you want to (if you pick the 90-day, dry-aged, prime cut that is actually the 90-day, dry-aged, prime cut). However, you will be eating better, because you know what you're cooking, and you have no incentive to cheat yourself out of a perfect meal.<br />
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Which brings us to barbeque and grilling.</div>
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Observations</h2>
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We cannot wait for the BBQ season to start. Granted, we BBQ, grill and cook year-round. We are die-hard braai boere from South Africa. Before we came to Canada, we didn't know there was another way to prepare food!<br />
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The good thing about BBQ season is that there is a season for it. As with most things in Northern America, there is no half-measure. It is done with complete commitment, enthusiasm and dedication. Rain, snow or shine, the cookers will be running with brisket, pork, sausage, chicken and for the really adventurous they even do baked cheesecake, bread, and desserts, in what is really just a big woodfired oven.<br />
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The best part of the BBQ season is that you get to do something primal with good friends. You gather around a fire and prepare food as it was done for thousands of years. It is where every cooking adventure should start and where it ultimately provides one with better eating and a better quality of life.<br />
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If you cook your own food and do so with friends, you will be a better person. You will enjoy life more and likely to be happier and healthier. This is the Two Cowboys guarantee.<br />
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Come along. We'll show you how we do it.<br />
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Hendrik</div>
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Cooking Cowboy</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span></div>
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Photos</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pork Chop</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beast</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salad!</td></tr>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0AB-580, Cremona, AB T0M 0R0, Canada51.5332965 -114.4612685000000230.096991499999998 -155.76986250000002 72.9696015 -73.152674500000018tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-8723562438512792502019-05-13T10:28:00.000-07:002019-06-06T09:48:19.539-07:00Brewing Craft Beer in a Lucky Camper Van While on the Road with our Partners Black Rock Brewing and iKegger, New Zealand<h2>
It Should be Simple</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We've set ourselves a challenge. Can the <a href="http://www.beercowboys.com/" target="_blank">Two Cowboys</a> brew craft quality beer while on the road in a campervan? </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">We tried it out this summer in New Zealand with mixed results. We've learned a lot and saved ourselves quite a bit of money not having to buy beer in New Zealand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We enlisted a group of beer friends to take the beer-show on the road. Brewers Coop provided us with our favourite <a href="https://www.blackrock.co.nz/" target="_blank">Black Rock Concentrated Wort</a>, Hops and the right Yeast for a juicy <a href="https://www.nzhops.co.nz/variety/riwaka" target="_blank">Riwaka</a> IPA. <a href="https://www.ikegger.co.nz/" target="_blank">iKegger New Zealand</a> provided the gear to show how simple it is to pressure ferment and serve beer in simple kegs and we travelled with <a href="https://www.luckyrentals.co.nz/" target="_blank">Lucky Camper Vans</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We have three installments documenting our journey below.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></h3>
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Ep1</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY FEATURED?</a></span></h3>
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Some Background</h2>
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<a href="https://www.nzhops.co.nz/variety/riwaka" target="_blank">Riwaka Hops</a> (Riwaka™) is a real standout. It has powerful grapefruit “citrussy” characters that are literally breathtaking. If you want to say “New Zealand Hops” in your beer, then this variety says it all. The pure weight of the oil character experienced during selection carries right through to the glass. It is a punchy addition to the new world styles of Pales Ale and New Zealand Pilseners.<br />
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We combined additional Riwaka Hops with Black Rock's specialty crafted <a href="https://www.blackrock.co.nz/component/spsimpleportfolio/8-riwaka-pale-ale" target="_blank">Riwaka Pale Ale</a> kit as if it didn't have enough of a hop kick already. Black Rock <a href="https://www.blackrock.co.nz/component/spsimpleportfolio/8-riwaka-pale-ale" target="_blank">Crafted Riwaka Pale Ale</a> is already dry-hopped with Riwaka hops. This kit is quite scarce to get because the hop is so in demand all over the world and it means if Black Rock can get their hands on it, then they brew a batch. Usually, all the kits are sold long before it comes out of the brewhouse.<br />
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We brewed the recipe with a specialty US ale yeast, Safale US-05. To get closer to the hazy ale style and a creamy finish with more volts, we also added a kit of unhopped concentrated <a href="https://www.blackrock.co.nz/component/spsimpleportfolio/10-wheat-malt-unhopped" target="_blank">Wheat Wort</a>.<br />
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Our strategy was to use two Cornelius kegs with a spundling valve similar to our <a href="https://twocowboysstore.com/collections/the-two-cowboys-keg-club/products/two-cowboys-keg-club-brew-gear-bundle" target="_blank">Beer Cowboys Brewing Kit</a> bundle. Obviously, these are in Canada, so Andrew from <a href="https://www.blackrock.co.nz/component/spsimpleportfolio/10-wheat-malt-unhopped" target="_blank">iKegger</a> stepped up with the gear, taps, connectors and whatever we needed to get on with the job. He runs a neat business that brings people closer to kegging and transporting their beer, which is in our opinion a much better strategy than bottle maturation. It also means you can drink your beer as soon as it is done fermenting. It stays carbonated.<br />
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We knew at the outset that temperature control was going to be a challenge. Lucky for us, it is summer in New Zealand with mild sunny days, and it turned out not to be too hard to get the beer fermented and carbonated under pressure. The fact that it was an Ale that wasn't too sensitive to hotter temperatures also helped to speed up the process. To do the cold-crash we had to borrow a fridge for a few days, which meant we could pay a visit to some good friends in Onemana with a promise of fresh cold beer at the end.</div>
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Observations</h2>
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New Zealand is not just the land of milk, honey and sheep. It is also a hotbed for craft beer. We are amazed every time we visit just how passionate kiwis are about their beer and about making their own beer. We would be too if we were charged up to $25/litre for beer. Thanks to astronomical excise and overbearing duties Kiwis stepped up to liberate their beer by finding all kinds of ways of making it themselves.<br />
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We see the taxation burden grow in our country (Canada) too and we cannot be happier than to introduce our friends all over the world to making one's own beer. As we've discovered, making your own beer actually also means creating a better beer. We've had misfires. It doesn't always go to plan. Most of the time though it is pure deliciousness.<br />
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Thanks to our partners we can continue to push the boundaries of excellent beer brewing and our travel experiences along with it. We thank them for it.<br />
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Hendrik</div>
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Beer Cowboy</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span></div>
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Photos</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hop Shopping</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beer Machines </td></tr>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0New Zealand-40.900557 174.88597100000004-65.2754965 133.57737700000004 -16.5256175 -143.805435tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-42152215601681582019-05-09T12:34:00.001-07:002019-05-13T10:51:05.341-07:00Hacking All Grain Brewing with Kiwi Ingenuity and Simple Affordable Tools at Bevie in Auckland, New Zealand<h2>
Hacking Our Beer</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How do you take the beer brewing process, and make it accessible to the average Joe? </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Simple, you hack it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The processes for brewing quality beer have been refined over centuries and continues to evolve even today. From an outsider's perspective, it appears to be safeguarded by an eclectic club of weird scientists set on excluding ordinary folk from the inner circle. They mumble of gravity, sparging, yield, steeping and other incomprehensible nomenclature. They keep their brewing secrets close, their recipes even closer, and their influence as wide as it can go within their brewing circle of friends. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">While brewing good quality beer used to be a regular kitchen affair, a couple of hundred years ago, it slowly evolved into dark science, out of reach for ordinary people, like the Two Cowboys. Now, with the help of some simple equipment like a kettle, a pump, some tubes, and good ingredients like grains, yeast, hops and water, a company called <a href="https://bevie.co/" target="_blank">Bevie</a>, in New Zealand, managed to apply modern-day control-flow systems, and a mobile app, to unlock the highly complex all-grain brewing processes for ordinary people.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></h3>
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They call it the <a href="https://www.grainfather.com/" target="_blank">Grainfather</a>. It takes the best brewing practices from craft breweries and puts them into a simple to use, all in one system, to ensure anyone can brew a professionally produced craft beer, no matter their brewing experience.<br />
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You can also turn the Grainfather into a microdistillery by changing the top parts and adding the Still Spirits Alembic Pot Still Attachments. It is highly illegal to distill liqueur without a license in Canada, while pot smoking is now allowed (...go figure!). We are just saying that you can make fuel for your car or truck from your <a href="https://www.grainfather.com/" target="_blank">Grainfather</a> brewing activities if you should ever need it. If you store the fuel in an oak barrel lying around, to keep it safe, it is between you and the RCMP to work out who gets what share when they come knocking.<br />
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There are many all-grain brewing equipment manufacturers and lots of equipment for brewing beer on the market. If you buy quality, it is expensive. People are spoiled for choice if they know what they are doing. Herein lies the problem - you need to know what you are doing! Short of learning from an expert or enrolling in beer school, it takes time, trial and error, and lots of learning to work out the best way for brewing beer from grains.<br />
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The innovation of the <a href="https://www.grainfather.com/" target="_blank">Grainfather</a> is that it is a highly affordable, all-in-one system, for producing an excellent quality wort that you can ferment in the ways you prefer. It also drastically reduces your learning time and eliminates many costly brewing mistakes.<br />
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The one-pot brew system may not even be the most innovative around because there's been many that copied the approach and tried to improve on it. Some may also claim that not even Grainfather can be credited for coming up with the approach, although Kiwi's have been known for their innovation in all kinds of industries.<br />
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What struck us about the Grainfather is the innovation that <a href="https://bevie.co/" target="_blank">Bevie</a> put into the control of the brewing process. The smarts are in the software, not the pot! It offers the ability to a brewer to dial in an exact recipe and then execute it flawlessly, with a built-in controller, and the help of a mobile app on their phone or iPad.<br />
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Good brewing's foundation is precision and repeatability. Couple this with good ingredients, great water, and perfect fermentation, and you are on your way to consistently delicious craft-style beer and the envy of the neighbourhood. Not only do you get to execute the brewing tasks flawlessly, but you can also collaborate with other users, all over the world, on recipes and outcomes so that you have a massive database of brewing information on hand for your perfect beer. It gives new meaning to brewing with your mates!<br />
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Apparently, Bevie also has an answer for fermenting and serving your beer and provides you with another shortcut by having portion perfect fresh ingredient packs ready for a variety of standard brews. That is a story for another time. </div>
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Observations</h2>
