Produced by Cam McKirdy

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Survival Bros collected calories today. It’s summer. Trees and bushes are exploding. Or as my friend Tactical Gypsy said, “the fruit of the earth is popping off. Time to take advantage.”

Gimmie that free grub. I washed, and froze these organic blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries, then tried a sour green apple. I’ll be juicing, and blending them. I even scouted out a bunch of cherry trees in my hood. Keep your eyes open, and get your local edibles while you can.

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The Cloudberry. Found in Oregon, but considered a delicacy particularly in Norway.

By Cameron McKirdy (1/1)

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Horns are hot in PDX right now! That’s what I heard from a friend, so when I saw a pair at a pawn shop in my hood, I snagged them. This post is about trading for goodies, and trying to hustle at clothing resale shops in Portland, OR.

First, let me tell you about these horns. I wanted them, so I tried to find something I didn’t want, of some value, to swap at the pawn shop. I traded a motorcycle jacket, iPod shuffle, and $20 for the pointy pair. Once acquired, I drove to Portlandia to make a deal. My homie had athletic shorts for me, and desperately wanted a set of horns to accent her fashionable pad. She loved them, mounting them on her wall above the couch. I bet they stay there collecting dust until she can find something better to trade for. That’s her business. I was pumped on the gear I got, and am wearing as I blog now. It was a fun, and solid trade for all.

I also mobbed to a few clothing resale shops where you can buy, sell, and trade. The Red Light Clothing Exchange on Hawthorne Blvd was full of wacky, tacky, junk. Apparently my clothing was too good to accept. They want crap, not new threads. I should have brought in my ripped, and stained stuff instead, and thrown it in the mud before. And I’m not one to judge, but their use of a B.O. air freshener wasn’t appreciated. The lady evaluating my clothing was a snob. She looked it all over quickly, and threw it back at me, saying “these aren’t for us.” That was it. No have a nice day. She walked away. I guess kindness isn’t trendy over there. Next.

Finally, I tried my luck with Buffalo Exchange on W Burnside St. I’ve dealt with them in the past, and sold some Nike Oregon Duck gear for a little. They had better looking women, and clothing there. I perused. They offered me $15 in trade, or $10 and some change cash for three shirts. I took the money and ran. I knew I wouldn’t get offered much at these resale places, but I thought it would be interesting to try. A learning experience for sure. I’m better off donating old clothes, or selling it online, so I don’t have to waste time and $. Nothing sucks more than paying $5 for parking every spot you go to in Portland. You should never have to pay to park. But I’m an idealist.

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Survival Bros hit up Voodoo Donuts – The Magic is in the Hole!!

Produced by Cameron McKirdy

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Another day, another hustle. I picked up this vintage Univega mountain bike at a garage sale I found on Craigslist. I wasn’t planning on going to any sales that day, because I was having my own. But the post said there were 100 bicycles for sale, so I had to peep it. This one caught my eye. It’s black, my fav, and had nice big tires on it. Plus, I was pleased that the rear rack came with. I’ve been wanting a hardtail bike, so I can put side bags full of survival gear on it, and possibly a motor. I think this whip is an excellent candidate for a motorized conversion. Now I’m hunting for the right kit on eBay to make it happen.

The lady at the garage sale had this gem priced at $80. Not happening. I pointed out the busted up seat, and said I’d have to replace it. She didn’t want to budge, but I explained it would help me out, because I don’t have a car. So she caved, and took my two crispy 20’s. I was pumped, and felt fortunate for the come up. I thanked her, checked out the rest of her crap, and bounced back to my sale. A hustlers work is never done.

It’s cool finding old stuff at Goodwill, pawn shops, and estate sales. It gives you the chance to learn about products you didn’t know about. Turns out, this brand was one of the first to develop mountain bikes. Very cool. If you know more about Univega, or have other ideas to improve this, please share. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros.

Produced By Cameron McKirdy

I don’t always cook, but when I do, I make the dankest meals.  Last night I created an entirely gluten free meal, complete with local salmon from the Pacific Northwest.  First I unboxed the Annie’s Organic Gluten Free White Cheddar shell mix.  Then I popped the top on the Skipanon Brand canned Chinook salmon.  I was impressed with the quality.  This was my first taste, and it was amazing straight out the can.  I mixed up the sauce like a boss, adding Tillamook butter, with a dash of spring water, no milk.  Then I spiced it up, with lemon pepper, and garlic salt.  Finally, I sprinkled Tillamook Mexican cheese on top of the mountain.  It was epic!  Check it out.

skipanon brand smoked peppered chinook salmon

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Here’s a video about the Skipanon Brand Cannery in Warrenton, Oregon USA:

I can’t believe what I discovered at Goodwill today. At the thrift store I scored a super rare vintage Specialized Allez Sport racing bicycle! Winning. It took all my hustling skills to acquire it.

I walked around looking for treasure, but couldn’t find anything on the shelves, or in the glass displays. I’m always looking for things to flip. Right when I almost called off the hunt, I went to the back and peered through the doors marked employees only. All I could see were bins, and the bike of my dreams. I’ve been wanting a road bike so I can cruise down the Oregon Coast to hike and camp.

I found an employee, and she said the bike won’t be available until they price it tomorrow. I didn’t accept that. I told her I really need a bike, and I’d like to talk to the manager. He came over, and I said I’d be very grateful if he could sell it to me. So he brought it out, and said I can have it for $24.95! Unbelievable. It’s super clean, and loaded with custom parts. I said deal, and paid the man cash. It was even cheaper because I was in Washington, but showed my Oregon I.D., so I didn’t have to pay sales tax. I rode off into the sunset. I can’t find anything on this ride. If you know something about it, please share. I don’t know the year. If you want it, I can make you a deal.

