Two Cowboys: Every Kiwi Kid's Dream at Rayglass Boats in Auckland, New Zealand

Dreams On the Water

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There's a modesty that comes with the Kiwi culture that is striking. New Zealand's producers are doing phenomenal things on the international stage with innovative products and services. They set the tone for, and lead innovation in many industries.

The source for this success is quite simple. Make the things you love, and keep making it better. However, when you ask them about it, the most you get out of them is. "Yee-na, Mate. We're just doing what needs to be done until she's right." Simple!

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There is one industry that is in the blood of every Kiwi. The boating and fishing business is big business Downunder. They love fishing whenever weather permits and is working daily to refine this art and the tools of the trade. The best fishing is in a Rayglass boat on the water, we're told.

We checked in with Dave Larsen and his team at Rayglass Boats. The company's products are well known in New Zealand and abroad as a premium option for leisure craft. The dream of every fisherman on the Islands is to have a Rayglass boat for his weekend fishing "trup".

Not many people know that their Protectors range is also an option of choice for hard work on the water. They've found favour with companies and law enforcement in most parts of the globe. Especially in Europe, United States, Canada, Australia, Scandinavia, Russia, Asia and throughout the Pacific, they are used to travel quickly, safely and comfortably in virtually any conditions. They serve as patrol and rescue boats, as support vessels for international yacht racing teams, as fast pleasure cruisers and sports fishing boats and as superyacht tenders.

Dave and his team are living the dream by making the boat ownership dreams of others come true. Their reputation for excellence in design, construction, finish and performance is the result of a total commitment by everyone at Rayglass to quality. Their boats are the product of extensive research and development to constantly improve the designs, ride, seaworthiness and all round family comfort.

Observations

We've asked Dave about this extensive research and development and was surprised by his answer. I am not going to repeat his words, but it comes down to the fact that they have so much knowledge and experience of what works on the water, and so many years of refining the offering that they remain untouched by their competition. They set the standard by listening to their customers and iterating quickly to be responsive to meeting these needs. Their exceptional on-water performance comes from the utmost attention to quality and detail.

The highest endorsement of Rayglass’ performance came from the organisers of the world’s most prestigious yacht races - the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup - who have chosen on several occasions to have a fleet of Legend and Protector boats for on-water patrol and umpiring vessels.

Rayglass manufactures all their boats in Auckland New Zealand and sends it the world over. According to Dave, none are at the bottom of the ocean. Of all the units that have been manufactured in almost three decades, none have ever sunk. "They are unsinkable!" When I enquired about the colours in which the boats are available I was politely informed that the latest craze in Kiwi boat fashion is a "racing green stripe" (see photo below).

Talk about modesty and simplicity! The best unsinkable fishing boat in the world with a racing green stripe.

Hendrik van Wyk

Captain Cowboy

Get rewarded for supporting our local Producers: Receive special offers and invitations from the Two Cowboys and our Producers when you subscribe to our email list.

We are a content company. We earn our livelihood from producing great content about inspiring people and their stories. We use Patreon to help us earn from our work. It allows us to have a closer relationship with our collaborators and grow our audience. If you Sponsor us on Patreon: http://www.travelingcowboys.com or Donate to our cause on GoFundMe: http://www.forwardthefavour.com we can do a lot more for you, your business, event or community.

Photos

Rayglass in Glass

Boat Finishing

Protector Protecting

Perspective

Racing Green

Two Cowboys: Getting in Shape and Living More Healthy with TONIQ Juice and Health Bar in Canmore, Alberta

Good Intentions

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There are certain times of the year that are just more ripe for evaluating and re-evaluate one's life choices. It usually happens at milestones such as birthdays, arrivals, moves and unfortunately also at departures.

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We are at the beginning of a new year, and the matters of choice, intention and aspirations are top of mind for us too. It is the best and most favourite time for most people to reflect on what was, and to decide on what is to come. At this period, many people usually have good intentions. It may include body, mind or behaviour altering goals.

For example, there are lofty goals such as losing weight. Activity goals about exercising more, travel or spending more time outdoors. Then there are the all common dietary goals which may include eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, less chocolate, cutting down on alcohol or coffee. Lastly, and these are the really hard ones, there are the mind-altering goals of thinking more positively, having more patience, or if you are completely off the road, "living more in the moment".

No matter what change you contemplate for this year, I recommend you follow a simple piece of advice I received from my Mother. I hold on to it as a golden rule by which I live. It is something we all should keep in mind to succeed with any good intention. "Small changes have big effects over time. Big changes, usually end up breaking something".

Make small changes. Be patient. See your goals unfold. Adjust where and when necessary and enjoy the journey.

Having Patience

This is exactly what one of Canmore's newest beverage providers is advocating. Gillian Shepherd, the founder of TONIQ, instructed the Two Cowboys on the virtues of freshly pressed vegetable and fruit juices and the mystical powers of wheatgrass shots. We keep reminding ourselves that these are baby steps towards good health. We should try all things. Hold on to the good. At TONIQ, there is a lot of good for us to get.

TONIQ evolved from a need Gillian identified in the market to provide an easy but nutritious option for a workout energy boost or a meal alternative for a busy mother. When Gillian moved to Canmore in 2014 with her husband and young family she was immediately intimidated by the fitness levels of all the people she met and the health focussed attitude prevalent in the Canmore community.

She also discovered a new-found passion for the health benefits of raw, plant-based food. She embarked upon a 30-day juice focussed diet to lose weight, and as a stepping stone to changing to a healthier diet. A month later, she confirmed her results at 30lbs lighter with more energy. She could not help but share her joy, and her juices with friends, family and anyone willing to listen.

