The Point That Turns You.

[blueeyedogre]

Ok, so I came back to pipe smoking a few months ago in an effort to move away from smoking cigarettes. Got a few new pipes (Petersons, Savinelli, Stanwell, a few others), tried a few different tobaccos (McClelland, MacBarren, Lane Limited, 4noggins) some I liked, some I didn't. On a whole I was enjoying myself and enjoying the experience.

Then came yesterday...... I had stopped in at my local shop to pick up a tin of Erinmore Flake (which they were sold out of) and me and the owner Jeff start talking pipes. I spy a few Brighams and comment on how they aren't made in Canada anymore, Jeff immediately snaps up the phone and calls Brigham to confirm this which Brigham does. We both agree its to bad as they had a great Canadian pipe history, then Jeff asks if I am still on a black rusticated kick which I answer yes. From under the counter he produces a Brigham Chinook 426 black sandblasted and immediately my PAD kicks into overdrive. He knock 20% off and I'm sold. I take the pipe outside, load it with some 1Q for the drive back to work and then it happens.........

I'm half way to work and I realize I have never had a smoke taste this good. Ever.

Draw was perfect, smoked cool, flavorful, good smoke...... everything I had heard other talk about but never experienced myself. Up until that point I had enjoyed smoking a pipe, it was fun, cut back on cigs, and reminded me of my Grandda, but that was it. Since that smoke yesterday I have smoked 3 more bowls, had not a single cigarette, and enjoyed it as more then just "smoking a pipe".

That bowl yesterday turned my piping from hobby to passion..... and for all of you that I doubted or misunderstood I apologize.... I get it now!!!!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Congratulations, I catch that off and on with my favorite pipes, and that is the reason they are my favorites. I'll take off and on, as I suppose if every bowl was extacy, we'd have to keep reaching higher for a greater extacy.

Congrats, and congrats on the new pipe too!

 

[kashmir]

Congrats on seeing the light.

It only gets better from here on out.

 

[brdavidson]

Blue that is my absolute favourite pipe in my collection. I've had it for about 6 months and there is nothing that doesn't smoke well in it. I absolutely love that pipe. Congrats.

 

[petes03]

Congrats on that singular moment!

 

[irish]

I experinced the same thing a long time ago. I smoked a pipe and smoked a pipe trying to understand the mystery of it all , I enjoyed it but didn't get it, then one day it happened ! Just like you described and I have been hooked ever since, not just on pipe smoking but every aspect of it. Congrats on the new pipe and as comsic said congrats on the extacy of the experience. :puffpipe:

 

[pruss]

Congrats ogre. Those chinooks are lovely pipes. Many of the guys here, and in our pipe club, swear by them. I haven't had the chance to smoke one yet, but I'm not surprised it's making you happy. Do take some time to try it with and without the rock maple filters.
Well done.
-- Pat

 

[cortezattic]

Cosmic moment, huh. :wink:

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Congrats I've had a few of those "wow" moments now, in the little under a year I've been smoking a pipe. It's that moment when you taste all the flavors of the tobacco, enjoy the aroma as the smokes rises out of the bowl, and slowly burn it down to the bottom of the bowl leaving nothing but ash. It's a beautiful thing.

 

[phred]

It's always nice when it all comes together...

 

[brdavidson]

Blue I would second what Pruss mentioned on the filter. I have found that certain blends do well with the filter and that others don't. For me I tend to get a lot of moisture out of Best Brown Flake, probably because I love the flavour so much I seem to keep puffing, and then for others I don't use the filter as it seems to take a little something away from the blend. I think it makes sense to try it both ways to figure out what you love best with it.

 

[smokeybear]

Great Job on stopping the cigs i only hope that i find the strength to do the same i need to push my pipe smoking more and drive myself to load a bowl instead of lighting a cig. Again im happy for you i know its no easy task to quit the stick.

 

[rigmedic1]

It is an awesome thing when pipe and tobacco and flame come together in perfect harmony. Cherish those moments my friend, and take notes! You don't wanna lose that recipe!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

+1 Smokeybear, I went three weeks smoking the heaviest dark flakes and other nicotine heavy blends to get away from the cig sticks. I even burned dry RYO, and my mouth, for a month. But, I have finally gotten to where I crave the nicotine coating my mouth and teeth more than a lung full or sinus full of nic. WTG Blue!

 

[fitzy]

Blue welcome to the pipe smoking club. Once you have you're first magical smoke you're hooked. It seems I tend to have those more magical moments when I'm distracted and not paying attention to the pipe. Just lightly sipping along.

 

[mso489]

The right guy, the right pipe, the right leaf -- ah, magic.

 

[numbersix]

Great post blueeye - thanks for sharing.

 

[cigrmaster]

Great to hear you have had your ah ha moment, now the fun really begins.

 

[mrjerke]

He's hooked. No going back from here!

 

[bryanf]

I'm also a former heavy cigarette smoker. Quit 6 years ago and switched to pipe. I smoke one every rare once in a while, but have never gone back to regular smoking. I've learned to much more enjoy the slow nicotine effect from a pipe, which satisfies for much longer, compared to when I was a cigarette addict and one cigarette only ever made me want another...which lasted for 19 years.
Don't get me wrong. I'm still addicted to nicotine and expect I always will be, but the pipe is much healthier as long as you don't inhale.
I remember my first moment. It was English Luxury and I smoked it for 4 years. Then it happened again with Condor. Then SWR with a cup of coffee with cream and sugar. Then St. James Flake very recently. Heck, happens quite often! I think I'm having one right now, sitting outside wrapped in a blanket with two dogs laying on me and a bowl of Irish Flake!