Shout out

[perogee]

I just wanted to give a shout out to the local shop.

When you find a shop with people both knowledgeable and passionate about what they do, it is a thing of great beauty. I was in Cavendish & Moore's (Calgary) on the weekend and I must say that I learned a lot. It was nice to get some clarification on the information that I have picked up here. I got to see what rubbing is and how it is done (I had a mental image, but demos are always nice). I got to see, smell, touch the different types of tobaccos that I have read about, so now I actually have some idea of what a perique is, etc.
I guess the point is that getting that hands on, personal touch makes a huge difference in the learning curve. It helps make this forum even better because now I have more of an idea of what people are talking about

Oh, and I got to pick up some tobacco to try . I decided on some McClelland Navy Flake and some Dunhill 965.

Anyone else have similar opinions?

[Mad Hatter]

Its great that you had the chance to get a 101 on pipe tobaccos. That little bit of guidance will set you ahead.

[perogee]

So I finally got to try a bowl of the navy flake yesterday. I must say that I really like it. While I find that it does not have a broad range of flavour, it has a wonderful aroma, smokes cool and has some great base flavours. I also really enjoy getting to see the flake expand as it burns, it is almost like getting a show with my smoke .

I may have to place a couple of orders..........

[MarkinCA]

[SIZE=3]Gorillas are sort of visual folks. Its one thing reading about something, but its always nice to see the item up front and in person and really get your hands into it, right? Makes a big difference...[/SIZE]

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by perogee

I just wanted to give a shout out to the local shop.

When you find a shop with people both knowledgeable and passionate about what they do, it is a thing of great beauty. I was in Cavendish & Moore's (Calgary) on the weekend and I must say that I learned a lot. It was nice to get some clarification on the information that I have picked up here. I got to see what rubbing is and how it is done (I had a mental image, but demos are always nice). I got to see, smell, touch the different types of tobaccos that I have read about, so now I actually have some idea of what a perique is, etc.
I guess the point is that getting that hands on, personal touch makes a huge difference in the learning curve. It helps make this forum even better because now I have more of an idea of what people are talking about

Anyone else have similar opinions?

Amen brother. The best way to learn is from someone who knows.
Packing a pipe is one of those things.

[skatalite]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

Amen brother. The best way to learn is from someone who knows.
Packing a pipe is one of those things.

You said it!

When I began pipe smoking I didn't own my own pipes and was smoking some of my friend's pipes. He knew a little bit about the procedure, but not too much. I learned how to pack it, light it and that's about it.

However, when I got back into pipe smoking and wanted to make it a serious thing, the local shop (Royal Pipes and Tobacco) here in Norman was the first place I went. The store clerk, Bill, helped me out tremendously. We now have a smoke together every week before go into class on Mondays. He taught me how to clean the bowl, care for the pipe overall, taught be about the different kinds of tobacco, the different kinds of pipe lighters, different styles/makes of pipes... And so on. Great experience and I think any pipe/tobacco lover should be pretty lucky if they have that kind of shop accessible to them.