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The brewing process is getting hacked. People are now liberated to brew their own craft quality beer consistently from grains with simple equipment and software that not only dramatically reduces the learning curve but assist in controlling the quality of the execution.<br />
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I don't want my beer to be made for me. If I did, I will just go and buy it from the next brewery or liquor store. I want to make my own beer, simply, affordably, consistently, and deliciously from available ingredients. That is what true beer liberation is about.<br />
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There are no gimmicks with the <a href="https://www.grainfather.com/" target="_blank">Grainfather</a> offering a "one-push button dark magic beer brewing box". It is old-fashion grain brewing done right. They should have called it the "BigBrother" of beer. The whole solution comes in under $1,000 with free support and an ever growing database of brewing/distilling knowledge and beer recipes. It allows you to make a batch of 23 litres of beer with the ingredients of your choice.<br />
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Herein lies the problem. We want to brew more during the few weekly hours we can dedicate to this delicious hobby. Apparently, Bevie is working on a system that can do three times the volume of the existing Grainfather, and it will likely still be an electric system you can use in your shed. Yeehaaa!<br />
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The Two Cowboys has been on a journey for the last three years to liberate our beer. <a href="https://bevie.co/" target="_blank">Bevie</a> is giving us another option with the <a href="https://www.grainfather.com/" target="_blank">Grainfather</a> to get closer to drinking what we make ourselves. We cannot wait to tell you what more they have installed for average people like us, on our beer and do-it-yourself journey.<br />
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Hendrik</div>
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Brewing Cowboy</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span></div>
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Photos</h2>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0328 Rosedale Rd, Albany, Auckland 0632, New Zealand-36.7423182 174.70095190000006-58.1786327 133.39235790000006 -15.306003699999998 -143.99045409999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-86664573867966361492019-05-01T15:13:00.002-07:002019-05-01T15:13:26.414-07:00Hot Chefs, Cool Beats, and a Good Cause with Alberta Pork in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada<h2>
Ode to The Chef</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"My happiest place is when I am "in-the-moment". </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The world can go by when I am in the kitchen</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Cooking makes me whole. It is my passion and purpose. It is what I am and what I do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">I am amazed by the chemistry and the intricate processes that take place when food ingredients are combined with energy. My knowledge and skill transform it into culinary perfection. </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">I have no care in the world other than to watch steak grilling, sauce thickening, cake rising, and pork crackling transform into golden crispy bits of sunshine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">My moments are complete when I witness </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">precise olfactory, taste and visual symphonies of well-plated food. It becomes a magnum opus of culinary glee to see it, an experience that is only topped by the </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">primal moans of pleasure coming from a loyal patron as they bite into a course I carefully prepared. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is what I am</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;"> dedicating my life to. It is my vocation."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY FEATURED?</a></span></h3>
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<a href="https://www.hotchefscoolbeats.ca/" target="_blank">Hot Chefs Cool bEats</a></h2>
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We recently attended the "<a href="https://www.hotchefscoolbeats.ca/" target="_blank">Hot Chefs Cool bEats</a>" event in Edmonton, courtesy of our partner <a href="https://www.albertapork.com/" target="_blank">Alberta Pork</a>. It featured interactive food stations from Edmonton's top culinary talent. Attendees could also sample wine, beer, & spirits from Canadian wineries, local craft breweries and distilleries. If that wasn't enough, it included performances from DJs, dancers, street performers, and live musicians.<br />
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The initiative began in 2011 as a fundraiser for <a href="http://highschoolculinarychallenge.ca/" target="_blank">The High School Culinary Challenge</a>'s <a href="https://www.culinaryfederation.ca/" target="_blank">Canadian Culinary Fund</a>, and after a short break, it was back with a new home at Edmonton's Mosaic Centre and a restricted guest list of 200 privileged patrons. It meant that not only was the food top-class, there was also enough so that you didn't go home hungry or thirsty. Most importantly, it introduced you to some of Edmonton's more innovative chefs and their talents. You could sample a variety of the best creations like litchi moose, mini ice cream cone tacos, pork on a bun, and more.<br />
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Some of the highlights for the Cowboys were the Pork Coppa and Prosciutto made by the young chefs Peter Keith (himself an alumni beneficiary of the scholarship) and Will Kotowicz of <a href="http://meuwlys.com/" target="_blank">Meuwly's Charcuterie, Sausage and Preserves</a>. They promised us it was only BertaPork! Then there was Scott Downey from <a href="http://thebutternuttree.ca/" target="_blank">the ButternutTree</a>'s deep-fried Canadian moss. If we knew that these vegetables were so delectable, we would forage our forests until they are empty! Apparently, the moss was from Back East.<br />
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However, the start performance of the evening was Paul Shufelt's (<a href="https://theworkshopeatery.com/" target="_blank">The Workshop Eatery, Edmonton</a>) collaboration on a Wagyu Holstein Beefetta. It wasn't pork. However, it was BertaBeef, and so they were forgiven for rekindling our love for meat on a stick. You just needed a large stick for this one and a massive appetite! They did promise us a suckling pig for next year, to honour their loyal sponsor, <a href="https://www.albertapork.com/" target="_blank">Alberta Pork</a>.<br />
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All proceeds from ticket sales and silent/live auctions benefitted the <a href="https://www.culinaryfederation.ca/" target="_blank">Canadian Culinary Fund</a> and its main program, <a href="http://highschoolculinarychallenge.ca/" target="_blank">The High School Culinary Challenge</a>, so it was all for a good cause.</div>
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Observations</h2>
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Being a chef is not an easy job, and to venture into the culinary industry requires guts and you to be a little bit crazy. It is a lifestyle and a vocation that continues to draw attention for its opportunity, but also for the harshness, low wages, and extreme physical and mental demands on the individual.<br />
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Contrary to the glitz and glee of television programs like <a href="https://www.ctv.ca/MasterChef-Canada" target="_blank">MasterChef</a>, it is far from glamorous. Most of what chefs do is monotonously droned behind the scenes, in hot holes, spending long hours with equally weird and crazy people feeding the masses with basic fair. Only a few become "rock star chefs". Even less survive as small businesses and entrepreneurs.<br />
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However, the culinary industry provides endless opportunity for creativity, learning and mastery. These are the opportunities that the <a href="https://www.culinaryfederation.ca/" target="_blank">Canadian Culinary Fund</a> attempts to unlock for young people when they introduce and lure them into the possibilities in preparing food.<br />
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We salute them for it and congratulate them on a <a href="https://www.hotchefscoolbeats.ca/" target="_blank">Hot Chefs Cool bEats</a> event that set the bar high. We look forward to the next one. We travel the world for food, and we are entitled to our opinions. Edmonton's chefs should get more attention. They surprised us. It will get more from the Two Cowboys for sure if this is the standard we can expect.<br />
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Now, if only there were more pork...<br />
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Hendrik</div>
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Alberta Pork's Cowboy<br />
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P.S. We thank our partner <a href="https://www.albertapork.com/" target="_blank">Alberta Pork</a> for making this work possible. Now, go eat more pork!</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span></div>
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Photos</h2>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com02003 91 St SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 0W8, Canada53.4156973 -113.4805089999999831.9793988 -154.78910299999998 74.8519958 -72.171914999999984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-81306867462327388942019-04-22T15:27:00.001-07:002019-04-22T15:53:47.938-07:00Movies and Eiffel Tower Burgers at the French Toast Coffee and Cafe in Hartbeespoort, South Africa<h2>
In the Moment</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">People in South Africa are forever trying to escape reality. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caught between yearning for a greater tomorrow and memories of a much better past, t</span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">hey are masters at creating a different world from the one they have and perpetuating cliches about times and places they would rather be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is probably the only place on the planet where you can have a hotdog better than one in New York, pizza that is done better than in Italy, and Swiss cheese made better than in Switzerland. </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">It only fits then that you also have a little bit of Paris in Hartbeespoort that is in some respects better than the real deal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">It is called the <a href="http://frenchtoastharties.co.za/" target="_blank">French Toast Coffee Cafe</a>.</span></div>
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South Africans are an industrious bunch. Regardless of geographic isolation and years of culture detachment and division, they don't shy away from the challenge to innovate and create something in the image of what they think it should be.<br />
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They are masters of cliche. If they think Texas is about barbeque, then they will make it more barbeque than Texas. If they believe Paris is about love, South Africans will make it more about love than it can ever be. If they think the French eat French Toast burgers, then that is what you will get at a French-themed coffee shop in Harties, and it is likely to be better than even the best French Culinary Master would be able to make.<br />
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On our recent trip to South Africa, we met up with our long-time friend and fellow movie maker, Paul Kruger. He is the maker of the Eiffel Burger, proprietor and creator of the French Toast Coffee Cafe, and initiator of a series of destination-themed dining and weekend experiences in Hartbeespoort Dam.<br />
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His business came about because Paul's invested in movie sets. <a href="http://www.hartiwoodfilms.co.za/" target="_blank">Hartiwoodfilms</a>, another of his companies, is responsible for a mini-renaissance in Afrikaans language movies with successful productions such as Liefling, Pretville and you guessed it - French Toast! The dining experiences became an extension of the movie brands, and the investment he made in the film settings was repurposed to continue beyond the movies.<br />
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While the movies were doing a phenomenal job at exploiting the cliches in the Afrikaner mind, Paul seized the opportunity to turn an average financial return from moviemaking in a small and niche market, into a popular merchandising and destination themed-experience goldmine. Disney's been doing it forever. Trust a South African to try and do it better!<br />
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If his Eiffel Burger and the line-up of people waiting to be served on weekends is a testimony to his success, I think Paul hit the jackpot.<br />
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Making Milkshakes</h2>
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Paul showed us how to make his monster Eifel Tower burger at French Toast Coffee Cafe.<br />
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We tried to finish one while we discussed the perils of entrepreneurship and owning a business in a country ready to confiscate your property at any moment. "It is about job creation", Paul said. The more people you include and involve in your enterprise in South Africa the more people can have an opportunity to benefit from your work.<br />
