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I originally came up with the idea of a portable camping box while working as a mule packer and guide for hunters and tourists in the Cascade Wilderness of North Western America. I’d lead a string of up to 9 mules carrying supplies and equipment wrapped in canvas ‘mannies’. We’d also carry a set of storage box/kitchens specially made for loading and carrying on a mule. (see TRIP TO AMERICA under trips page) I adopted the idea of a compact box and incorporated a gas stove and fold out shelves to create the original DRIFTA Camping Kitchen.
But it was on a trip round Australia with my brothers Ben and Dutchy that I first started thinking about some sort of travelling kitchen. We travelled round Australia in my old XD panelvan. (see ROUND AUSTRALIA WITH BEN AND DUTCHY under trips page) For over a month and three meals a day we’d have to pull just about everything out of the XD to prepare a meal on the ground. You can see our camp in the photo underneath. It was pretty unorganised. We didn’t even have a table to prepare our food on. I was often thinking ‘there’s gotta be a better way’.