Love and kindness are the very basis of society. If we lose these feelings, society will face tremendous difficulties; the survival of humanity will be endangered. - Dalai Lama
I get a kick out of being an outsider constantly. It allows me to be creative. - Bill Hicks
The status quo sucks. - George Carlin
“If the fool would persist in his folly, he would become wise.” – William Blake
A pug beagle combination dreams in her sleep, and acts funny on camera in HD video. My pet is seven years old, brindle, plus great at catching and fetching. Her birthday is on Valentine’s Day. Mocha The Puggle currently helps run the emergency preparedness blog Survival Bros. She does this for fun, and isn’t a paid contributor. Subscribe to this website via email for updates sent directly to your inbox.
What’s good? Its been a Heaven of a year! Survival Bros has beefed up the website with frequent posts, vivid photos, and new HD video productions. Visit the ARCHIVES for all of the fun, and emergency preparedness news.
Here’s my favorite YouTube videos from 2014, in case you missed the action and adventure:
My #EDC backpack gear for #Survival
Steel Target Shooting Demonstration with Tactical Gypsy
Cameron McKirdy’s LifeProof smartphone case review as seen on The ABC World News with Diane Sawyer
How to get FREE stuff in life
Video of my #vandwelling setup on the Oregon Coast
Checking out William Henry knives at a jewelry store
The perfect vehicle for The Zombie Apocalypse
Exploring World War II bunkers on Tillamook Head near Seaside, OR
Doing yoga with certified instructor Sarah Whisler at the beach
You can’t define Survival Bros, or Cameron McKirdy. There’s no way of knowing what will come in the year 2015. Stay tuned. Thank you for your support of this project. I’ve produced all this for free. Please continue to like, comment, share, and subscribe to us. Let’s make the Survival Bros community even greater in the days to come.
Mocha The Puggle and I love you! (Hiking Saddle Mountain)
Produced by Cameron McKirdy – Survival Bros Founder
As you can see, nobody beats up gear like me. I took the new Kershaw Secret Agent knife to the beach, and put it through a rigorous torture test. I sliced, and stabbed ocean debris washed ashore in Long Beach, Washington.
Flashing the tool with the protective sheath on!
Model Number 4007, the Secret Agent isn’t flashy. It’s functional. The spear point blade has a black-oxide coating for protection against corrosion. Additionally, the surface is non-reflective. So it won’t catch light, or be easy to see. Both sides come sharpened, making it easy to puncture nearly any material. The Secret Agent handled rope, plastic, aluminum, fiberglass, and even a dead jellyfish! After the beating, it was still sharp, and the tip showed little wear. Of course, knives don’t like sand, so I plan to sharpen it for the first time, or I can send it back to the KAI warehouse to get it cleaned up for free. I’ve stopped by Kershaw headquarters in Tualatin, Oregon (South of Portland) before for a hassle free repair, which took less than an hour.
This knife is a favorite in my collection because it’s lightweight at only 3 ounces. The ergonomic handle is glass-filled nylon. It’s well balanced. Fitting securely in my palm, without being too wide. Plus, with a rubberized, textured grip, it’s not going to slip out of my hand. You can wear it on a lanyard, or strapped to your leg. Blade length is perfect, and no joke at 4.4 inches long. The black sheath is quality, with a wide, tight clip. At under $40, the Kershaw Secret Agent knife may be the best value in the industry. Don’t forget Kershaw Knives’ products are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty against manufacturing defects. Bottom line: The Secret Agent belongs in your Every Day Carry knife rotation. It’s Survival Bros tested and approved. For more HD videos, SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. Thank you.
Survival Bros goes car camping, and cooks food with the new Pinnacle Base Camper Large from GSI Outdoors. The slick gear features their nFORM Destination System, offering a nesting design for compact storage. Watch in HD video as I show you how it works, and clean it with ease.
The camp cookware is top quality. Each item is designed for hard use, and extended durability. The Teflon coating on the two pots, and large skillet is abrasion resistant, so harmful chemicals won’t be scratched off into food. Plus, the metal is proven to distribute heat evenly, for quick cooking. You can see in the vlog how my food is boiling over the entire radius. Also, GSI Outdoors has developed every product they make to be BPA-free. That’s good, because I don’t want my hormones being disrupted. This Washington State based company has the excursion items you need. Carrying around swag from them makes my life much easier, because it does the job, and lasts.