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While government corruption in South Africa is as rampant, as it usually is in the developing world, the ultimate focus for these businesses and their entrepreneurs, on the ground, is job creation and upliftment. Regardless of the country's difficult circumstances, and the hardship of movie makers and content producers to get paid in South Africa as it is anywhere in the world, Paul convinced us that there are still opportunities with the right approach.<br />
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In his own words, "I make movies to sell milkshakes". Herein lies the most important lesson for us, the Two Cowboys. It should be a lesson for most fellow content producers. We should use our content production and promotional power to sell our own 'milkshakes'!<br />
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Observations</h2>
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There is merit in trying to convince clients of the power of good online content's ability to build their businesses and promote their products or services. However, it's getting harder and harder for us, as content producers to make a business of it.<br />
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Instead, the value of good production and storytelling have been destroyed as a result of factors such as the proliferation of high-quality cameras, the ease of basic editing tools, online self-publishing and an avalanche of social and other media content. Even robots are in on the act of stitching together a few images, music and some text in a 'video' or a news 'article' for so-called publishers.<br />
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Gone are the true journalists, producers, directors, editors and publishers. Now, 'anyone' can be a writer, videographer and a publisher, and the real professionals are poorer because of it. So is the audience when their intelligence is insulted, and their time wasted. However, that is a story for another time.<br />
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As marketers, we know that good and well-made content, delivered to the right audience, works to build a business, sell wares, engage customers, entice prospects, and grow a brand. In a world where advertising and promotions moved online, a successful business has no choice but to have good, engaging, positive, informative, authentic and well-produced content, and lots of it. It gets and holds customer attention.<br />
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Having no content is fatal when a prospect's attention comes at a premium. Simply, out-screaming your opposition no longer works either. Audiences merely click or swipe away. Poor content like bad reviews, meh pictures, amateurish or meaningless slow motion feel-good music videos on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, is equally compelling in destroying budgets and damaging brands.<br />
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For an excellent example of how not to do it, have a look at Tourism Associations' online marketing efforts. They are the last to discover how a colossal and useless waste of time and money meaningless feel-good content is for marketing. It is because they don't spend their own cash on it. If it was their own money they would have already been confronted by reality, and most probably fired their social media managers and supposed 'content' departments and 'influencers'.<br />
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With online media consolidating, the Facebooks and Googles of the world are again making it harder for businesses to get access to, and communicate with prospective customers. There are solid examples and their own admission of how they actively force businesses to buy the attention of prospects. They do it by lowering search rankings and limiting content access within people's social media feeds. Heck, they are even paid to manipulate national elections!<br />
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Unless a business is prepared to put out for a few AdWords or pay for Boosting a post, you can kiss communicating with your prospective and existing customers goodbye. These companies are not in the business of giving you free access to prospects, and they are not charities. Look at their profits. Selling access to users' attention is how they make their money! When you spend money for eyeballs with these elephants, you better be sure that the eyeballs you get have something enjoyable, engaging, and informative to see.<br />
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We predict that there will be a time again when access to an audience becomes so expensive that businesses will no longer hesitate to invest in good quality content to draw and keep prospects' attention. Then there will be demand again for good content producers like the <a href="http://www.travelingcowboys.com/" target="_blank">Two Cowboys</a>.<br />
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Until that happens, we should use our capabilities to produce content about, and sell our own milkshakes, burgers, beard oil, brewing ingredients, tours, cabins and RV's. That is why a movie guy became a milkshake guy.<br />
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We congratulate Paul for setting the example.<br />
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Hendrik</div>
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Milkshake Cowboy</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span></div>
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Photos</h2>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com097, R511 Hartbeespoort Hartbeespoort Dam, 0216, South Africa-25.7370693 27.902376699999991-46.349943300000007 -13.406217300000009 -5.1241953 69.21097069999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-14401012332252150842019-04-14T17:44:00.003-07:002019-04-16T17:33:45.094-07:00Dogs are Getting Groomed - Not Cowboys - at Country Suds in Greenwood, BC<h2>
Lifestyle Change</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">What if the end is only the beginning?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">People are often confronted with significant changes and choices in life. We've all been through it. The start of a new job, the loss of a friend, sickness. Moving away from home or moving in with someone you love. Buying a car or choosing a house. Starting of a new business. </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Some changes are forced upon us due to circumstances. Others, we do to ourselves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Whenever a significant change occurs, we are confronted with at least two perspectives. The one view is a feeling of loss, decline, powerlessness, and the lack of control. The other a sense of gain, re-birth, strength, and a new beginning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">It doesn't matter how small or large the change is. The key to success in life is how well we deal with changes. How good are we at moving away from what we had, towards something new? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></h3>
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Nature is in a constant cycle of decline and renewal. It should be natural to us as humans too to easily let go of the old and to welcome the new. Why is it so hard then for people to embrace the same fluidity of life?<br />
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It is because we trap ourselves in temporal illusions. Our imagination creates time, circumstances and places in distorted realities. In our silliness, we fear losing things long gone, while holding on to things that may never be. Our perspectives define our reality. The hardest task then is to tie our reality down to the truth of where we are now and what we need to give up to move forward.<br />
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When we are honest with ourselves, we will realize that every change is a goodbye to get a hello, an end for a beginning, letting go for something new. Without this realization, we risk being trapped in an illusory twilight of despair. It will destroy our spirit if we cannot say goodbye. We won't have a future if we do not say hello.<br />
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Greenwood</h2>
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<a href="http://greenwoodcity.com/">Greenwood</a> City in British Columbia has been saying goodbye since 1918 when the copper mine and smelter closed. It's been saying goodbye for such a very long time that it became trapped in a very real twilight of despair and decay. Old buildings crumbled, people moved away, and businesses left town despite the city seeing an average daily traffic pattern over 3,000 vehicles during the summer months (<a href="https://sparwood.civicweb.net/document/57128">Traffic Patterns, 2011</a>). It may well be on the road to oblivion like its predecessors Phoenix, Bridesville, Sidley, and others if it doesn't embrace a future.<br />
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Because of the city's rich history and its record resistance to change, <a href="http://greenwoodcity.com/">Greenwood</a> also attracted people fearful of letting go. You can see it in the junk of the yard collections. The failed upkeep of its small houses, and the prevailing rust of the old clunkers in the driveways.<br />
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We think that <a href="http://greenwoodcity.com/">Greenwood</a> and the area are poised for change and on the verge of a millennial renaissance. It is the right time now for the City to move towards its tomorrow as more and more people drop out of big-city life, avoid daily commuting, expensive mortgages, and having too much meaningless stuff.<br />
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<a href="http://greenwoodcity.com/">Greenwood</a> could and should say hello to young families, college graduates, entrepreneurs, crafters, makers, small houses, new buildings and people that embrace lifestyle, simplicity and old-school authentic values. The mine won't give it a future. Instead, it should court producers, makers, and telecommuters - the foundation of a new economy.<br />
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The last thing <a href="http://greenwoodcity.com/">Greenwood</a> needs is a Mickey D's on the corner, Starbucks or a Safeway parking lot. Instead, it requires a butcher, doctor, grocer, candymaker, woodworker, cabinet maker, knifemaker, weaver, and it needs more people that realize that it is an affordable place to work and live - really live. It has the required vehicle traffic. Greenwood just needs to give people more reasons to stop, and some will even choose to bring their dreams, hobbies, businesses and jobs to stay.<br />
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Observations</h2>
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Tammy Bowering moved to Greenwood and established her <a href="https://country-suds-dog-grooming.business.site/">Country Suds Dog Grooming</a> in 2018. She just realized that <a href="http://greenwoodcity.com/">Greenwood</a> has dogs that need grooming. Her love for dogs compelled her to say hello to her future, and she started her small grooming business. It's been growing steadily, and we are proud to feature her as part of our portfolio of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZf9AhgdHqkRd0YahI8SHVCR5wn1IqY_Z">Boundary Country stories</a>.<br />
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Tammy is so passionate about the future of the City that she is now heading the <a href="https://greenwoodbot.ca/">Greenwood Board of Trade</a>. It is an organization that was incorporated in 1899, just two years after the city itself was incorporated. The chief goal of the <a href="https://greenwoodbot.ca/">Greenwood Board of Trade</a> is to promote economic and community development, networks with local and regional businesses, and to provide small business support.<br />
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The Cowboys are glad that we can throw in our support too for the future prosperity of Greenwood. It gives another opportunity for people to find a better way to work and live in the <a href="https://boundarybc.com/">Boundary Country</a> of British Columbia. It is a chance for us to have our chosen lifestyle.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span></div>
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Photos</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City Hall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Powder Room</td></tr>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com11520 Washington St, Greenwood, BC V0H 1J0, Canada49.0853319 -118.678874223.5820014 -159.9874677 74.5886624 -77.3702807tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-58042886733070680802019-04-07T16:02:00.000-07:002019-04-08T15:30:19.327-07:00Sitting Out the Alberta Winter with Fried Chicken and Spiked Frulattes at Marv's in Black Diamond, Alberta<h2>
Worth the Trip</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">The Cowboys have a few favourite ways to pass the time when it is cold outside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">One way is to visit friends in Alberta to do some home-style cooking. Marv Garriott, the owner of Marv's Classic Soda Shop and Diner, invited us to Black Diamond for such a visit. He wanted to tell us more about his special fried chicken and unique peanut butter burgers. We had a little surprise installed for him too with a spiked Frulatte!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></h3>
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Winter is a particular time in Canada. Canadians find all kinds of ways to make the most of the snowy, frosty season. Ice Hockey, Ice Fishing, Skiing and Sledding are a few of the activities that make winter exciting and bearable. You also have the festivities of Christmas Markets and the Holidays that precede the big freeze.<br />
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However, by late February and early March, the novelty of winter has worn off. Canadians become grumpy and start to look for something new to do. These are also the hardest months for some of Canada's tourism-related small business owners. People avoid travelling when it is cold. It means that business is slow during the mid-winter months.<br />
