And so it begins... (large image)

[phred]

I've really enjoyed the Bjarne Viking Classic that I picked up as my first pipe:

(Pic taken with my iPhone, lit by a cheap IKEA desk lamp)
So while doing "research", PAD seems to have kicked in - I've got a Viking Classic Churchwarden on order from PipesandCigars.com. Should arrive just in time to start breaking in while I watch the sun come up on Solstice morning... ::

 

[captainprophesy]

Very pretty... how does she smoke?

 

[phred]

So far, so good. My first attempt at smoking was remarkably successful, with minimal tongue bite, only a hint of gurgling toward the end, and only one relight.
The second bowl was quite relaxing, though I think I went lighter on tamping than I needed to - had to relight a couple of times over the course of 30 minutes.
Been fighting off a cold all weekend, so may not get a chance to try a third bowl until the new pipe arrives... :D

 

[austinxpipe]

Welcome! This is an awesome hobby.

and only one relight.

One thing to know, and I think at least a few will agree, is don't equate number of relights to poor pipe smoking. Sometimes they just go out!
Use is as a time to reset your palette, grab something across the room you didn't want to get up for, or fix a cup of tea. If you're too concerned over the 'how' you will miss the 'what'

 

[fitzy]

Welcome Phred. I think you'll find pipe smoking/collecting to be a fantastic hobby. You have PAD now just wait until TAD kicks in too. I went from having a couple blends in my basement to having 25 in about 2 weeks. lol
Good luck with that beautiful pipe you have there.

 

[gnatjulio]

Welcome phred, very nice pipe there. What kind of tobacco are you smoking out of it?

I agree with austinxpipe, don't worry about the relights.

 

[phred]

Thanks, all!
So far, I've just got a sample bag of Victorian Standard (B&M house blend, described as a Virginia/Cavendish aromatic blend). It's quite nice. Next on my list is one they call Jamaican Rum - we're doing a Steampunk Caribbean Cruise next March, and I figure I'll bring some of that along for the Brandy and Cigars gatherings...
I'm not particularly worried about relights - especially since I'm only smoking outdoors. I figure they'll happen - I was mostly just surprised that I wasn't constantly relighting the first time out!

 

[cigrmaster]

That is a very nice looking pipe, congrats.

 

[gwtwdbss]

Very nice! Welcome aboard!

 

[phred]

And here's pipe #2 - a Bjarne Viking Classic churchwarden:

It's a little smaller than I expected - the bowl's about 1/2 - 2/3 the size of the sitter. And it smokes a little wetter, it seems - or maybe I just drool more when I'm smoking the Jamaican Rum blend... :D

 

[irishsmoker]

Nice pipes lad!

 

[baronsamedi]

Lots of good smokes in store!

 

[numbersix]

Very handsome pipes - congrats!

 

[zonomo]

i am a photographer. How dd you get pipe #1 to stand up that way? or was it photoshopped? Quite a nice pic.

 

[foggymountain]

How is that first pipe standing? Regarding relights, mentioned above, it seems that the pipe is more bitter when relighted. I am not sure if this is right, but I suspect that the moisture settles down and drips into the tobacco that is left. Does someone know about this?

 

[foggymountain]

How is that first pipe standing? Regarding relights, mentioned above, it seems that the pipe is more bitter when relighted. I am not sure if this is right, but I suspect that the moisture settles down and drips into the tobacco that is left. Does someone know about this?

 

[simnettpratt]

I'm with zonomo; I also thought that first pic was cool, I liked the spotlight effect you got. Both classy looking pipes!

 

[phred]

The first pipe is a sitter - it's flat on the bottom, and that particular sitter was the only one the B&M had that sat properly while empty.
The spotlight effect is a function of the desk lamp, which is a cheap IKEA LED gooseneck. Glad you all liked it!

 

[nsfisher]

Nice pipes mate, good way to start, enjoy

 

[john218]

Nice pipes. Your first pipes are a lot nicer than what most of started with.
Here's to many years of enjoyable smokes out of them.