The Hard Way

This week we had to move online for our recording, but were had an amazing conversation with Tudor Caradoc-Davies, journalist, author, and editor of The Mission, South Africa's premiere fly-fishing magazine (and free in both print and digital editions). Also on the call was Andre van Wyk, proud beard owner, fly-fishing maniac, and owner of Lucky Bastards, a company that takes clients on incredible fishing experiences. We talk the joys of fly-fishing, running a fishing magazine in the middle of print's purported death throes, a couple of near-death experiences, sustainability in fishing, and how fly-fishing might be the right sport for you. (Check out our instagram for some great pictures) Also we played podcast bingo and got pretty sozzled.  It's a long one, so here are some time stamps if you want to skip ahead: 2:15 - Fly fishing, the golf of fishing 9:15 - The Mission, Tudor's amazing magazine 30:30 - Andre's near death fishing experience 38:00 - Knife check! 40:40 - Let's educate Jon about fly-fishing 51:05 - Tudor's near-death fishing experience 1:00:00 - 4x4 check! 1:08:05 - Want to know about sustainability? Ask a fisherman or a hunter 1:20:35 - The Why of Fishing 1:28:30 - Just The Tip! Be sure to check out The Mission if you want more amazing fishing stories: (https://themissionflymag.com/) And pop over to Andre's site, Lucky Bastards, if you want to LIVE an amazing fishing story (http://themluckybastards.com/)

There's nothing like a near-death experience to liven up a bachelor's party weekend.  In this episode, Tom, Albert, and Jeff tell us how they ended up in the middle of the Tankwa Karoo with one totalled Nissan X-trail and one mildly-dented G-Wagon. How they even found another car to crash into in the middle of a usually-deserted road, during level 3 COVID lockdown, is truly magical. 

This is part 2 of 5 in our 4x4 Adventure Series, recorded over a 6-hour drinking and pizza session at the Awehwolf Bar in the Just Like Papa store.   In this episode: Rob Crawford (@zungazi) casually tells us about how he and a fashion photographer got stuck in the middle of the Kalahari, somewhere in Botswana. This is a riveting story and a great lesson in survival mindset.  Rob refers to a book by Megan Hines, "Mind of the Survivor", and highly recommends it.  Our Q&A has launched! If you've got questions for Tom, go to www.speakpipe.com/thehardway and leave us a voice message. Tom will probably answer your question in a forthcoming episode, unless it's stupid or he doesn't want to. 🍻

This is part 3 of 5 in our 4x4 Adventure Series, recorded over a 6-hour drinking and pizza session at the Awehwolf Bar in the Just Like Papa store. In this episode: Giovanni Colle (@collegiovanni) is a hardcore overlander, and has taken on some crazy challenges like the Mongol Rally, an event for maniacs who want to cross 18 000km in a car with a 1000cc engine. Giovanni shares some hair-raising stories with us and makes a case for turning disaster into an opportunity for a memorable adventure.  Our Q&A has launched! If you've got questions for Tom, go to www.speakpipe.com/thehardway and leave us a voice message. Tom will probably answer your question in a forthcoming episode, unless it's stupid or he doesn't want to. 🍻

Welcome to Season 2 of The Hard Way!  After a brief break, we're back with new stories, new segments, and a powerful thirst for beer, whiskey, and pizza. This is part 1 of 5 in our 4x4 Adventure Series. By which we mean Misadventure Series. Who wants to hear stories about everything going right? In this episode: Davide Rossi (@ddaavviiddee) tells us about what it was like to almost flip his Defender backwards, and how he pulled it back from the brink.  Our Q&A has launched! If you've got questions for Tom, go to www.speakpipe.com/thehardway and leave us a voice message. Tom will probably answer your question in a forthcoming episode, unless it's stupid or he doesn't want to.  🍻

Straying off the unbeaten track for a moment, Thomas talks about entrepreneurship, building a company and a team, and the kind of gear he'd love to have more of in the shop. 

Take a seat at the bar and hear how Just Like Papa came to be. How Thomas travelled the world to source the best adventure and survival gear in the world (the title on his business card still says "sourcing"), and how the Just Like Papa store design was inspired by Ernest Hemingway's "Belly of the Beast". 