Update: My local Specialized dealer informed me this is a 1994 Allez Sport. It retailed for $650 new.

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Produced by Cameron McKirdy

My dad and I just got back to the Oregon Coast, after a 4 day trip playing on the McKenzie River and the trail. First we geared up, and hit the rapids with the Oregon Whitewater Association. A group of 70 extreme outdoor enthusiasts floated 14 miles down the river. The water was brutally cold, at only 47 degrees. I fell off our cataraft for the first time after we smashed into a log along the bank. I didn’t have time to be fearful. I was just trying to catch my breath from the shock of the water, and keep my legs up as I floated down. Of course, I had a class 3 life jacket on. I swam to the back of the boat, but didn’t like being where I couldn’t see the rocks ahead of me. Plus, I didn’t want to get trapped under the massive military grade raft. So I separated from the craft, and tried to swim to shore, but the water was moving too fast, and nobody there could help me. I swam to the side of the raft, and was barely able to climb back on. I had to quickly jump off the river bottom to boost myself up. I was fatigued, and just wanted to sit down and assess my injuries. I hit my knee on a rock, and bloodied by shin up. I was only in the river for a few minutes, but it wouldn’t have been long before my body started shutting down, and hypothermia set in. It was intense.

I had my iPhone 4S in my pocket with a LifeProof case on when I went overboard. It worked. No water got in thankfully. In my other pocket I was carrying the new Coast DX335 rescue knife. It stayed clipped on, but luckily I didn’t have to use it. You’d be surprised how many people die on the river getting tangled in ropes. Below is a funny clip I took with the LifeProof case on my cell. It took great video, and you can hear my dad yelling at me to put it away. He thought it was going to get splashed, or fall in as we hit the drop in the rapids. Also below is an HD video review of the Coast Products knife. I will update this blog as I get media online. I used my GoPro Hero 3 Black camera to record my treacherous mountain bike ride down the McKenzie River Trail. That will be up soon. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros. Follow us on Twitter, Youtube, and join the community on Facebook. Peace.

 

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Produced by Cameron McKirdy

In this HD video I test a brand new blade from Kershaw Knives out of Tualatin, Oregon.  I hiked with it in my pocket near the crater of Mt. St. Helens, from the Johnston Ridge Observatory.  This park is a National Monument, and a true American treasure.  The Junkyard Dog 2.2 is also a gem.  It’s a rigid manual opening knife, loaded with style.  It’s bold, from the slick pocket clip, to the textured black G10 handle.  Kershaw thought of everything.  It comes with a protective zippered pouch too, which will keep the sand and dirt out of it, and save it from hard falls.  My favorite part of the design is the way it opens.  The flipper on the top is easy to grip with one finger, and flick open, and into a locked position.  The liner lock is also the beefiest I’ve ever seen.  It’s no joke.  The blade isn’t closing unless you deliberately push the lock to the side. 

Overall, the Junkyard Dog 2.2 is easy to handle, and use.  I recommend it fully.  I like it’s aggressive design.  Plus, for a folder, it has a thick and wide blade.  It must also be mentioned that the blade is made of composite steel.  It’s quality engineering, boasting both D2 steel, and high-performance Sandvik 14C28N stainless on the spine.  The Junkyard Dog 2.2 can take any beating you dish out.  Survival Bros has even battoned it with wood to cut kindling for a fire.  It has sliced through every material I’ve tried; duct tape, rope, fabric, tree branches, elk meat, and more.  If you’re looking for a bigger EDC knife, this one is epic.  The JYD 2 retails for $149.95.  The version tested is Model 1725CB.  More reviews soon.  I’d appreciate your comments.  Thanks!

jyd 2.2

This video is clips of my easy hike on the Boundary Trail from the Johnston Ridge Observatory.  I hadn’t been to Mount St. Helens in years, so it felt great to get up there.  The path was dusty, with long climbs on the way back.  Total I hiked just under two miles, then I got hungry.  I wanted to scout it out, and learn more about camping in the area.  It’s beautiful.  I filmed this with my new GoPro Hero 3, using a mount on my head.  The footage came out sick, but there were some clouds covering the crater.  Oh well.  I also recorded a video review for a Kershaw knife, coming soon to Survival Bros.  Thanks for visiting the blog.  Below is a map of the hiking trails courtesy of http://www.mountsthelens.com

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Survival Bros is all about peace and love, but we realize self defense is a part of overall preparedness. Tactical Gypsy went out to a local rock pit off Highway 53 to test a new MGM steel target. It’s a half size IPSC target. We went out there real quick to pop off a couple magazines of 9mm. SB didn’t do a lot of shooting, because ammo is super expensive, and hard to find right now.

Survival Bros also tested out our new GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition camera on our head. We’ll periodically post basic drills you can work on too. If there’s anything you guys would like to see us do, please comment. We have a range of assets to display. Thanks for watching.

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I left my phone in a friends car. I didn’t have their number memorized, so I messaged them on Facebook. No response. Thinking my phone was in the glovebox on silent, I called my number anyway. They picked up, and drove back. That’s why I don’t like wearing shorts without pockets.

If my phone was really lost or damaged, I’d want a list of emergency contacts on me or nearby. Also, if I was ever injured, having these numbers on my person could save my life. So I created a list of people I can trust. Then I copied it.

I rolled up one list, and put it in a small metal geocache bottle. I hung that from my backpack I use everyday. The other contact list is folded up, and tucked behind my black Magpul IPhone 4S case. I will make another list for my wallet, and then a digital copy for my laptop, and backup USB thumb drive. This is just another small preparation that could save the day.

Note: Emergency responders may look in your phone for a contact named I.C.E. (in case of emergency). Store your top contact as ICE.

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Produced by Cameron McKirdy