Camping with German EPA ll (And more goodies from you guys!)

Reviews of rations from abroad - British ration packs, EPA, IMP, RCIR, etc.
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steve1989
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Camping with German EPA ll (And more goodies from you guys!)

Post by steve1989 » Fri Feb 19, 2016 5:16 am

Hey there, everyone! Up late again, and I am having a hard time watching a movie I can't focus all I can think about is Rations. So naturally before doing a shoot on a Food packet ST-3, I jumped on MREinfo and decided to share my camping trip from this past weekend. I went cushy and low stress at the site I can just drive into - it's luxury.. I get a water pump and even had phone reception at some spots. Nothing like camping to recharge the batteries.

I got a German EPA from Lechistanduke off ebay. And also, Norge hooked me up with a nice Black Currant toddy drink mix and Canadian cold cappuccino - parafireboy sent me a Dutch pate', Mushroom soup (Dutch), 1971 B-2 Unit (Crackers & Cocoa), Dutch Chili Paste, and other goodies I shared at a party a couple weeks before. Norton sent me out the FSR Sweet & Sour Chicken Sandwich and the awesome 1954 Belgian (Am I correct? I forget now help me out on that one my apologies) pack cover I used for like a half dozen applications already. Also, Norton hooked me up with my mess kit, that little white cup (Swedish? I forget now! :oops: ) - AND the British DPM Camo Jacket!
Elandil provided the multi function utensil - that thing is awesome, a go-to now for camping. All in one fork, spoon, knife, corkscrew, and bottle opener.
I provided the MCW Western Eggs, Chocolate Covered Cookie, and 65 year old cigarettes (Chesterfields - I did a review on YT that now has about 412,000 views and was shared by folks like Harry Dead Stanton) - I also had Polish SRG 24 HR 100 gram bar of Dark Chocolate, and Polish Raspberry Tea.


OK - here are the pictures. Everything was fresh - even the B-2 Unit items from parafireboy! The can is now in my collection it was opened from the bottom.

Gonna start from the beginning of the lazy camping trip with some US and some foreign Ration snacks. THEN we go to the German EPA which was on the 2nd day. And at the end, we have breakfast before heading home on day 3.
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steve1989
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Re: Camping with German EPA ll (And more goodies from you guys!)

Post by steve1989 » Fri Feb 19, 2016 5:24 am

Continued.

You know, there's nothing like camping with Rations and sleeping under the stars. I had an inflatable bed - sittin' pretty next to the fire.
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Norge's black currant toddy - it's like fruit soup from a RCW but without the pectin powder! Amazing!!
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45 year old hot cocoa and 45 year old coffee - still fresh - perfect vintage
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Army mocha! I love this combo.
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Parafireboy's mushroom soup was great in the cold windy weather.
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Rasberry tea was tangy and sweet. Polisg SRG's are amazing.
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Polish SRG Pork Neck from Lechistanduke - it was savory and the meat was very tender. Sauerkraut was a nice balance of acidity and the veggies added bulk. Not bad!

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Re: Camping with German EPA ll (And more goodies from you guys!)

Post by steve1989 » Fri Feb 19, 2016 5:30 am

Trip continued and EPA coming up here.
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Polish SRG Crispbread, chocolate, Pork Neck and finished with a perfectly preserved and aged 65 year old Chesterfield.
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Housil re-enactment! Hahaha!
He's one of my heroes - so it only makes sense! ;)

It was foggy and about 7:15 am
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steve1989
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Re: Camping with German EPA ll (And more goodies from you guys!)

Post by steve1989 » Fri Feb 19, 2016 5:35 am

This EPA ll was the freshest I've had yet and the 3rd one I had to date. I had two in 2014 that I had gotten from rebraunjr (I hope you are doing well rebraunjr I miss ya man).

Here is a continuation of the unboxing. Then we do breakfast, lunch, then dinner.
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Re: Camping with German EPA ll (And more goodies from you guys!)