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If you are in locations outside the main centres, you are hit harder. As a business owner, you really have only two options during this time. Either, you shut your doors and sit it out, or you find ways to draw attention to your store with something new or unique.<br />
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A fifties diner is not new or unique. However, Marv managed to add his own personal style to this iconic attraction in small-town Black Diamond. During the Summer months, weekends are busy when people stop for a malt shake, ice cream and his unique hotdogs, sodas and burgers.<br />
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During winter things are really slow. It is then that Marv comes up with new recipes and twists on old favourites like his trusty crispy fried chicken. According to Marv, it takes a little longer to properly prepare his chicken. That is why it is not on the menu during the busier summer months. He reserves the chicken for the slower winter months instead. It is hearty and worth the trip to have produce that he sources locally, brine, bread and cooks personally, for his loyal customers.<br />
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Observations</h2>
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We've often seen in Canada that small business close down during the winter months. They do it to preserve cash and to prepare for when the warmer season starts again. It has a knock-on effect for others in the community. When small businesses close their doors, even if it is temporary, then casual staff go without wages, local producers don't sell their produce, and destinations don't attract visitors.<br />
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Surely, this cannot be good for their communities. Kudos to Marv for staying open and supporting his local clientele. All we can ask is that you give him a hand by stopping by for some fried chicken or burger, and a milkshake. Who knows, you may also be able to have a yummy Frulatte to remind you of the approaching summer? In the mid of winter, we know, it is a welcome reminder.</div>
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Hendrik<br />
Frulatte Cowboy<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span><br />
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Photos</h2>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0121 Centre Ave W, Black Diamond, AB T0L 0H0, Canada50.6882308 -114.2340209999999825.1848888 -155.54261499999998 76.1915728 -72.925426999999985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-88371033153909611042019-04-01T16:16:00.002-07:002019-04-01T16:20:55.396-07:00Many New Beginnings and Constant Innovation at New Beginnings Toffees and Caramels in Pretoria<h2>
Balance</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A small business owner lives in two worlds. The one forces him or her to standardize, systematize and consolidate for efficiency. The other calls on constant innovation and change to try and out-manoeuvre competitors and market demands. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A small business owner is usually good at one of these. At <a href="https://newbeginningstoffees.co.za/" target="_blank">New Beginnings Toffees</a>, it is the latter that stands out. Jan Snyman is always busy with something new. His adventures have one thing in common, delicious toffees and unique chocolate caramels!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></h3>
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The challenge for a small business owner is to have the right balance in efficiency and innovation. Efficiency is not always tolerant of changes. By doing something in a standard way and scaling it, there are opportunities to increase profitability. Innovation presupposes change and is a very demanding partner that tends to destroy efficiency and gobble up capital. Sometimes, and more often than not, this means that profitability becomes a casualty.<br />
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The two are in a dance that is not always obvious to entrepreneurs. These are people that favours the latter, else they would not have bothered to start the business in the first instance. It is a 'chicken and egg' situation. Innovation drives growth, but efficiency drives the bottom line. Being profitable allows further innovation.<br />
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The key to the right priority is to know where in the business cycle you find your business. If it is a new business, and the industry allows it, and you have the capital and resources, then innovation should get priority. If it is an established business in a mature industry, it is usually better to consolidate and standardize to achieve efficiency and improved profitability.<br />
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The trouble with an entrepreneur is that they usually favour one. Either efficiency or innovation drives them. That is why it is essential as a business owner to recognize your strengths and realize that it has a place in the cycle of the success of your business. It can also quickly become the downfall if you do not temper or supplement your focus to establish important priority on either efficiency or innovation at the right time.</div>
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Observations</h2>
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<a href="https://newbeginningstoffees.co.za/" target="_blank">New Beginnings Toffees</a> is a remarkable business that grew mainly from a necessity for Jan to have a second career. It provided an innovative confection play-pen to him and his partner, Joelean. The result is a substantial array of unique and traditional toffee-chocolate-caramel flavours, creative packaging, promotional positioning and marketing strategies. It is indeed something we have not yet encountered on our travels across the world. It is unique!<br />
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The business manufactures and distributes exclusive hand-made confectionary for select retailers, corporate gifting, hospitality industry, wedding favours and markets.<br />
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Jan cannot help himself but to continually explore the next possibility within his product development. He certainly landed a few of our favourites like the Turkish Delight Caramel and Treacle Toffee. It is encouraging to see his enthusiasm for creating the next "big" thing.<br />
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Unfortunately, South Africa has seen a series of casualties in strong confectionary brands. The toffees that did survive are no longer of the quality they used to be. We can only hope that Jan finds the magic recipe for successfully distributing his delicious products to step into the shoes of those that have gone before him.<br />
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Here is to wishing him and Joelean all the success they can handle. May we one day taste a new beginning for toffee-chocolate-caramels all over the world thanks to the work and dedication of <a href="https://newbeginningstoffees.co.za/" target="_blank">New Beginnings Toffees</a> in far-off South Africa.<br />
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We hope to have a maple syrup version we can take to Canada, the next time we see him ;-)</div>
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Hendrik<br />
Sweet Cowboy<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span><br />
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Photos</h2>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0Centurion, South Africa-25.864029 28.088857800000028-26.092646499999997 27.766134300000029 -25.6354115 28.411581300000027tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-71828379624303670392019-03-17T12:31:00.002-07:002019-03-17T12:31:23.716-07:00A Coffee Drinking Chicken and Breakfast Blueberry Gin at the Magoebaskloof Farmstall and Cafe, South Africa<h2>
Coffee Pit Stop</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Life happens while you are making other plans!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">While trying to escape the humid Lowveld summer heat of South Africa's Limpopo Province, we were in dire need of a good coffee. It's been several days since we've seen an espresso as we were heading up Magoebaskloof. Halfway up the pass, we passed a cafe sign and immediately decided to turn off the main road to inspect further. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">What we found proved to us, as we've discovered many, many times before, that when you travel, you should turn off the main road and prepare for the truly extraordinary discoveries. </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This time, we found great coffee, learned about a brewery, fed a pet goat, made cheese, and had blueberry gin for breakfast.</span></div>
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Harry and Agie are the owners of the new <a href="https://www.facebook.com/magoebaskloofmountain">Magoebaskloof Farmstall and Cafe</a>. You cannot miss the venue on the side of the picturesque Magoebaskloof pass, between Polokwane and Tzaneen. It is a farm stall stocked with local produce and a whole lot of heart and passion. You will find wine, gin, vegetables, plants, oils, soaps, pies and a little of everything the people of Magoebaskloof is proudly producing.<br />
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Yes, you are reading it right. You can buy alcohol-to-go on the side of the road in South Africa. Not only can you buy local wine, beer and gin, but Harry will also mix you a cocktail or spike your favourite latte for you, any time of the day. We were spoiled when we checked in. The Flatwhite was done correctly, and the locally baked pies were divine. However, it was the blueberry gin we had for breakfast that made our visit most memorable.<br />
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I think Harry played with Dolphins for a living and Angie, who is Canadian, were catching elephants in the Lowveld when they met. One thing led to another, and now a little Harry is running around the farmstall playing with a pet billy goat, and a big Harry is pulling espresso shots while entertaining tourists and regulars with his stories.<br />
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As they say, life happens while you were making other plans. We are glad to see the amount of passion Harry and Angie brought to their fledgeling business, and we wish them all the success they can handle. </div>
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Observations</h2>
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Turning off for a coffee at a farm stall is usually a reasonably trivial affair. We've stopped many times all over the world for coffee. It is often only about coffee. However, that morning in Magoebaskloof, something as simple as turning off the main road, a handshake, a blueberry gin and a pie later, put us on a completely different path, and a much more exciting journey.<br />
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We could have taken the safe, more comfortable option and simply continued towards the next town for a coffee at a familiar stop (which we did do several days later, only to have a disappointing coffee). Instead, our visit that morning with Harry lead us to a brewery, we discovered a fantastic camping spot by a river, we attended a local food festival, made cheese at an organic farm, ate a divine lamb pie, discovered cream cheese samoosas, and had a goat curry with mielie pap.<br />
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What it taught us again, even as seasoned travellers, is that you have to turn off the main road for your coffee. You have to say 'yes' to what is new and unfamiliar, and be prepared to experience and discover. If you do, life will gloriously happen. It will unfold around you with experiences you could never have imagined, even if you were trying to plan it.<br />
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Here is our Two Cowboys top tip about our visit to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/magoebaskloofmountain">Magoebaskloof Farmstall and Cafe</a>; "Go! Travel! Turn off the main road. Have a coffee. Introduce yourself. Say 'yes' to what happens next and enjoy the journey because life happens even if you make other plans. All you have to do is be ready to discover."<br />
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Buckle up and get ready for the ride.</div>
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<br />
Hendrik<br />
Travelling Cowboy<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span><br />
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Photos</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cappuchicken!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-27ql8ELoBaw/XI6eROGEOII/AAAAAAACeiw/UKAcq4X2IPcLBzDpcvJmlS9dwqZe5nDbgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2850.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-27ql8ELoBaw/XI6eROGEOII/AAAAAAACeiw/UKAcq4X2IPcLBzDpcvJmlS9dwqZe5nDbgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2850.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Road</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qPmvdF1xSR4/XI6eRDY0YcI/AAAAAAACeis/I_w4PUELCmUYYwvksQlwLzaEE4cH_fJ5gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2855.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qPmvdF1xSR4/XI6eRDY0YcI/AAAAAAACeis/I_w4PUELCmUYYwvksQlwLzaEE4cH_fJ5gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2855.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry!</td></tr>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com2Tzaneen, South Africa-23.8667357 30.007546600000069-45.289510199999995 -11.301047399999931 -2.4439612000000004 71.316140600000068tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-41184052148196115322019-03-04T22:15:00.001-08:002019-04-29T11:03:27.439-07:00Eating Mopane Worms, Biltong, Pang and Pap at ATKV - Klein Kariba in Bela-Bela, South Africa<h2>