The Base Camper Large is ideal for a group of four, so I intend on using it when I entertain while tenting with friends, or I’m just super hungry. You’ll be glad you got a set like this if you enjoy camping, an preparing meals outdoors. Retail price is $109.95. Visit GSI Outdoors for more info, and check out the Pinnacle Camper set for the ultimate, integrated cooking and eating solution.
The colors! Witness two magical rainbows going into the Pacific Ocean water. Filmed in HD video on the Prom near 12th Ave. in Seaside, Oregon. Produced by http://www.cameronmckirdy.com More fun movies, and van dwelling Vlogs coming soon. The Volkswagen Vanagon is still putting around. Thanks for visiting my website. Have you ever seen a double rainbow in person? It was awesom. I love The Universe.
Out of nowhere, my VW Bus is struggling to start. Everything electrical flickers. The radio cuts out. The engine sputters. Plus, the battery and OXS (oxygen sensor) light came on. I called Avery’s Air-Cooled in Kelso, WA and they helped me diagnose the problem over the phone. We figured the issue was a faulty voltage regulator. Mechanics Jason and Kelly had a $40 Bosch part, and installed the unit for only $29. But before I got fixed up and back on the road, I was parked on the shoulder of Highway 101, waiting for Classic Towing to get me to another state – Washington. Thank God for AAA. I’m on the Premier towing package. Nothing but the best for my baby. Funny that I broke down on the way to the repair shop.
Avery’s Air-Cooled always hooks me up, and keeps my bill low. And if you have a Volkswagen, chances are they will have the part you need in stock. Call them to order something at (360) 425-1119 Here’s their website too! http://www.averysaircooled.com/ I will have to shoot some HD video there soon. They have tow truck loads of vintage bugs, buses, and beyond. And if you hang out long enough, you’ll get to see a traveling Art Show as the graffiti passes on the nearby train tracks.
Mitsubishi Fuso FG 140 4×4 truck spotted in Seaside, Oregon! This emergency preparedness rig has an ideal setup for extreme mobile living, and protection from undead zombies among us. Would you car camp in this monster? It looks comfortable, and well designed. It may be bigger than I’d want for bugging out, and I don’t know about the color, but it’s an excellent truck platform to work from. The Fuso just needs a snorkel if it’s going to spend the winter on the Oregon Coast. I didn’t see a camera system installed either for extra security.
This beast looks like a completely custom job, made to be multi-purpose. There’s few places it couldn’t go on Earth. I’d love to hear what you have to say about this setup in the comment section, or on our YouTube channel. I’m sure this vehicle will be on the road for a long time, baring an unforeseen marauders, or natural disasters, etc. Please SUBSCRIBE to Survival Bros by entering your email on the top left side of the screen! Stay tuned for more emergency preparedness news, because you can’t know what’s around the corner.
Additional HD videos and blog posts can be found on http://www.cameronmckirdy.com Thanks for your support.
A Zombie Aapocalypse Edition 4×4 truck parked in Seaside, Oregon
An hour East of Eugene, the McKenzie River Recreational Trail waits to be conquered. A 26 mile path skirts the cold, rippling waterway. It’s one of America’s premier destinations for bikers, and hikers. Outdoor enthusiasts can also be spotted during the summer on the water in rafts of all shapes and sizes. Survival Bros floated it. However, here’s what’s its like to attack the upper part of the wilderness trail on my bicycle.
The 1986 Volkswagen Vanagon is locked. Bike is ready. God bless my vintage Univega Alpina Pro mountain bike. It’s a hardtail with tire liners for extra protection, so I shouldn’t have trouble pummeling porous lava rocks. This will be my first ride with it off of pavement, or graveled logging roads. Exciting. Water, check. Mechanix gloves, yes. 3M safety shades, on. Let’s crush this.
And I’m off. Going downhill mostly, to Clearwater Lake from the top of the trail. I will have to fill my stainless steel water bottle at the campground. Problem is, it’s hard to know what’s undrinkable, and what’s potable with all the well pumps around. I may have to take a chance, because I’m not buying water. I’m looking forward to adding 2 packets of Airborne Plus Energy into my drink for flavor, vitamins, and minerals.
The plan is to tackle the challenging section of course around the lake first, then take an easy trail back uphill to my vehicle. OK, get centered. Where are you? In the moment. Faster!!!
