Last few days were very eventful. Made my first fishing trip in 3 years, I think . . . . maybe two. Time seems to be running it's own course these days - it's all a blur. I'll be covering this trip in Skippable Drivel below the smoke updates. which I find interesting, but many of you may not - you've been through this before, I'm still on a journey of discovery.
One smoke yesterday, and two this morning, involving the "new" undiscovered pipes in a drawer jam crammed with detritus:
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Smoking a cheap
Phillies Blunt as I type, this one a rather delightful
Strawberry flavour, he said as the cognoscenti gagged.
Smoking Aro-Codgers in both of these pipes. The MM Cob is gonna be a chomper - I don't usually do this, but am finding this pipe, and my mini versions very useful for when I do, which is usually at home or in the yard doing chores.
Three or four smokes so far in the
MM Cob, with either
Sir Walter Raleigh Aro, or
Borkum Riff Dark Cavendish. Good progress - no varnish inside of this one, so the break-in is smooth. These are both, to my taste, excellent tobaccos. I've raved about BR Dark Cav before, and my take on SWR Aro is just as positive. I'd note, however, that it is very different than SWR itself. Virginia based, it is less sweet than SWR but a bit fuller. Love 'em both.
As a further comment, I'd say that both SWR fodder share a family likeness, though, both being fairly light in nature. Similar to BR Dark Cavendish and other BF products - they share a family likeness in their rich fullness. I've become a fan of the tobaccos from both of these companies, and could be quite happy if limited to these tobaccos . . . still not able to discern subtle notes, but getting there. I'll put in a plug for our friends in Scandihoovia - they make great tobaccos and this Polish-English mongrel is amongst your biggest fans.
The break-in smokes with the
Mr. Brog #52 "Kaiser" is also going well. Using the same tobaccos as the cob, this one is showing a decided fondness for
Borkum Riff Dark, and
Borkum Riff Cherry Cavendish, both stellar tobaccos. BR Cherry Cavendish has always been my favourite cherry flavoured baccy, and I'll be putting this pipe in my travel kit as an aro codger tool, as it's counterpart is in my other travel kit as an English biased tobacco vehicle. Couldn't be happier with this - they're both great outdoor smokers. Nice easy draw, and quite wind resistant.
I'll update progress on the progress of these pipes, and a few other smokes I've had, next entry. . . . and now, it's . . .
Skippable Drivel time!
Went fishing for the first time in a couple of seasons. Previous seasons were filled with hunting. Had great success with my 5 weight Sage RPL and size 14 flies, much to my chagrin . . . . can't whine here. Was able to thread the flies and tie the tapered leaders well, much better than the #18 - 20 nymphs that was my usual recipe for trout in past years. Guys' realistically gotta do what a guy has gotta do.
I dressed well, and not even aware of the cold. Too busy rowing and fishing. Oblivious to anything but what I was doing (usual for me, actually)
My two new young fishing buddies, both brothers (former violin and piano students), were thrilled as well. They used my larger Zodiac, while I used the little 6 footer. They had a great dry land session, and went they're way on the lake as I went mine. We all did well. We're going out again Sunday after Mass, to a different lake.
I didn't take a camera - gets in the way fishing, but did take an at-home shot of the only two trout I took home. The little fella I kept because he was foul-hooked and wouldn't have made it - and the other was typical of what the three of us caught during our 4 hour stint on the lake. All about the same size as the "big" one.
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I have so many jars of canned trout and smoked trout in the freezer, that two or so more trips will do me for a long while. I'll get out probably two or three times a week, now that I know I can do it, until freezup which is about three weeks away. It also gets dark here now about 5:15 pm so our season is limited.
I'll go back three or four pages or so for comments now, and will be back after the Sunday trip for another forum visit. Gotta prepare for tomorrow's outing - a lot of fine tuning to do.
️ on the side.
️ Game 2 on the 
