AROUND THE WORLD WITH A KELLY KETTLE:
I have been travelling around with a kayak and a Kelly Kettle through India and Chile over the last several months, and it has proven to be one of the most well used bits of kit on the whole trip.
Usually one for travelling as small and light as possible (aside from a 20kg kayak), it was a bit of a departure from the usual, but from previous experiences in India where petrol stoves work once, then never again, something a bit less complex seemed like a good idea. Spending most of the time living out of the back of a small kayak, space is in short supply, but not having to take petrol was a nice change, and things to burn are never in short supply.
In a country where tea, rice, lentils, and noodles are the main foods on the expedition menu, being able to boil water quickly and easily is all that was needed to feed a whole group, and the little hobo stove addition makes frying a couple of onions an easy addition. We have previously managed using the Nepalese technique with 3 rocks and little sticks, but the Kettle makes this so much more efficient and easy when conditions are bad.
A kayak isn't what it was designed to fit into, but the 1.2 liter (Scout) model fits well in the back of mine, so if you've got a car, then there's no reason not to have one in the back when you're camping.
After a few months of use in India being bashed around in the back of a kayak on class 5 whitewater it was a little mis-shapen and well coated with tar, but was still working as good as new so I flew it (and my kayak) to the other side of the world to Chile for another few months of whitewater kayaking.
South Americans love their Mate Tea, which requires constant topping up with hot water, and the Kelly Kettle once again was used almost constantly every day. The simple design is almost a meditative experience, sticks go in the top, and then tea happens. Repeat ad nauseum.
Down in Patagonia, the weather doesn't always play nicely and having no other method to cook with than fire, it was a blessing to be able to easily make a fire with damp wood and strong wind. The little pan stand for in the top of the kettle I never found myself needing to use, but the hobo stove was used daily, and the little grill is ideal for a couple of sausages or BBQing an orange. Having a pan set that fits in the kettle along with everything else means one little bag is all that's needed to cook and keep people happy with a constant supply of water for tea and coffee on a lazy morning.
Lee Royle, U.K.
Adventure Kayaker
Lee Royle, U.K. Adventure Kayaker
