Broken Bow OK. Lower Mt. Fork Camping Trip

Last weekend we went on a float trip down the Lower Mt. Fork river in Broken Bow OK.  It was super fun!  I highly recommend the trip.  Just make sure you check the CFS (Cubic feet per second)  this river can be really dangerous if it is above a certain level.  You can check the CFS for lower mt. fork here.  We have our own boats but you can rent kayaks and canoes from many outfitters down there.  Just call ahead.  We used Ambush Adventures to run shuttle for us.  

There is great fishing and floating.  ENJOY!

Kentucky

Sigh, my trip to Ky is over.  Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip!  I can break it down in three parts; Places to go, things to eat once you get there, and memorabilia!  

1. Morris Book Shop  2. Red State BBQ  3. Spalding's doughnuts  4. Tachibana  

5. Al's Bar  6. Churchill Downs

1. Cherry Pie (tart)  2. BBQ nachos  3. Sushi  4. West Sixth IPA  5. Spalding's doughnuts  6. Homemade ice cream

Whilst in Kentucky I picked up a few new shirts and re-stock my CHOW CHOW!  If you didn't know, Kentucky is SUPER PROUD and was a state settled by a "Culture of Honor" you can look it up.  I think its great, if you don't I would just punch you in the face, or poison your well.  What have you?

1. Ale8-1  2. Kentucky for Kentucky  3. Hall's Beer Cheese ( beer cheese festival is in Winchester, Ky)  4. Kentucky for Kentucky  5. CHOW CHOW 6. Kentucky for Kentucky 

...................Hot & Spicy Fermented Chow Chow...................

- Fresh ingredients -
12 Jalapeno-diced
4 Manzano-diced
2 peach Habanero-diced
3 green bell-diced
3 red bell-diced
2 Green Anaheim Chile’s-diced
3 green tomatoes (or 6 tomatillo’s) -diced
1 large Vidalia onion-diced (more/less to taste)
1 small head of cabbage (1 Lb or so)-shredded

- Dry ingredients -
2 tsp mustard seed
2 tsp celery seed
2 tsp tumeric
1 tsp cayenne flakes
1TBS pickling salt
1 Cup sugar

- Liquid ingredients -
2 TBS whey (harvest from yogurt)
Distilled water (as needed)
Vinegar (see note)

Glass container with air tight lid (gallon pickle jar works well)
If your glass container has a metal lid, I suggest a couple layers of plastic wrap between the lid and the jar, otherwise the lid might begin to rust on the inside during processing and/or storage.

- Instructions -
Wash all fresh ingredients thoroughly, drain and mix together.
Combine the dry ingredients, 
Pack tightly into the glass container 1/3 at a time, adding the dry ingredients at each layer, Fill to within 3 inches at the top.
Add the whey, then slowly pour in the water, until it completely covers the contents.
Make sure to leave at least 2 inches of air space at the top.
Secure the lid, and sit aside to ferment for 2 or 3 days at room temperature.
Soon after sealing the container, you will begin to see small bubbles forming and becoming active. 
Occasionally you might need to release some of the natural gasses that form during the process, by quickly opening and re-sealing the lid.

After a few days of fermenting, move the jar to the fridge, where your chow-chow will keep for several months, if it happens to last that long. 

Note:
If a tart vinegar flavor is desired, pour off some of the liquid, add cider vinegar to taste and then refrigerate.

The whey (optional)serves as a starter, to get the fermentation underway more quickly.

If you choose not to use a starter, add one additional TBS of salt and allow to ferment 3 full days before refrigeration.

camping

1. Dutch Oven: for yummy meals. 2. Merit badges: because you did a good job. 3. Vintage Cooler: keep beer cold 4. Appleby Trailer: no sleeping on the ground 5. BioLite Wood Burning Camp Stove: make your own power. 6. Therm-a-rest: good night sleep 7.Headlamp: hands free 8. COFFEE: so you don't harm your camp mates in the morning.

 

Rio de los Brazos de Dios

The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers (translated as "The River of the Arms of God") is located about 2 hours northwest of Dallas.  It is the longest river in Texas!  

We did the 20 mile over night trip.  You can contact Rochelle's to run the shuttle for you.  Also, if you don't have canoes you can rent them.  

It was a pretty exciting trip since I had never paddled my own boat alone, or camped overnight more than a few feet from the car.  The river was about 8 inches higher than normal, which was perfect.  We didn't have to portage at all.  Apparently, there are times where you walk more than paddle.  {NO THANKS} 

All in all it was fun.  We did have a really first windy day and it was pretty miserable.  So check the weather!  Make sure the water is up and the wind is down.  The second day was beautiful!    

We will be going back!​

Bike the Kentucky Bourbon Trail via Bootprints

We love apple pie and baseball as much as anyone, but for our money there’s no more satisfying slice of Americana than a glass of bourbon and a few plucks on the banjo.

And while bourbon sipping and finger picking aren’t normally considered part of the active lifestyle, we’ve found an adventure that pairs them with enough cardio to burn off some of those empty calories – a bicycle tour of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Stretching as far as 150 miles along the roads and highways of hilly central Kentucky, the trail connects six of the Bluegrass State’s finest bourbon distilleries (Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Maker’s Mark, Four Roses, andWild Turkey), which offer public tours and free samples.

Riders tackle the trail in three variations – a 113-mile “short” tour, a 150-mile “long” tour (each of these are six-day tours), or a one-day, 50-mile loop that visits just three distilleries.

The trail is civilized – towns pop up every 20 miles or so with restaurants and hotels. For lovers of history, the longest tour also includes rides through Perryville Battlefield and Old Fort Harrod State Parks. Rock climbers can pair the trip a visit to the famous Red River Gorge climbing area.