Root! Pop the front wheel over, and peddle. Good. Lean into this corner. Branch…We’re bushwacking today. Alright, NOW break. Shift weight back, coming off the seat. Who put this tree down here? Ever heard of a chainsaw? Pick up your bike. Thankfully, it’s lightweight, full chromoly frame. I’m so happy I invested in tuning this vintage ride up. The guys at Canyonview Cyclery took care of me. This is the video I produced at their shop after the Univega was restored to glory.
There’s the edge of the water at Clear Lake. I’ve never seen water so pristine. I bet I could drink straight from the lake. Ducks do it. I almost hit one fowl in my way. Move mallard. Already, I’ve narrowly avoided about 10 chipmunks, and a large rabbit too. I’ve seen squirrels try to take on bikes before. They ended up in the spokes without a head. That would ruin my day. I need a bell on this bike of mine to signal wildlife.
Now comes the hard part. Negotiating lava rock fields on two wheels. But I’ve been here before. Only I came from the opposite direction last time. I’m going to have to push it up this long hill. It feels great to get off my butt, and work other muscle groups. I like my new bicycle handle bar ends. Now I have more hand positions, and can really pull myself up steep inclines.
I’m flying. Let’s not forget our 5 D’s of mountain biking: dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge! Corner! Hard left. Leaning into it, and looking where I want to go. Holy guacamole. I almost sailed into the lake. The canoers would have liked to see that. I’d rather not be fishing. This is what I came to do.
Bump. My nuts. Watch the nuts. You’re going to need those. Oh God, I have to split between a root, and a rock going fast. No room for error. Arrghhh. Made it. But that took all of my upper body strength. I haven’t screamed that loud since…oh, let’s keep it PG. I’m dumping sweat. This is my hell workout. Put it all on the line. Gasp. Exhale. Breath. Sigh. Focused. A few more miles of rocky road, and then a less technical section to savor. The McKenzie River Recreational Trail is damn tough. No wonder it’s one of the World’s most celebrated biking areas. I can do this. Finish strong. I’m the man. BEAST MODE!
Survival Bros followers know I’ve been on the road all summer in my 1986 Volkswagen Vanagon GL. It’s ran strong for months straight. I will do a big summer review blog soon, but here’s a van update shot recently on my travels around the Pacific Northwest. Scope out the rest area known as Dismal Nitch. This Washington State Park is a historic location, because The Lewis and Clark Expedition ran into trouble here, and were pinned against the rocks for six grueling days. Harsh winds, and brutal rain pounded The Corps. of Discovery along the mighty Columbia River over 200 years ago.
My overnight stay was much more pleasurable. I was sheltered in my VW bus, protected from the elements. I took advantage of the facilities by dumping my trash, washing my hands and teeth, and cooking on a covered picnic table in grass. Dismal Nitch in WA also features a trail, informative maps, plus plaques about Lewis and Clark. As mentioned in my HD video, you can stay parked for up to 8 hours, but overnight camping, and tenting are not allowed. So keep a low profile, and pick up after yourself. This is an excellent destination for car campers, and travelers on a budget, or just wanting to get away from the static of the city.
I’ve spent the night in my vehicle here maybe six times this summer, and each trip has been a positive experience, and memorable. So it’s Survival Bros tested, and approved. Visit, because it’s probably the only rest area you’ll ever want to take a picture at. Snap a selfie, and post it on Facebook, because I also got great cell phone reception out there. The view of Astoria, and the bountiful river is astonishing, and extremely relaxing. The only cons are lots of lighting in the parking lot, possibly affecting sleepers negatively. The road noise is also noticeable, but luckily the highway is not heavily used. Thanks for supporting my blog! Feel free to comment, like, and share on social networks. Peace and love from the road less traveled.
Lewis and Clark Bronze Sculpture at Dismal Nitch Park in Washington State
Certified yoga instructor Sarah Whisler guides you through an easy warm up, workout, and cool down in this HD video production. We filmed our “flow” in Seaside, Oregon. Our hope is that you use this video, and create more joy and peace in your life daily. Stay tuned to Survival Bros, because we will be creating even better instructional routines soon. Make yoga a part of your practice, and glow in all the benefits. If you like the video, please share this workout with a friend. Positive comments are also welcome. Thanks!http://soulsearchersarahgirl.wordpress.com/
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Sarah shows you how it’s done on her yoga mat near the beach in Seaside, Oregon.
Mocha beat after hiking to the Saddle Mountain Summit in Oregon 
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 