Tomorrow morning I am off to Daytona Beach, Florida for a week of Jeeps, cold beers, good friends, and…well…not the best vegan scene, but it’s pretty decent.
I will be providing updates on the blog each day, so keep posted right here!
Ciao!
Yearly Archives: 2014
Product Review: Jeep’s Badge of Honor Program
UPDATE 3/25/2015: Jeep has been in contact with me (per the comments) regarding changes and fixes they have been making on this program. I downloaded the new version from Google Play this week, and so far the app looks like a total redesign and it seems nice. Time will tell when I attempt trail logins and other activities on the site, if I decide to give this another shot (I did notice my previous achievements are still missing in the big browser version). Check back here and I will update my review!
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I suppose by the featured image you can guess what I think about Jeep’s “Badge of Honor” program.
In principle, it’s brilliant. The program has Jeep owners create a profile (linked to their Jeep’s VIN) and perform certain tasks to rank up among fellow Jeep owners.
If you upload a photo from the trail you get 15 points, you can give a virtual Jeep wave for 5, or comment on a thread for 5 points. You also get 10 points for each day you log into the system. But the real points come rolling in when you check in at a trail for some Jeeping with a whopping 200 points per check in. Continue reading Product Review: Jeep’s Badge of Honor Program
![Restaurant Review: Root [Boston]](https://offroadvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/20140409_192524.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
Restaurant Review: Root [Boston]
There is a little village outside Boston (right off the Pike) that should be on all vegans’ travel plans – Allston. Similar to Portland’s vegan mini mall, there is a corner at a major intersection with a vegan chinese food restaurant, vegan ice cream shop, and the newest member – Root.
Root occupies the space that used to feature Peace O’ Pie, one of my staple vegan establishments in Boston. But they occupy it well, offering something new to the scene.
The menu, while relatively limited to six “big bites” options, is diverse and a great reflection of the spirit of Root. Continue reading Restaurant Review: Root [Boston]
Why am I Vegan? Part 1: The Animals.
Food is a weird thing.
When you really boil it down (no pun intended), the point of food is to act as nourishment for our bodies. Somewhere along the line, the importance of food changed into more of a social and even ideological undertaking. What a luxury.
I consider the ability to be vegan a highly privileged option. A lot of people in this World barely have enough to eat, and yet vegans can determine what they want to eat on an ideological level. Let me say that again.
We actually have the luxury of turning down certain foods because we don’t agree with how it was raised/what it is/where it comes from/how it is cooked/etc.
So I make this choice with a great deal of appreciation for the circumstances in my life that let me make these decisions. Continue reading Why am I Vegan? Part 1: The Animals.
Video: Labor Day Jeep Expedition to Manastash Ridge [Washington]
I was going through some older videos and wanted to share this one. Manastash is an amazing area, at least when it is not on fire.
Be sure to watch in HD!
![Trail Report: Cline Butte Trail #34 [Oregon]](https://offroadvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/feat2.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
Trail Report: Cline Butte Trail #34 [Oregon]
It is not every day you get to pull into an Off Road Vehicle area for the first time. But this morning, we did just that as we decided to visit the Cline Buttes Recreation Area, sandwiched between Redmond and Sisters, Oregon on Rt. 126.
Central Oregon’s drier weather is a welcome change to the recent rain we have been having, and the sandy surfaces of Cline Butte was a nice contrast to the mud at Tillamook State Forest.
Cline Butte was a VERY well organized, and well signed area with plenty of amenities. Forest Management at TSF could learn a thing or two about how to properly run (and sign, and map, etc) an ORV area. We did not get lost once, due in large part to the awesome maps and very well signed network of trails.
After airing down, Jesse, Chris, Melanie and I chatted at Barr North staging area to decide what areas to hit. We warmed up in the open play area (which ended up a giant dump pit full of spent shells, glass, burned wood, etc) and quickly left, making our way to trail 34 – the most difficult trail in the park.