Welcome to Episode 1 of The Hard Way, a Just Like Papa podcast.  Recorded in the Awe Wolf Bar at the back of the Just Like Papa shop in Harrington Street, over some good old-fashioned Tafels, followed by Whiskey. Followed by Ubering home responsibly.  In this first episode, Thomas Ferreira, owner of Just Like Papa, takes you on a journey to the plains and edges of Patagonia. This is the story of how a hitchhiker, a broken tent, bottle of Johnny Walker Black, 100kph winds, tinned food, constant rain, and a lot more inspired the rise of Just Like Papa.

This is part 2 the story of Just Like Papa's 5-day fishing trip to Karoolskraal fishing camp near Witsand in the Western Cape. We were hosted by Andre van Wyk and Platon Trakoshis of Lucky Bastards. Fishing was tough for the whole week, but Jon's stood out as the most impressive loser of the trip, with not a bite over 5 days. Fortunately he had all the recording equipment, and plenty of time to post-rationalise some lessons out of the experience. Many thanks to the rest of the group, including PJ, Danny, Sergio (AKA What my Boyfriend wore), Ryan, Hentjie, and the support team at the camp, who made us amazing, mind-blowing food And of course, special thanks to Tom, the ringleader, party starter, and the electricity provider. He made it all possible. Feedback? Questions? Comment on our podcast trailers on Just Like Papa's Instagram, or leave us a voice message here. 

We're back, with a slightly different kind of episode. We went out and did fly fishing The Hard Way.  What is the hard way?  Fly fishing - tick Marine Estuary. -tick High winds - tick Disinterested fish - tick Ticks - tick tick tick deargodthey'realloverme This is the story of Just Like Papa's 5-day fishing trip to Karoolskraal fishing camp near Witsand in the Western Cape. We were hosted by Andre van Wyk and Platon Trakoshis of Lucky Bastards. Fishing was tough for the whole week, but Jon's stood out as the most impressive loser of the trip, with not a bite over 5 days. Fortunately he had all the recording equipment, and plenty of time to post-rationalise some lessons out of the experience.  Many thanks to the rest of the group, including PJ, Danny, Sergio (AKA What my Boyfriend wore), Ryan, Hentjie, and the support team at the camp, who made us amazing, mind-blowing food And of course, special thanks to Tom, the ringleader, party starter, and the electricity provider. He made it all possible.  

When's the last time you felt like part of a tribe? Part of a pack?  This is the third episode in our three-part series featuring Andrew Nel from Conscious Meat Merchants and Frankie Fenners Meat Merchants, as well as Alexander Scott from Wolf Moto. Whether it's hunting together, riding on the open road together, or gathering around a fire for some bourbon and burgers, In episode 3 we're talking about the connection to nature and each other that develops when you do things the hard way. 

Come for the motorbikes, stay for the stories of storms, locust swarms, and birdstrikes. This is the second episode in our three-part series featuring Andrew Nel from Conscious Meat Merchants and Frankie Fenners Meat Merchants, as well as Alexander Scott from Wolf Moto. In episode 2 we're talking about bikes. Alex's company, Wolf Moto, offers motorbike hire and guided tours that will take guest around the peninsula, through the winelands, and beyond. Alex tells us about adventure riding, how his clients are in awe of the quality and range of terrain and roads in South Africa, and tells us a few choice stories about doing things the hard way.  Jon learns what a Naked Sportbike is, and why you slow down for locusts on a bike, but speed up for them in a Land Cruiser. 

This is the first episode in our three-part series featuring Andrew Nel from Conscious Meat Merchants and Frankie Fenners Meat Merchants, as well as Alexander Scott from Wolf Moto. In episode 1 we're talking about meat. Do you know where yours comes from? How it was raised? How the animals were treated in their final hours? Andrew Nel unpacks his philosophy of conscious meat consumption - respecting the animal, using more than just the sirloin and fillet, and why he doesn't think that we should be eating meat every day.  Also, he gives us a few expert tips on lesser-known but delicious cuts, the perfect fat ratio in a burger, and how to cook Wagyu burgers. 

On Friday the 13th of July, 2012, Thomas headed out to the family farm with some friends and family for their traditional annual hunt. Unbeknownst to them, but knownst to us, there was a sh*tstorm of snow brewing in the Agtersneeuberg Nature Reserve. And four unlucky hunters got stuck in it. And yes, they were in a Land Rover Defender.  With half the team back at the farm planning a rescue through a gale-force blizzard, and those trapped in the car having completely run out of whiskey, things were looking dire. This is the story of how they got stuck, how it can snow INSIDE a Defender, and how they got out. Enjoy.  Since we've got you here, could we ask you a big favour? If you're listening on iTunes, could you pop over to The Hard Way and leave us a review?  We'd love to hear what you think of the show and if you've got any suggestions. Alternatively, drop us a voice note at www.speakpipe.com/thehardway Cheers.  