Coming Home</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">While Canada is in the middle of winter’s icy grip, we decided to head south towards the sun and to explore and rediscover our homeland of South Africa. </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">After eighteen years away, not much has changed, yet everything is different. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">It is the start of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Biltong Potjie at ATKV - Klein Kariba.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Township Tour - Bela Bela</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Wildlife Safari</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Pang!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Toeka se Dae</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Cooking at the Koswerf</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: medium;" target="_blank">DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY FEATURED?</a></h4>
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Coming to South Africa is coming full circle for the Cowboys. This is where it all started. We were born South African and grew up during some of the more turbulent times in the country's recent history. In 2001 we set out to see the world and broaden our horizons. We are still on that journey, and it is ironic to come home eighteen years later to find it a place very much the same as the one we've left behind, yet very different - good different - in many respects.<br />
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The international perspective of South African travel is mainly negative due to news coverage about safety, corruption, and ongoing conflict. It is an out-of-the-way destination with concerns for the traveller. It is why the destination is unfortunately frequently moved to the bottom of the travellers' priority bucket-list.<br />
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Mexico is similar in that it offers phenomenal vacations and experiences to travellers and at the same time it is also marred by adverse news reporting related to safety and corruption. The difference is that Mexico succeeded in positioning its travel and tourism products by addressing these concerns. They've done it through all-inclusive packaging, offered to the travel trade, and marketed accordingly. Travellers' concerns are addressed through "white-glove" handling in a controlled manner, from the moment they step off the aeroplane until they are safely back at the airport's departure hall.<br />
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South Africa offers as much, if not more, at an equally competitive rate. Wildlife, culture, cuisine, natural beauty, history, human capital and yet, it hasn't even started to fire up its tourism machinery. It lacks packaged products that overcome travellers' concerns and that are competitively positioned and highly rated. If you compare its positioning and messaging to other similarly developing world destinations, it definitely has the opportunity. It is now merely a matter of South Africans grasping it.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.travelingcowboys.com/">Two Cowboys</a> hope that we can play a small role in promoting this unique destination, its businesses and its people. We will be sharing content about our experiences. With our travel partners, we will be bringing you along for an incredible journey.<br />
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This is how our tour of South Africa started at one of the happy places we enjoyed as children, <a href="https://www.atkvoorde.co.za/oorde/klein-kariba">ATKV's - Klein Kariba Resort</a> in Bela-Bela.<br />
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ATKV - Klein Kariba</h2>
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Klein Kariba has a lot to offer as a typical South African family resort. It is a beautiful setting close to the main cities of Gauteng, with great weather, wildlife, beautiful camping, chalets, glamping tents, and hot and cold swimming pools. It has been a must-do family vacation spot for as long as we can remember. The resort continues to be a local favourite. Weekends and holidays are packed with visitors. Some have been patrons for generations.<br />
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I know the place well. After frequent trips tenting there during the early 1990s, I eventually wooed and married my wife at Klein Kariba, 26 years ago.<br />
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Our favourite spot at the resort, then and it still is now, must be the restaurant, Koswerf. “Koswerf” is the Afrikaans term for an outdoor kitchen or cooking area. This one is unfortunately mainly indoors. However, with the beautiful weather of the Waterberg Region, there is ample opportunity, all over the resort, to partake in cooking outdoors. Wherever you turn, the iconic cultural pastime called "braai" (cooking over an open fire outdoors) happens spontaneously, every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.<br />
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We were fortunate to be hosted by Riaan Maritz and his team. They reluctantly handed us the keys to the pantry, and we kicked off our week cooking up a storm in the Koswerf’s kitchen. On our menu was a Cuban-style <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arepa" target="_blank">Arepa</a> with a South African <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piri_piri" target="_blank">Peri-Peri</a> Chicken Livers and Mango-Salsa twist. To round it off, we were introduced to the local tropical passionfruit samba sensation of Pang!! (more about this later).<br />
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In turn, they reciprocated with a Biltong Potjie (a risotto-like stew made with a lot of cream and cheese, and cooked over an open fire). We lubricated festivities with Caipirinhas as it was our turn to quench the thirsts.<br />
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When you visit ATKV - Klein Kariba, the resort has a lot to offer at its facilities. However, it is easy to miss some of the many attractions and other rich offerings of the Bela-Bela area. Klein Kariba sees its responsibility not only to be a destination of choice but to also encourage visitation around the area. That is why Riaan introduced us to <a href="http://mcourt.co.za/">M Court Township Tours</a>. They afforded us an eye-opening opportunity to experience some of the curiosities that make up everyday life in a typical township in South Africa. We even tasted the local beer they brew (no license or permit required) and ate mopane worms and pap!<br />
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We visited one of the more popular "Padstalle" (roadside shops) called "<a href="https://www.toekasedae.co.za/">Toeka se Dae</a>". Here we were treated to freshly baked bread, home-made ginger beer, biltong, and enormous cold and crispy koeksisters.<br />
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Do you remember Pang?<br />
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What if we told you that we discovered absolute passionfruit gold just outside the gates of ATKV Klein Kariba? Chances are that if you ate anything real passionfruit-related in South Africa or Europe, then <a href="http://www.waterbergbreweries.com/">Stilhoek Boerdery</a> had something to do with it. They are one of the largest passionfruit producers in South Africa. Nine months in the year they are shipping their products all over the country and some export markets.<br />
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It doesn’t stop there, they also bottle the passionfruit pulp with a swig of vodka and call it Pang! The range expanded from there with Mango, Strawberry and even a spicy Jalapeño, as its popularity grew in the local cocktail consuming market. Klein Kariba is fortunate to offer this locally produced godly elixir at the resort, where it is popular with their younger patrons during the summer holidays ( (legal drinking age, of course!).</div>
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Observations</h2>
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After eighteen years away not much has changed, yet everything is different. Klein Kariba still feels like home to us. However, it is apparent that it evolved in that it reached out to play an increasingly important and more inclusive role in the more diverse local communities of Bela-Bela.<br />
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After decades, during which people in a changing South Africa treated each other with animosity and suspicion, it is evident that those that are reaching out to each other, are the ones making a positive difference in their community. Klein Kariba is the main attraction, yet it collaborates with local entrepreneurs and businesses across the spectrum to lend a hand and facilitate success for others too. Business is always more natural when people work together. Those that discover it early continues to prosper.<br />
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We are enthused to see that our home language - Afrikaans - is treasured by everyone, even more than we remembered. Yet, everyone is welcome if you speak English, Zulu, German, Cantonese or another language. The South African culture of food, friendliness and hospitality is found around every corner, and the beautiful wildlife setting of the resort’s facilities remains absolute and intoxicating.<br />
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Klein Kariba is for everyone. We cannot highlight this single feature enough. Yes, the people of South Africa knows it well and loves it. It is such a gem that they will be forgiven to try and keep it to themselves. However, we hope we can entice the world to come and see it too. We are so proud to be home and proud of what we see and experience, that we want to share it with the world.<br />
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Enjoy our programming and see what makes this such a great place to visit. Then, book your ticket and see for yourself. Come for the food, the wildlife, the weather. Above all, meet the great people of Klein Kariba and Bela-Bela. You may just find us here as well.<br />
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We are glad to be home, again!</div>
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Hendrik<br />
Wandering Cowboy!<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span><br />
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Photos</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Over the World - of South Africa!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boere Cuban Arepa</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koeksister!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uber Africa!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fans of the Cowboys!</td></tr>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0R101, Bela-Bela, 0480, South Africa-24.849865 28.336160000000064-53.359391 -12.972433999999936 3.659661 69.644754000000063tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-79603527154654093312019-02-27T02:00:00.001-08:002019-02-27T03:38:31.945-08:00Vanlife Africa - The Two Cowboys Puts Touring in a Can to the Test in Pretoria, South Africa<h2>
Get Your Gear</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">How do you tour South Africa on a budget? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Get a van and hit the road! That's what we did. </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">W</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">e discovered that Vanlife is not yet a "thing" in Africa. We learned a few lessons along the way, and have some advice for people considering to give it a shot. It is a great way to explore this unique country and learn about its people! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">South Africans tour and camp a little differently. </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">We think they are missing out on the flexibility of our preferred mode of travel. </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">We set out to explore why it hasn't caught on yet, and how best it can be done on the fly in Africa. </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">Maybe we can introduce them to it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">We started our journey by getting the necessary gear. It put us on the road for our first episode of our </span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019!</span></span></div>
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If you are an international tourist used to RVing, then you will be glad to know that you can rent a more common motorhome or an adventurous offroad 4X4 bakkie (mini-truck/ute with a roof tent). A more affordable option is to rent a vehicle and a little mini "offroad" tent trailer. The trailer comes equipped with a roof tent, shade tent, shower tent, sleep tent, another tent, more tents, power options, water tanks, and a little pullout kitchen (We are not a fan - too many tents. More about that later). All these options are familiar, well equipped, but quite expensive, clumsy, and a risky way for the uninitiated to undertake a journey in Southern Africa.<br />
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Like other destinations, there are also risks in Africa. People don't usually appreciate what African risk means when they land from another country. The roads are a concern with potholes (very deep potholes), stray animals, and a general lack of maintenance. The 4X4 option may give you a (false) sense that you can venture into the wild. In Africa, even something as simple as a tree thorn can puncture a tyre, and a pothole can separate your wheel from its axel. There are also wild animals, dangerous insects and snakes that are always looking for a meal, entertainment, or a new home.<br />
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Then there is the driving. Italy cannot compare to South African impatience, breakneck speeds, and general disregard for courtesy, and constant violation of the road rules. Mexico is chaotic but courteous. Driving in Africa is merely nasty. A typical Class-C motorhome is clumsy to operate and difficult to park in most South African towns and cities. Class-A's don't even exist here. The pothole-strewn roads are not kind to these types of vehicles, and you cannot fit them into the available camping spots, anyway.<br />