During the Summer of 2015, Gillian certified as a raw food chef. She launched the TONIQ Food and Drink venue in downtown Canmore in the Fall of 2016, after testing the market's reactions at Canmore's Farmer's market. She now crafts delicious and nutritious juices in Canmore's first and only Micro-Juicery where you can step in for a shot or stock up for your hike or ski trip.

Observations

Wheatgrass doesn't taste like Tequila. No matter how hard you tell yourself that it is good for you. It has a tendency to revisit you in your green nightmares. Even more so if you are plagued by the guilt of not paying enough attention to your diet. With TONIQ and Gillian's help, we are taking baby steps. Small, positive, more plant based changes in our diet should give us the benefits of more health, energy, vitality and peace of mind.

We enquired about the health benefits of our other plant-based staple of barley, hops, yeast, and water. Unfortunately, according to Gillian, our commitment to beer doesn't count towards our daily recommended dietary requirement for healthy living. It has value for one's mental state, but apart from a Vitamin B boost (which is new information for us), it lacks in the essential nutritional health benefits. It will have to be supplemented with a TONIQ juice.

Our plan is to work on a secret TONIQ Wheatgrass Beer recipe that should revolutionalize the health industry. It will make you happy, beautiful, and famous (we're told) and keep you healthy.

Bottoms up! Cheers!

Hendrik van Wyk

Healthy Cowboy 2017

Get rewarded for supporting our local Producers: Receive special offers and invitations from the Two Cowboys and our Producers when you subscribe to our email list.

We are a content company. We earn our livelihood from producing great content about inspiring people and their stories. We use Patreon to help us earn from our work. It allows us to have a closer relationship with our collaborators and grow our audience. If you Sponsor us on Patreon: http://www.travelingcowboys.com or Donate to our cause on GoFundMe: http://www.forwardthefavour.com we can do a lot more for you, your business, event or community.

Photos

Medicine

Mooo!

Good Intentions

What's Left

Happy Place

Two Cowboys: Adding Some Sophisticated Sauce and Missing Link Seasoning With Bow Valley BBQ in Canmore, Alberta

Boere Braai

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In our unique, little-known and often misunderstood Boere culture we take our meat and meat preparation, very seriously. If you know anything about South Africa's Boere identity and heritage, you will be aware of a right of passage called a "braai". If you don't, let me introduce you to this fantastic way of life.

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The word braai (pronounced “bry”, rhyming with the word “cry”; plural "braais") is Afrikaans for “barbeque” or “roast” and is a social custom in South Africa. “The word braaivleis is Afrikaans for “roasted meat.”

Only trusted friends are ever invited to a Boere braai. If you manage to get an invitation, then be aware that you are allowed into the inner sanctum of culinary privilege. A braai is our happy place. With a beer in hand, an open fire, good company, and something slowly roasting away we savour life. This is living.

When you ever make it to a braai with the Two Cowboys or any other South African Boer, then there is some important advice you should heed. Whatever you do, never ever criticise the way the meat is cooked. There is no bigger insult to a Boer than interfering with this sacred rite. Ever! Here's another piece of valuable advice. Never recommend sauce for the meat. It shows you are self-destructive or even suicidal. There is a good chance you won't live to tell about it.

It is highly irregular and unlikely to find any store bought sauce worthy of a Two Cowboys Boere braai. However, without admitting it too publicly, I think we've found one that we may tolerate. Jamie Ayles from Bow Valley BBQ told us more about it.

In 2013, Jamie and Bow Valley BBQ was accepted into the Self Employment government program for new entrepreneurs through Community Futures Centre West. In utilising the network and resources made available through the program, Jamie and Marie, his partner received a Growing Forward Government Grant to scale up and develop five products.

They then moved their production from a modest commercial kitchen setting in Olds and began producing 400 kg formulations at the Alberta Food Processing and Development Centre in Leduc, AB.  Bow Valley BBQ is now providing federally inspected HACCP certified products for both retail and food service.

Currently, Bow Valley BBQ Inc. products can be found in over 20 Restaurants and Retailers throughout Alberta and B.C. with more to come. They have since grown their monthly production demands to 2,400kg batches and a storage facility in Canmore is housing their inventories from where they ship it nationwide.

Observations

Most commercially manufactured barbeque sauces are molasses laden, fake smoke-induced, MSG-enhanced bottled concoctions. It is what you put on meat if you don't know what you are doing or when you have the in-laws over for dinner. If you do put it on your meat, you end up with a sugary, charcoal resembled, burned bitterness that serves no purpose other than make you look mean and stupid.

With the Boq Valley BBQ Blueberry Merlot Steak Sauce, we've found something much different. It enhanced our work. We used it as a basting sauce, and it made the meat flavour better, instead of destroying or masking it. We used it in combination with the Missing Link Spice Blend on sirloin, pork ribs, prime rib, and so far just could not fault it. It left us enough room for our own flavour additions.

We keep a high standard when we braai. There are reputations to protect. Jamie and his creations are helping us take it to the next level. We are glad we gave it a try. It is now a regular condiment in our arsenal of gourmet braai secrets.

P.S. Jamie is in the process of launching the Canmore Co-Packing Collective. He promised to work with the Two Cowboys to help package and bottle our own famous Monkey Gland Sauce. More about that later...

Hendrik van Wyk

Boere Cowboy

Get rewarded for supporting our local Producers: Receive special offers and invitations from the Two Cowboys and our Producers when you subscribe to our email list.

We are a content company. We earn our livelihood from producing great content about inspiring people and their stories. We use Patreon to help us earn from our work. It allows us to have a closer relationship with our collaborators and grow our audience. If you Sponsor us on Patreon: http://www.travelingcowboys.com or Donate to our cause on GoFundMe: http://www.forwardthefavour.com we can do a lot more for you, your business, event or community.

Photos

Pitching

Crispy Belly

At Work

Grilling

Shrine