In the 5th and 6th hour of our epic "Defending the Defender" recording session, with curfew looming, the team rallied, poured a final few drinks, and pulled together their thoughts on the new Land Rover Defender, as well as some top 4x4ing tips for beginners and seasoned vets.  Timestamps for make glorious convenience: 0:15 - The New Defender's value proposition 4:20 - Is the new Defender still a Defender?  21:15 - The new Defender certainly has a smooth ride 26:15 - Just the Tip - Everyone gives their top 5 4x4ing tips, starting with Giovanni 30:15 - Rob's Tips 34:40 - Davide's Tips 39:25 - It all goes a bit off-road 39:38 - Tom's Tips

In Part 4 of our 5-part series, "Defending the Defender", Tom tells us about his 2000km (ok, 3000km, but shhh) test-journey with the new Land Rover Defender. Tom is not an influencer, and was not paid to take the Landy for a spin, they just gave him car and said "Have fun, don't break it."  1 out of 2 ain't bad... Here are some timestamps if you want to skip ahead.  4:45 - The Plan 5:20 - Setting out and first impressions 7:35 - Taking on the Elgin 4x4 track. Auto mode, performance, and double-condoms 12:40 - The bit where it all goes slightly wrong 14:22 - Is it designed for comfort or adventure?  14:55 - Tom REALLY hates scissor-jacks 16:35 - Land Rover gets worried 20:09 - So much conversation about tires 23:28 - Into the Swartberg Pass 28:30 - Fun on the farm 32:12 - Taking the defender here, there, and everywhere 34:24 - Hard or Soft-roader - Rob and Tom get geeky Be sure to join us for the 5th and final episode of Defending the Defender - a roundtable discussion about the new Defender, plus 5 top tips from everyone at the table who counts (not Jon or Albert).

We have questions. Thomas and Chris Vlok have answers. In this short episode of Just The Tip (no jokes please), they give us a few important pointers on crossing borders, making sure you have enough fuel, crossing rivers safely, driving in sandy terrain, getting a local SIM card, and more.  Don't forget that you can't join our bush mechanics course on 18 March 2021, because it's SOLD OUT. Look out for our next course, though. We've got lots of great experiences in the pipeline.

Special guest, Chris Vlok (McFly), calls in from Austria to help Thomas tell the story of their journey from Cape Town to the great Namib Desert.  They have a close call with customs at the border thanks to... let's just say 'contraband' (not theirs), use their G-Wagon's "Stealth Mode" and experience a moment of perfect driving Zen on an unmapped road in the middle of nowhere.  Right before it all goes wrong... As mentioned in the episode, don't forget to sign up for our Bush Mechanics Course in March. We'll teach you the essential knowledge and skills needed to look after your vehicle before, during, and after just about any trip.  Details: Date: Thursday 18 March Time: 17:30 for 18:00, end 21:30 Where: Just Like Papa, Harrington Street Ticket Price: R1050 Capacity: 15 Tickets Only.⁠ EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: The best bush mechanics course in the world. Your choice of a Teng Tools pocket-sized socket set OR an Olight I5T 300 Lumen Torch. Lesson on how to use it. Some Just Like Papa & Journeymen swag. A beer and a free fist pump. For more info, check the Just Like Papa website.

We jump back into the story in Argentina. Thomas's motorbike has arrived, he's eaten every empanada in the city, and it's time to ride.  Wounds from El Camino del Diablo has been licked and memory of attacking cactuses are fading as he sets off towards the southern tip of The world.  Unbeknownst to him (but knownst to the Show Notes),  he'll get caught in a snow storm, a hurricane-force pebble storm, and...well...a sh*tstorm that will send his epic road trip on a dramatic detour.  But the chance meetings, the spectacular vistas, the  beauty of the open road, and 4 days trapped on a ferry until he has something like a spiritual experience will make it all worth it.

A few years after his life-changing trip to Patagonia, Thomas decided to go back, this time on 2 wheels rather than in a Ford Fiesta.  In part 1, Thomas talks about his preparation for an epic journey across thousands of miles: Fine-tuning his bike and his own off-road skills A run-in with a cactus and several sand traps Eating more empanadas than is healthy while waiting for his bike to arrive in Buenos Aires Visiting some oddly-named towns in America like Baghdad, Arizona.