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Security is an omnipresent affair everywhere in Africa. Camping or overnight options are limited to secure campgrounds (caravan parks) and National/Provincial Nature Parks and Reserves. That is why the preferred way to tour and camp in South Africa is with a "caravan" (travel trailer) and lots of tents attached to the outside. People head to "resorts" over weekends and holidays, spend half a day setting up, two or more nights enjoying the facilities, and another full day breaking camp, cleaning, packing away and heading home.<br />
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Most touring and camping trips are extended stays at well equipped, safe (however, not always that affordable) resorts.<br />
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Observations About Vanlife in Africa</h2>
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If you talk about a van in Southern Africa, people associate it with the notorious minibus taxis. The little <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_HiAce">Toyota HiAce</a> van transports Africa! It is the African version of highly efficient and affordable public transport. Larger versions like Sprinter, Iveco and Ford Transits are used for the same purpose on longer journeys.<br />
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You can use your overseas license to rent and drive the smaller cargo vans. We rented a Nissan from <a href="https://www.thrifty.co.za/">Thrifty Car Hire</a> for our first leg of our journey. The larger vans require a special "heavy-vehicle" license that is different from the standard motor vehicle license issued overseas and therefore put these vehicles out of reach of tourist.<br />
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Some folks already realized the potential of the omnipresent minibusses to be converted into living accommodations and camping solutions. However, you are unlikely to encounter any on the road. It is too foreign to the South African wat of touring and camping. It is a pity because Africa has the ideal weather for it. Weather insulation is the single most significant and most costly challenge (next to power) in North America. In Southern Africa, like Australia, Mexico and New Zealand, it is the least of your concerns because almost every day is a perfect weather day.<br />
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For the budget conscious there are well-stocked camping stores like <a href="https://www.campandclimb.co.za/">Camp and Climb</a> and <a href="https://www.outdoorwarehouse.co.za/">Outdoor Warehouse</a> that carry all the usual supplies. Here you can find your sleeping bag, tables and chairs, mattresses, cooling boxes, portable fridges, cooking utensils and water tanks. There are also several local and European-sourced fit-outs available for a more luxurious build of a van with a bed, water, storage, shade and power options. There are more elaborate fit-out operations that will help you make the conversion a bit more permanent and the stay more comfortable if you have your own vehicle. We will be exploring some of these options in subsequent episodes.<br />
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The main challenges for Vanlife in Africa are ventilation, insect control (mosquitoes!!) and where to park. We have solutions for these, we think. Stay tuned for advice and more about the lessons we've learned.<br />
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There are lots of opportunity for Vanlife in Africa. Vanlife is not yet a thing in South Africa. It is virgin-territory, and for us, it has been an excellent adventure. It is also an economical way to travel and see a fantastic country. You can easily equip yourself inexpensively with the required necessities before hitting the road.<br />
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Add it to your bucket list. It is something you have to try at least once. </div>
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Hendrik<br />
Cowboy in Africa!<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span><br />
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Photos</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Location - #blybetrokke</td></tr>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0Pretoria, South Africa-25.7478676 28.229271199999971-26.2054911 27.58382419999997 -25.2902441 28.874718199999972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-46100376311239726882019-02-20T06:29:00.002-08:002019-02-24T23:06:00.389-08:00Six Surefire Ways to Fail in Business, Guaranteed!<h2>
Being Afraid, Very Afraid</h2>
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We broke a record. The Two Cowboys published more than 400 video features of small businesses and communities since our inception in January 2016. Our non-branded content alone included a further 437 productions we did for our partners and for various Business Excellence Awards.<br />
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For a total of around 837 productions, we've met, interviewed and filmed more than 3,000 people in three years! We did it in Canada, USA, Mexico, New Zealand and in South Africa. We also added France and Italy to our travels in 2018. How's that for being busy?<br />
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In three short years, we've seen and heard more about businesses than most people do in a lifetime. We thought we knew a lot after University, 25 years of management consulting and years in television production. Instead, we learned a lot more from these business owners in a very short time that we ever imagined. We now also know a lot more about them.<br />
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Some of the businesses we met were, and still are, wildly successful. Unfortunately, the majority were not, and probably never will be. We came to the realization, when we looked through the lenses of our cameras (cameras rarely lie) and listened to the conversations we recorded, that the majority of those that are not successful face a single, but a major stumbling block. It doesn't matter where the business is. They all have one infliction.<br />
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They have a confidence problem! Because they lack confidence, they fear and some even avoid being successful. Entrepreneurs and business owners lack confidence because they have no idea what is supposed to make them succeed in the first place.<br />
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To illustrate the point. Here is a statement from one ignorant, cocky, small, hot sauce business owner, somewhere in the woods of Vancouver Island. <i>"We'll contact you if we ever consider paying for publicity!" </i>Our reply, "Please don't. We'd rather be contacted by someone that understands that publicity is what makes businesses and brands, even commodity hot sauce brands like yours, succeed. It makes businesses go national and global. Heaven forbid that someone actually finds out about your sauce. You may just be forced to deal with success!"<br />
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The point is that even if you don't have an interest in the Two Cowboys telling your story, a business owner should grab every opportunity possible to promote and get positive publicity for their product and brand. There are many things you can do to grow your enterprise. The most simple is to simply get out of the way of your success.<br />
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Simple Business 101</h2>
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There are countless sources of entrepreneurial advice available in books and online. You don't have to do an MBA. It is all available by tapping a screen and clicking a button. Every second "consultant" and "authoritative" online page carries the keys to the castle. They can give you the 8 steps to entrepreneurial success, 5 ways to make a million, 7 keys to marketing success, or 10 ways to a six-figure income with your laptop on the beach. Don't forget email marketing and there is an app for that! I don't have to point out that most of this advice come from snake oil salesmen, nobodies and wannabes.<br />
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Instead of listing another 5, 8 or even a 100 ways to make it in business, I thought of highlighting the five surefire ways we've gleaned through our observation and experience of how to assure failure. Avoid these mistakes and you are likely to stumble upon the right things to do, by accident. Business is not supposed to be hard. It is not something you have to go and do under duress.<br />
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What you do in your business should be natural and align with who you are. If it fits, it is bound to have spontaneous progression and evolution.<br />
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Before we court disaster, here is a simple formula we've distilled for a successful maker business:<br />
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<li>Make something of value for yourself. (Product Development, R&D, Tooling, Materials, Prototyping, Testing, Validation, Manufacturing) </li>
<li>Find people that value it too. Share it with them. (Positioning, Promotion, Market Validation)</li>
<li>Make more, and share it more often and with more people. They become your loyal customers. (Logistics, Supply Chain, Distribution, Labour, Packaging, Customer Relationship Management, Customer Support, Marketing, Promotion, Publicity, Selling, Fulfillment, After Sale Support, Quality Control, Billing)</li>
<li>Exchange it for the amount of value it adds to your customers' lives. (Pricing)</li>
<li>If your customers value what you make more than it cost you to make it, then you have a business. (Profit)</li>
<li>Have fun and learn how to get better at it every day! (Evolve and Expand)</li>
<li>If it doesn't work, make something else.</li>
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The same applies to a service business. It is even simpler.<br />
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<li>Do something you value for yourself. (Tools, Expertise, Skill, Knowledge, Effort, Time)</li>
<li>Find people that value what you do. Do it for them too. (Positioning, Promotion, Validation) </li>
<li>Do it often and find more people to do it for. They become your loyal customers. (Customer Relationship Management, Publicity, Marketing, Sales, Service, Billing, Delivery) </li>
<li>Exchange it for the amount of value it adds to your customers' lives. (Pricing) </li>
<li>If your customers value what you do more than it cost you to do it, then you have a business. (Profit)</li>
<li>Have fun and learn how to get better at what you do. Do it every day! (Evolve and Grow)</li>
<li>If it doesn't work, do something else.</li>
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Let us Fail</h2>
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Here are some surefire ways to fail in business.<br />
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<li><b>WASTE TIME:</b> Procrastinate. Try to please others with a product or service you don't care for and that you don't really value. Do meaningless work that keeps you busy and pays the bills. The outcome will at best be mediocre and you are likely to hate every minute you are involved with it. Waste as much time as possible by delaying decisions. Go to the toilet often. Check your social media. Have meetings after meeting with your team. Collect your salary. Go on vacation. Have a hobby. <b>The more you waste time, the less you will have to actually do.</b></li>
<li><b>SHUN CONTACT:</b> Heaven forbid that people should actually make contact with you about your product or service. Avoid customer contact at all cost. Don't answer your phone. Don't return messages or that email. Don't listen to people. Don't appear on your shop floor and don't interact with your staff. Please don't answer questions or entertain proposals. Make sure your website doesn't have an address, phone number or email address. If you are really serious about shunning contact then get yourself a receptionist, a call centre in India, a personal assistant, PR Firm, appoint a marketing person, and get a social media handler. They will make sure no one can get hold of you. Be very important. Have many titles. Customers won't buy from you and suppliers won't be able to offer you any help. <b>If you cannot be reached, then people won't want something from you.</b></li>
<li><b>AVOID EXPOSURE:</b> Keep yourself a mystery. Hide! Avoid publicity. Don't have a proper website, or don't have one at all. Tell as little as possible about your product or service. Consider social media evil. Don't go near it. Never have a page on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Don't do any marketing or promotions. Avoid all forms of advertising. Remove your business listing from Google and maps. Take your shop's sign down. Don't put your business name on your vehicle. Throw away your business cards. Avoid telling your customers how to use your products and the benefits of your service. <b>Remember, the less exposure you have the more likely no one will bother you.</b></li>
<li><b>SKIRT FEEDBACK:</b> Customer reviews are evil. Don't encourage reviews. Take down your Google reviews and disable your Facebook feedback button. Don't ask customers what you can do to make their product or experience better. If they do offer feedback deride them. Make them feel insignificant. Be a victim. Don't respond. You won't have to learn and adjust your product or service and won't meet your customers' expectations. <b>If you skirt feedback then the truth won't hurt you. </b></li>
