28 years ago,I was given these as a gift from someone who had been a sailor on the Great Lakes, while we were working together in the auto industry. He was also a pipe smoker, but had moved on from these to Nordings and Ben Wades. When he gave them to me, he gave me the excuse that they were taking up Valueable Pipe Rack space, and that I should have them restemmed cause a good seasoned pipe should always find a home in someones care. The original stems were pretty ratty and pretty much chewed down to nubs. He called it wave bite. LOL Over the years these pipes have moved with me to several different locales, but have always managed to find a spot in my rack, ratty stems and all. I have always kept them as is, since he has been long gone, and I kinda looked at them more in a nostalgic light. So last month, at the better half's request, I sent them out to Paul's Pipe Shop here in Michigan and they did a beautiful job of replacing the stems and bringing new life to them. I haven't yet smoked them, as that will come this week when I make my annual pilgrimage to Engineers Day at the Soo locks ( I also have FCD; Freighter Chasing Disorder, or as my kids say, I am a Boatnerd.) I will sit and find a quite little place at the Locks Park or maybe head out to a couple of favorite beaches on Lake Superior and take in a bowl and remember my friend, imagine where these bowls have voyaged across the Lakes and what they have "seen", and hopefully take in a nice sunset.