Post by steve1989 » Fri Feb 19, 2016 5:44 am

Ok, breakfast was beautiful - I had it around 7:30-7:45 am - apricot spread and tea with the bread. Bierwurst and grapefruit drink.
Had exotic with lunch

Housil shared some Grapefruit and Exotic drink with me from his stash - it had no aspartame and this was one all natural too. Just like the ones Housil gave me.
Bierwurst is one of my favorites. It's mild, smooth, and almost buttery! I love that stuff.
The canned bread is satisfying and filling. I love the rye flavor - and I just eat it with the spoon and follow up with the shelf stable butter and apricot jam. That butter is great, I never knew something could taste so natural and not strange for not needing refrigeration like it normally would.
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Re: Camping with German EPA ll (And more goodies from you guys!)

Post by steve1989 » Fri Feb 19, 2016 5:59 am

Ok lunch coming up - also part of dinner.
The rest of dinner and then breakfast before heading home on next post.
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Lunch! Also had the beef stew with it.
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The fruit salad is one of the best - not too sweet, syrup is thick and the fruit soft and easy to eat. I love this stuff!
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Mild, satisfying, well balanced pate'. Smooth and satisfying on hartkeks or just by the spoonful.
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Sweet - lightly tangy. Great with hartkeks!
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Exotic drink tastes like pineapple and sweet. I love this stuff - I could drink it every day. Makes me think of my trip in Key West last year and is a direct memory link. It's a true morale boost.
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Almost forgot to take a picture of this Beef Stew! It was so good I almost didn't photograph it. Savory, real beef chunks, tasted better than US MRE Beef Stew. I loved it! I had this for lunch and it was a treat.

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Re: Camping with German EPA ll (And more goodies from you guys!)

Post by steve1989 » Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:11 am

Dinner (Coffee by the way has to be some of the best - it's like a higher quality fresher version of coffee instant type 1) - this was one of the best Rations I've ever had. And I was dressed the part with the Flecktarn. I was alone in peace out there - not a soul to cross paths. Just me, and the good food and my quelling thoughts.

Breakfast was nice - 1999 MRE crackers and Jam. 2005 Western Eggs and Ham MCW entree - 1997 British ORP 24hr Whitened Tea. Fantastic!
Datrex bars were nice on the drive home. Nibble slowly! Coconut and soft texture. I listened to some Peter Gabriel on the way home. Always good for reflecting on all the forks in the road.


Thanks again guys - you are my main inspiration.

I am sorry for not posting more like I used to - after I get 200 Youtube videos up this year (My ultimate goal), I will be back here to share my classic photo reviews again on the regular.


I had fun sharing this - and it is always such a meditative process posting these and I hope my descriptions weren't too vague. It is late again - and I should probably get to sleep actually. Tomorrow is another day.


Thanks so much everyone - much respect as always.


Your pal,

-Steve



p.s. I have some letters to catch up to - my apologies for late replies.
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EPA Chocolate and grapefruit. (Or was this exotic? I forget now)
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Added the salt - this was a savory meal and forgot to take pictures of the little beef chunks buried under the rice. They were like mini burger things. It was an excellent dish!
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Under the stars with my old ragged Rav4 ready to rock & roll. Sitting pretty!
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Sleeping with Bert the Nine. Camels for the full effect. Comforts by the fire.
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Re: Camping with German EPA ll (And more goodies from you guys!)

Post by Ruleryak » Fri Feb 19, 2016 3:08 pm

Another fantastic submission from good ol' steve1989. Camping in February eh? Last time I did that it was -33F and my friends and I were fairly close to freezing to death. It was a great time, and if I recall correctly I think I did have an MRE while I was out there.

Is Bert a Beretta M9 or something else? Really like the color scheme on it (him?)

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Re: Camping with German EPA ll (And more goodies from you guys!)

Post by parafireboy » Fri Feb 19, 2016 3:28 pm

Great review and photos Steve! It looks like it was a great outing with some great grub! :D

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Re: Camping with German EPA ll (And more goodies from you guys!)

Post by elandil » Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:00 pm

Glad the set came in handy. Now you see why i was unhappy I'd forgot mine in the spanish vid. ;)

That MCW breakfast looked good. Of course, so did everything else...lol. Great review. And do tell us more about Bert. :)

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