<li><b>AVOID SUCCESS: </b>If you are unsuccessful you will have plenty to complain about. You won't make a difference in people's lives. If you avoid success, people won't care. If you are successful more people will want something from you and bother you often. With success, you may turn a profit and will have to pay more taxes and employ more people. By avoiding success you can have your predictable life.<b> You won't be faced with challenges. You can blame your circumstances and your failure on someone and something else. </b></li>
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The Two Cowboys</h2>
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Our business is a simple business. </div>
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We love researching, investigating, learning, meeting interesting people, filming and telling stories about the things and places that interest us. The things we value is good food, inspiring people, innovative products and businesses, great beer, and the freedom to travel and work all over the world. We tell these stories in the best way we can through video, photography and writing in our Blog. We feel the world needs more fun and inspiration. We hope to give that to our audience.</div>
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Our audience enjoys watching our programming and armchair travelling with us. Our programming is insightful, informative and entertaining. The people, businesses and places we feature garner publicity through our content. They win over new customers. More people learn about them and is likely to deal or visit them. It becomes a channel with much-needed positive exposure for their brands.</div>
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We are constantly looking for new stories and bigger partners to feature. We produce as much content as we can and feature as many people, businesses and places as is willing to engage us. We package our content around topics and themes. One theme we love to exploit is a maker theme where we feature people that create and make products. We have several food and cooking themes. We have a travel and camping theme. Overall, the Two Cowboys is an entertaining lifestyle content brand that we live every day and where we invite others to join us on our journey.<br />
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Our pricing models make it possible for the smallest business to afford to be featured by the Cowboys and for some of the largest partners to have constant access to fresh and informative highly professionally produced promotional content. At the same time, our audience can access our materials online for free so that we can reach the broadest audience possible.</div>
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Our business and our brand keeps growing even in the most difficult economic times in Canada's recent memory. Where businesses realize the power of our promotional capabilities they engage us often and with great success. We love what we do and don't want to do anything else.</div>
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Thank you for helping us succeed in our endeavour to show the world that it is a better place.</div>
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Hendrik van Wyk</div>
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Business Cowboy</div>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0Bridesville, BC V0H 1B0, Canada49.037014 -119.1521520999999720.527497 -160.46074609999997 77.546531 -77.843558099999967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-75475490867418065592019-02-19T03:59:00.000-08:002019-02-19T04:01:39.931-08:00Not One More Lousy Coffee, Please! <h2>
The End</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When is a customer justified in refusing to pay for lousy coffee? </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">It depends on how you define "bad" coffee, doesn't it? </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">It also depends if you accept and drink it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">We agree that the bill for a consumed coffee must be settled. However, we are firm in our opinion that a lousy coffee can, and should be sent back until it is right. Accepting a lousy coffee hurts an industry.</span></div>
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See more Two Cowboys Coffee Content: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZf9AhgdHqkRxW1ncU3lH6moMlVPFXKxX&disable_polymer=true" target="_blank">Here</a>.</h4>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY FEATURED?</a></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Coffee shops charge you before they serve you. Herein lies your opportunity. It gives you the chance to demand an acceptable beverage, or you get your money back. A shot of espresso can set you back as little as $1.50 and as much as $4.50. The same goes for a milk espresso drink like a cappuccino, flat-white, macchiato or latte. It too can come in as high as $3.50, and up to $6.50 at some "distinguished" establishments. If you bend over for a Starbucks, prepare to hurt even more.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">We once showed a coffee shop owner that we've spent upwards of $780/month with him and that it didn't even include the beans for the coffee we make at home. The Cowboys spend more on coffee in a month than we spend on beer. That is very concerning (and a topic for another time)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The point is that drinking coffee is expensive. Why then do we tolerate it when we are served an inferior beverage? We won't accept half a sandwich, a stale doughnut, or being served an overly salty muffin. We won't go back to a restaurant for a rubbery overdone steak and cold fries. Yet, establishments serve inferior espresso-based coffee drinks as a central feature or sideshow, and they get away with it. Even worse, some are offended when you call them out on it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">People somehow accept the role of the espresso dice and console themselves with their fate when they are handed dark muck in a cup. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Maybe the Barista is having a bad day. Tomorrow it may be better. We'll try again later. It is the best you can get around here..." </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">No more!</span></div>
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A (Dis)Service</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is time to call it, and we intend to do just that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yes, we know that we are at risk of becoming very unpopular with some of the business owners on our travels. However, as we've mentioned before, we pay for our coffee. If we are paying for it, like every other customer, we have the right to have an opinion. Even more so, because of what we do as the Two Cowboys, we have the intention to share our view with anyone that cares to read, watch and listen. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is a generous service to coffee lovers and the coffee serving establishment. We are gladly stepping up to provide transparency and clarity. </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">As fellow baristas, prior coffee shop owners, dedicated coffee drinkers, and world-travellers, we intend to help coffee servers realize where they have room for improvement, and we hope to make the world a better place because of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: 400;">This is part of the TWO COWBOYS' EPIC GLOBAL TRAVEL & CULINARY EXPERIENCE - 2019!</span></div>
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Good Coffee</h2>
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The <a href="https://sca.coffee/">World Speciality Coffee Association</a> (SCA) sets the standards for coffee. Standards can be great tools for the coffee industry as they are trusted reference instruments established by knowledgeable subject-matter experts. It is a quantifiable and qualifiable measure, based upon scientific testing, which set values and/or ranges of values for coffee.<br />
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The standards are the foundation of what is used in international barista competitions hosted by World Coffee Events at their very popular <a href="https://worldbaristachampionship.org/">World Barista Championships</a>. These competitions focus on promoting excellence in coffee, advancing the barista profession, and engaging worldwide audiences with a love for better coffee. Judges from around the world evaluate each performance on the taste of beverages served, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill, and overall presentation.<br />
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Now, let's be realistic. Buying a beverage at your local coffee shop should not be a world championship judging event! That is why we've lowered our standards to support our love of specialty coffees and helping fellow entrepreneurs that bravely venture to serve it to loyal patrons every day.<br />
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As far as we are concerned, there are mainly three important criteria that should be met for a Two Cowboys coffee to be an acceptable coffee (and not to be handed back for a redo). It should be well prepared, taste good, and be served in a customer friendly manner.<br />
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<li><b>Well Prepared:</b> There is a whole raft of technical aspects that guide a well-prepared beverage. Bean quality and freshness, grinder setting, tamping, flushing, dosing, extraction time, and other elements all work together to produce a good coffee. Chief in these for us is the cleanliness of the preparation. Secondly, is the consistency of the beverages that are turned out. Can we trust not to get sick from a septic steam wand and expect the same consistently good coffee no matter who the barista is on any given day?</li>
<li><b>Taste Good:</b> First of all, the coffee should be made correctly. The barista should know the difference between a simple cappuccino, a flat-white, latte and a macchiato. If they are cross-eyed when we use words such as espresso, doppio or ristretto then they should not be on the machine. The coffee shot should have a nice dark rich crema and be well balanced between sweet, acidic and bitter. The milk should be rich and silky and the volume appropriately adjusted for the type of drink. Both should come together in balance and harmony. For heaven's sake, it should be served at the right temperature!</li>
<li><b>Customer Service:</b> Here is where many coffee serving establishments go to die. The barista's treatment of his or her patrons is as integral to the specialty coffee experience as is the beverage. If every establishment makes a reasonably good coffee, then the barista's energy and positivity differentiate mediocrity from excellence. Baristas, like barmen and barbers, have a very personal job. We've walked away from good coffee in the past because of a jackass barista, and we took our $780/month with us.</li>
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We give all three of the above criteria an equal weighting. Call it the Two Cowboys - Three Stars Coffee Rating. Unfortunately, one miss can sink a coffee ship.<br />
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Observations</h2>
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We realize that the specialty coffee business is a hard endeavour.<br />
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From an outsider's perspective, the margins may look promising. However, with roughly $1 of profit in a cup of coffee a shop needs to push out at least 15 an hour just to cover minimum wage in most western countries. Coffee is expensive and a good espresso machine, more so. Baristas don't earn much either. Even if they make a good coffee, most baristas earn minimum wage, or slightly more.<br />
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Our goal is not to give these businesses and dedicated folks a hard time. Instead, by shining a light on them, we hope to celebrate their successes and drive more patrons their way. We've already lost our butchers, bakers, dairies and our fresh produce grocers from our small towns. They've been replaced by large grocery chains. Our coffee is fast going the same route with a Starbucks and a Tim Hortons opening on every available downtown corner. Every second establishment now purports to be serving specialty coffee. Most of them serve lousy coffee. That is why it is even more critical to outdo the coffee making robots.<br />
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Let's not be distracted by accepting lousy coffee. It hurts the few remaining dedicated espresso hole-in-the-walls that are doing a decent job. Support those instead, like we do!<br />
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Hendrik<br />
Coffee Cowboy!<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span><br />
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Photos</h2>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com0R101, Bela-Bela, 0480, South Africa-24.849865 28.336160000000064-53.3593815 -12.972433999999936 3.6596514999999989 69.644754000000063tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-52832203072164651742019-02-05T21:34:00.000-08:002019-05-25T09:47:09.736-07:00Lekker Man, Lekker at The Lekker Shop in Hamilton, New Zealand<h2>
Lesson Learned</h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">People that make things are good at what they do for two simple reasons. They like and value what they do, and they are continually working towards bettering it. We are makers because it feeds the single biggest survival instinct we developed as a species. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our oversized heads and brains are proof of our privilege and our affliction. Anyone with pre-frontal cortex will tell you, we are born to learn!</span></span></div>
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EP1</div>
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EP2</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS FEATURED?</a></span></h3>
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It is as universal as humanity on this little blue planet of ours. It doesn’t matter where you find people in the Tundra, deep Amazonian jungle, small Pacific Island or in London or New York. Everyone is driven by the need to keep our minds occupied. It is even estimated that our brains consume as much, or more than a third of our energy. We are learning machines.<br />
