I have grown very fond of smoking pipes and rarely ever smoke a cigar anymore. If I do light a cigar, I usually end up wishing I had a pipe in my hand.
From time to time, we get to experience a truly magical smoke. Maybe it's the tobacco, the particular pipe, or just really nice outside. But when everything comes together at the same time, it is amazing. Today, I had a magical smoke when I least expected it.
I got in my truck for the drive home from work and since my wife had a meeting with Japan tonight, as she does once a week, I knew I could come home stinking like smoke and wouldn't bother anyone. The days she has the meeting, I always drive my truck because I know I will be smoking on the way home and the truck is my older beater vehicle.
When I got to my desk this morning, I pulled out two coins of Peter Stokkebye Luxury Bullseye Flake and cut them into cubes on a napkin to dry out a bit. I had a cup of coffee and checked the tobacco 20 minutes later. As @OneStrangeOne would say, it was just short of being crispy. I grabbed a fresh baggy and poured the cubes in, day dreaming of the end of my work day, when I would load them in a bowl and walk out to my truck to have my smoke.
Hours have passed, and at last, I was ready to leave. I loaded up my Castello Bulldog and gave her a few lights. I was about 20 minutes into my drive before I needed a tamp and a relight. This is a promising start! As I creeped home in traffic, I sipped my pipe and was delighted at how nice this bowl was treating me. Sweet, Tangy and a little bit of spice. So well balanced and every puff gets better and better.
An hour later, I parked in my driveway and walked down to the gate. I gently placed my pipe on the BBQ as I walked through the gate and was greeted by Walter and Lucy, my two cattle dog pups. Always so happy to have someone home, they jumped, did circles, nibbles and kisses. This is one of the reasons it's always nice to be home. Loving greetings from dogs who having been waiting all day to dish out the love. I walked in the house with the dogs and put the mail down. A few minutes in the house, I decided to make a fresh cup of coffee, so I could go back out to the deck and continue my pipe, now with a complementing beverage that pairs so well with a nice pipe. I found my favorite chair and got my little station setup with my coffee, a tamper and my trusty butane zippo pipe lighter.
A quick tamp and relight and she was off again, delivering that sweet and tangy smoke. The dogs chased each other and wrestled while I sat there and gave thanks for a peaceful and happy home. The tobacco just kept giving more and more satisfaction and relaxation. Their was no fuss, just an occasional tamp and a touch up light. Wow, this pipe is still going and I have had to make no adjustments at all. Just a natural rhythm of puffing and perfect smoking. I would sit there for another full hour, throwing the ball for the dogs, drinking my coffee and smoking this perfect pipe. It seems to defy physics with such a small bowl and a frugal amount of tobacco. She never went sour, asked for a stir, or even a pipe cleaner to clear any moisture.
This, for me, was my magical smoke!
I look forward to the day that my turn in the rotation comes back around for another experience like this.
Smoke well, brothers and sisters...
From time to time, we get to experience a truly magical smoke. Maybe it's the tobacco, the particular pipe, or just really nice outside. But when everything comes together at the same time, it is amazing. Today, I had a magical smoke when I least expected it.
I got in my truck for the drive home from work and since my wife had a meeting with Japan tonight, as she does once a week, I knew I could come home stinking like smoke and wouldn't bother anyone. The days she has the meeting, I always drive my truck because I know I will be smoking on the way home and the truck is my older beater vehicle.
When I got to my desk this morning, I pulled out two coins of Peter Stokkebye Luxury Bullseye Flake and cut them into cubes on a napkin to dry out a bit. I had a cup of coffee and checked the tobacco 20 minutes later. As @OneStrangeOne would say, it was just short of being crispy. I grabbed a fresh baggy and poured the cubes in, day dreaming of the end of my work day, when I would load them in a bowl and walk out to my truck to have my smoke.
Hours have passed, and at last, I was ready to leave. I loaded up my Castello Bulldog and gave her a few lights. I was about 20 minutes into my drive before I needed a tamp and a relight. This is a promising start! As I creeped home in traffic, I sipped my pipe and was delighted at how nice this bowl was treating me. Sweet, Tangy and a little bit of spice. So well balanced and every puff gets better and better.
An hour later, I parked in my driveway and walked down to the gate. I gently placed my pipe on the BBQ as I walked through the gate and was greeted by Walter and Lucy, my two cattle dog pups. Always so happy to have someone home, they jumped, did circles, nibbles and kisses. This is one of the reasons it's always nice to be home. Loving greetings from dogs who having been waiting all day to dish out the love. I walked in the house with the dogs and put the mail down. A few minutes in the house, I decided to make a fresh cup of coffee, so I could go back out to the deck and continue my pipe, now with a complementing beverage that pairs so well with a nice pipe. I found my favorite chair and got my little station setup with my coffee, a tamper and my trusty butane zippo pipe lighter.
A quick tamp and relight and she was off again, delivering that sweet and tangy smoke. The dogs chased each other and wrestled while I sat there and gave thanks for a peaceful and happy home. The tobacco just kept giving more and more satisfaction and relaxation. Their was no fuss, just an occasional tamp and a touch up light. Wow, this pipe is still going and I have had to make no adjustments at all. Just a natural rhythm of puffing and perfect smoking. I would sit there for another full hour, throwing the ball for the dogs, drinking my coffee and smoking this perfect pipe. It seems to defy physics with such a small bowl and a frugal amount of tobacco. She never went sour, asked for a stir, or even a pipe cleaner to clear any moisture.
This, for me, was my magical smoke!
I look forward to the day that my turn in the rotation comes back around for another experience like this.
Smoke well, brothers and sisters...