The first time I ever smoked was January 22, 2022 and have been loving it every since. After making the drive to The Country Squire for their 500th episode event where I met other pipe smokers for the first time, the pipe community went from something on a screen to a very real and friendly group of people who I'd like to join and be a part of.
I'm still exploring tastes and am open to trying any and every blend. On the pipe front, my collection is mainly straight pipes but I want to get a bent one. I love the bent pipe that's currently in my collection however it's the first pipe I ever smoked on top of belonging to my fiancee's late uncle (I feel more like it's current caretaker than owner) and I dare not take it out and about. The collection consists of 4 briars, 3 cobs, a clay, a pearwood and a mystery wood pipe that my fiancee's mom got for me while in Cuba. One of the briars is a straight pot with a faux p-lip and two draft holes that run through to a single air hole in the stem.
Whether it's celebrating IPSD in knee deep snow mid-storm or enjoying a peaceful evening on the deck, I love learning about this wonderful art every way I can.
The biggest thing I've learned from pipe smoking is that if someone is a pipe smoker, that tells you plenty about the person. This is a practice that filters people for you.
Will I end up discovering that I can only smoke 20 year old esoterica through exclusively Ivarssons? Probably not. Am I going to dedicate my life to smoking Captain Black from a single cob that's held together with baling wire and prayers? Also probably not. Am I going to enjoy finding my place between those two extremes? Absolutely.
Welcome from Texas!Long time pipe smoker here. Been lurking the site for a while and finally decided to join.
Thank you and I agree, it was a long trip but without a doubt a worthy 18-ish hours of driving. If you ever get a chance to go, I can't recommend the shop highly enough.Welcome from Central Oregon.
You made quite the trek to Mississippi.
Is it safe to assume that you have visited during Oktoberfest?I have family in Kitchener so I visit your part of the world every few years.
Welcome from California
Howdy to you too neighbour! I'm pleased to know that I'm not too far away from a fellow pipe smoker and am amazed at what I've learned and accomplished within my one year-ish of pipe smoking; I'm sure you'll find the same. Voracious podcast listening of Country Squire Radio, Pipes Magazine Radio Show and Pipe & Tamper has helped immensely with gaining knowledge but I've found that the best learning has been done between me and my pipe.Howdy neighbor! I'm in Toronto and started my journey almost exactly one year and one month after you did! I am really curious to see where I will be at one year from now...
Thanks for the reminder! I'm not huge on podcasts but I am gradually listening to more and more, so these are now on my subscription list!Howdy to you too neighbour! I'm pleased to know that I'm not too far away from a fellow pipe smoker and am amazed at what I've learned and accomplished within my one year-ish of pipe smoking; I'm sure you'll find the same. Voracious podcast listening of Country Squire Radio, Pipes Magazine Radio Show and Pipe & Tamper has helped immensely with gaining knowledge but I've found that the best learning has been done between me and my pipe.
AbsolutelyIs it safe to assume that you have visited during Oktoberfest?
Indeed! Not for the tapping of the Keg, but I've gone to different venues including Concordia and the main street as well. It's a lot of fun but the beer is nowhere near as good as from the craft breweries themselves (Waterloo is huge now).Absolutely
It's been a few years, but I attended the tapping of the keg at the Kitchener city hall by Bricks brewery (now Waterloo brewing co) and drank quite a bit at a place called "Concordia".
I also bought a cuban cigar downtown at a tobacco shop called the Walper. I don't think it stopped raining once that whole weekend, lol. But I had a lot of fun.
Have you been to Oktoberfest in KW?