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What we do with this drive distinguishes one person’s life from another. In pre-history, the ones that learned the fastest to gather food and avoid danger were the survivors. In modern history, the ones that are better adept at sourcing information, applying it, and relating to other members of a community, thrives more.<br />
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We developed a considerable preoccupation with social engagement. It includes the elaborate rituals and rules that should provide relative harmony between ourselves and others in our group. How we relate to others also determines our standing. The better the reputation, the more fortuitous we tend to become amongst our peers. Our unique ability to better learn, adapt and organize, ultimately made us the dominant species on planet Earth.<br />
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If we knew that every waking moment of our existence and the majority of our biology is devoted to continuous, conscious, and unconscious learning, how will this knowledge influence our lives?<br />
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As a start, we will know what drives people. For example, now we know what drives the little baby to crawl and discover. It encourages some people to dream, travel and to explore. It is also the reason why our elderly are fixated on their televisions, and our teenagers are caught in online gaming worlds, pursuing the one elusive objective after the other. It is why mankind stares hypnotized at electronic screens concerned about the state of social affairs thousands of disconnected miles away, while unaware of the names of their neighbours, barman or barista.<br />
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If you capture the attention of a curious mind, you can direct it and effectively control the person.<br />
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Who Is In Charge? </h2>
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Fortunately, with our learning instinct comes a failsafe switch in the form of self-awareness and reflection. Instead of being “mindlessly” controlled through stimulus and response, we can reflect on the outcomes of our learning and then potentially direct it.<br />
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We can steer our drive towards something we appreciate and consider valuable. We do it through filtering and focus. By deciding what gets our attention and what to ignore we direct our learning. In this decision lies the single key that unlocks meaningful and happy lives.<br />
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If you are searching for more meaning and purpose in your life, all you have to do is choose or change your focus. Seek learning opportunities with a feedback loop in a context that you consider valuable. Your focus inevitably creates your reality. If you like it. Keep doing it. If you don’t change your focus. </div>
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Lekker Man!</h2>
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In the case of <a href="http://www.lekker.co.nz/">The Lekker Shop</a>, they devote their focus, attention and maker efforts to not only recreating something special from their homeland - South Africa. Their focus is to make it even better than back home. We think they are on to something. They have lekker wors!<br />
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During our impromptu visit before Christmas 2018, it felt like we came home. We were instantly transferred to our favourite Kuka Shop and Butchery in the Bushveld. Thick Boerewors was waiting in the cooler and fresh Droëwors and Koeksisters in the fridge. Within minutes we were old friends. If we had Gemmerbier, we would have shared a bottle and put a vleisie on the braai.<br />
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<a href="http://www.lekker.co.nz/">The Lekker Shop</a> is a South African shop and butcher in Hamilton, New Zealand. They call themselves the home of Lekker Biltong, Boerewors, and much, much more! Facebook calls it an "Ethnic Grocery Store". We call it "our store" because they brought a bit of South Africa to us when we were away from the continent. Lekker Man!<br />
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What stands out for us during our visit was the range and quality of products. One thing was more obvious than anything - they are proud of what they do! Remember, people that make things are good at what they do for two simple reasons. They like and value what they do, and they are constantly working towards bettering it.<br />
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Now, if only we can convince them to tell us their secret to the Lekker Wors - it will save us a trip from Canada to get our fix. On the other hand, maybe we don't want to know. It will give us ample reason to make another visit to our friends at the Lekker Shop!</div>
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Hendrik<br />
Lekker Cowboy!<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span><br />
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Photos</h2>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.com01 Grasslands Pl, Frankton, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand-37.8055899 175.26196530000004-66.3074594 133.95337130000004 -9.3037204 -143.4294407tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030351198071516419.post-37740961275488152072019-01-21T16:13:00.000-08:002019-01-21T16:13:42.602-08:00The Two Cowboys are Planning to Brew and Keg Our Own Beer on the Road with iKegger, New Zealand<h2>
Counter Beer Culture</h2>
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If there was ever a time to justifiably promote <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterculture">counter-culture</a>, then the time is probably now. </div>
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More and more people are coming to terms with the real current state of living in our westernized world. Folks are waking up to the perils of consumerism, the emptiness of meaningless jobs, and the realization that even the things they thought they have, they don't truly own, and never will</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS FEATURED?</a></span></h3>
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Having more stuff, doing meaningless work to get it, and not being in control of what you already own, is no longer an acceptable way of living. Especially, if it doesn't make you happy and you have to exert more and more effort every year to keep up with demands. </div>
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Some people blame their problems on someone else or on their circumstances. By transferring responsibility they are sinking even deeper into the abyss of the infirm. "It is someone else's fault". They have to fix this. There should be a law against this!", is a common refrain. The Government is doing it or not doing enough. It is Trump's fault. Trudeau cannot be trusted. Soros paid them off. The Chinese are to blame. Idiots are voting. The system is rigged!</div>
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Unfortunately, no amount of calling on the Government, someone else, demon, or deity, to solve our problems or bowing to postmodern moral grandstanding will solve the problem we have. Changing our leaders is unlikely to have the desired outcome. Protests won't work. It is more likely to get people killed or jailed. Life will not get better when the racists desist, men disappear, you change your gender, white privilege is punished, refugees leave, sinners stop sinning, we all become vegan, Brexit is cancelled, Mother Earth "saved", or feminism wins.</div>
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Taking Command</h2>
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Instead, more and more people are looking for alternatives to the current conventional way of living, and they are doing it by changing their thinking. People are downsizing, leaving behind, moving on, checking out and taking back control of their lives for themselves and the people they love around them. </div>
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These folks all have one thing in common. They no longer give away control and responsibility for themselves and for their circumstances - not to an ideology and not to an institution, religion or state. They alone are taking command for their own sake, and for those around them!</div>
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We like it. </div>
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There are a growing number of "movements" that is evidence of transitional thinking. Homesteading, tiny houses, minimalism, self-education, growers, makers, Vanlifers and Fulltimers, are only a few ways of how a counter culture is developing. It is a movement in opposition with the conventional way we are told we should live to be happy and successful. People are going against consumerism with living tiny, minimalism and through homesteading. They are leaving meaningless jobs behind and becoming self-educated makers, craftsmen, growers, bakers, brewers, traders and online entrepreneurs. They are throwing off the shackles off locality by adopting nomadic lifestyles and avoiding mortgages, licensing and taxation. They barter and use alternative currencies for trade!</div>
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People are realizing that we alone can take responsibility for our life and our destiny. It is the only path to a happy and fulfilled life. We have to solve our own problems first before we decide to put the blame on something external from us. It is done in small steps and by tiny increments. </div>
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We believe that people's value system changes when they decide to take control of, and for themselves, and when they start to make things. Something as simple as frying an egg, folding your clothes or making your bed has the power, over time, to change a life. It changes a person because it restores ownership. With ownership comes responsibility. This simple concepts of ownership and responsibility confirm value or worth. With worth, there is meaning and purpose for yourself and for those with whom you choose to share. </div>
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Making Beer</h2>
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We are big proponents of making things. Our hashtag states, #makesomething!<br />
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We are making our own beer thanks to the innovate beer brewing equipment of WilliamsWarn, and the quality concentrated wort from <a href="http://www.blackrockcowboys.com/">Black Rock Brewing</a>, both from New Zealand. By making our own beer, we believe we make better tasting, fresh, more healthy, and affordable beer. We drink our beer without the need to front-up for licensing, packaging, distribution, excise and taxation. It is probably one of the most liberating things to do in today's age!<br />
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We are encouraging all beer lovers to give it a try.</div>
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We are so enthused by this that we checked in with Andrew Hope from <a href="https://www.ikegger.co.nz/">iKegger NZ</a> to see if there is an even easier way we can make our beer while we are traveling in our vans in New Zealand. He gave us what we needed from his selection of kegs, taps, lines and sleeves and we are set to start our van beer brewing experience this March when we return to New Zealand.<br />
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Observations</h2>
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Andrew confesses that he has a vast and enormous love for beer. He and an Aussie mate came together and founded <a href="https://www.ikegger.co.nz/">iKegger</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.ikegger.co.nz/">iKegger</a> NZ is a kiwi owned and run business that specializes in stainless steel portable Mini Beer Kegs and Growlers which have integrated taps and are powered by CO2 through mini regulators. It's like having your own personal bar with beer on tap, at home, but also the flexibility to take it with you when you are out and about!<br />
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<a href="https://www.ikegger.co.nz/">iKegger</a> kegs are based on the same ball lock fittings that homebrew keg setups work on so they can easily link into existing kegerators or "keezers" and the fittings will work with your existing kegs too. We think that they not only have a better way to transport and keep beer, but we can also brew in the kegs while we travel. We will do it with the help of Black Rock Brewing ingredients.<br />
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Andrew kindly provided us with what we need to get started with our brewing experiment. We ran a few test runs during this southern summer and will be ready to showcase it when we return this March to New Zealand. In the meantime, please meet Andrew and reach out to him if you are in New Zealand. He may have a plan for your next fresh beer.<br />
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Hendrik<br />
Beer Cowboy<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em><br /></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em>We earn our livelihood by producing great content and supporting inspiring people, businesses, and communities. Please book us <a href="http://www.bookthecowboys.com/" target="_blank">here</a> so we can tell your story too.</em></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brew Keg</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beer Tanks</td></tr>
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Two Cowboyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03353328057292078767noreply@blogger.comAuckland, New Zealand-36.8484597 174.76333150000005-37.2549887 174.11788450000006 -36.4419307 175.40877850000004