We decided to warm up on a couple of ledges on the outer rim of the open play area. With Chris’ expert spotting, both Jesse and I made it up some of the more technical spots.
Then we moved onto trail #34.
The nice part about this trail is that the difficulty seems to progress as you get further into the trail. The beginning sections are a bit boring, but soon you are encountering more ledges, loose rocks, and challenging terrain.
The sun came out and we broke for lunch about half way into the trail. Lunch was Tofurky sandwiches, Earth Balance popcorn and gatorades.
After our break, the wheeling became really rocky. Many obstacles had multiple options and bypasses.
Toward the end of the trail is a large ledge on the right side of the trail. There is an obvious route up the ledge between two harder options (the easy option is the one with the small pine tree in the center).
If we had more time, I would have attempted the more difficult option on this ledge, to the right of the option pictured above. To the left of above is the most (triple black IMO) difficult option which is probably not doable by very many Jeeps.
About a half mile after the ledge above, we met up with trail #37 which took us straight to the parking area to air up and cruise out.
Overall, Cline Butte was a great change of scenery from TSF. We were not really challenged to the max, but there were some spots that tested our skills. Unfortunately, this was the toughest trail here, so next time will be the same, or some of the simpler trails.
It looks like camping is permitted in the staging area.
![Restaurant Review: Sweetpea Baking Co. [Portland]](https://offroadvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/feat.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
Restaurant Review: Sweetpea Baking Co. [Portland]
Believe it or not, we have so many vegan establishments in Portland that it is still a possibility to explore new ones. And this is exactly what happened to me recently when visiting Sweetpea Baking Company in SE Portland.
I had been there before, but usually only to pick up a special order cake, or for a coffee emergency.
But today I visited with the intention of actually exploring the place – starting with one of their ginormous cinnamon buns. And what a place to start! Continue reading Restaurant Review: Sweetpea Baking Co. [Portland]
![Trail Report: Cedar Tree [Oregon]](https://offroadvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2014-03-29-13-18-53.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
Trail Report: Cedar Tree [Oregon]
Of all the trails sprawled throughout Tillamook State Forest, Cedar Tree is one of my favorites. No, it is not as technical or advanced as Firebreak Five, or as perilous as Airplane Hill or Can Opener. But for a scenic trail that winds through beautiful forest with just enough challenge to keep you guessing, it is the best.
As with most Jeeping trips, our day began relatively early, meeting up with our buddy Rob at the North Plains Chevron station. I swear these small businesses survive on the dollars brought in from all these pre-TSF offroad trips. Continue reading Trail Report: Cedar Tree [Oregon]
BREAKING NEWS – Japan’s Whaling Program Deemed Illegal by High Court
As some of you may know, I am a HUGE Sea Shepherd fan. I have been a donating member of them since forever, and even had the pleasure to chat with Paul Watson when I was working for the Alaska Wildlife Alliance.
They are not perfect in their execution, but they are in their mission: They are one of a very small number of activist groups that ACTUALLY get involved in the cause. They literally put their lives on the line.
Every year, they head to the Southern Ocean to protect endangered whale species from Japan’s whaling program. While Japan uses a loophole (for research) they process and sell the whale meat back home to a rapidly dwindling customer base.
This ruling from the UN’s International Court of Justice is hopefully the final blow in the battle over whaling in the Southern Ocean.
The release from Sea Shepherd is here.
Product Review: Trasharoo
One of my BIGGEST pet peeves of people in the offroad community is the laziness. Note that this is also a very small minority of us, but it does happen. These people toss out beer cans, napkins, and all kinds of trash in the woods.
And, I want to pick it up when I see it. But there is honestly nothing nastier than someone’s lunch bag or old stinky, sticky beer can from weeks ago being placed into your Jeep.
Enter the Trasharoo.
The Trasharoo is a large, durable, canvas bag that is designed to be slung over the rear OUTSIDE tire on the back of the Jeep. Emphasis on “outside” as now all the stinky, nasty trash can be kept out of the cabin. Continue reading Product Review: Trasharoo
Off-road Vegan 