Away camping for a few days. It's painful watching fellow campers try to build a fire. Alot of lighter fluid and smoke. It's a shame no one has ever taught them. I tried to help a few times in the past, some people are just funny about a stranger giving advice and good dry kindling. Some lessons are learnt the hard way. Happy Camping everyone!
While I know what you mean about "some people are just funny about a stranger giving advice"...some people may welcome the help. Never know till you try. I've always liked that look in someones eye's when you teach them something and it "clicks". Then again, maybe they think nasty smoke is a requirement for camping!
Oh! I think we were next to that guy a few weeks ago. He was fanning the flames for hours. So much smoke it was unbelievable. Luckily the smoke was going the other way. Miss July and I sat there laughing for an hour or 2.
Years ago I set up the camper for a long weekend for my wife but I had to work the weekend but would come out after work. Get there one night and Mama Bear is snickering. She had my egg carton fire starters, a bunch of seasoned small kindling, a stack of seasoned splits and had the fire going. I sit down to obvious snickers and under her breath she said "I think we have created marital tension"! I then notice a husband walking back to the neighboring campsite and a smoking disaster with a wife that won't look up as she is choking. I was invited into our camper and my bride said a long attempt at getting a fire to go was briefly suspended when the neighbors wife said "How d@#n tough can a fire be to light, that lady over there had it going in 2 minutes!" and husband promptly stormed off leaving her to find out. I took pity on the little kids saying "but we want a nice fire". I took over a couple fire starters, kindling, and several splits. I said here let me help and told them I have an advantage because I burn wood and explained that I have an abundance of seasoned wood to come camping with and it makes life much easier. Husband sheepishly said they have only been camping a couple times and got wood in a bundle at a gas station. It looked to have been cut the day before and probably aspen. Got the fire going and said you will probably be able to add yours after it is going and cook out the moisture but if you need come over and grab a little more of mine. The wife looked up and apologetically said thank you. 20 minutes later a cute couple kids brought me a smore and thanked me for getting them a good fire we can cook smores on. Kinda softened this cranky old mans heart for a minute.
Bees were flying through my sister and BIL's site last year in Gettysburg. Bouncing off the camper light and laying all over. They're neighbors actually left the site because the bees were so bad. They weren't just bees, they were an 1 1/4- 1 1/2" long. We watched and tracked them the next day in the light, they were in a stump on the next site. Would have taken a lot of smoke.... I must have erased the pics.
Murder hornets!! Aaaagghhhh!!! Haha, probably european hornets if they were coming to the lights at night, bees arent active at night. Well, at least honey bees aren't...
Through the years we used to do lots of camping. Made many friends getting fires going. Hopefully taught a few some new tricks.
I know how to build a fire obviously, and bring all my own stuff, but I also carry a map or propane torch with the nice igniter because I get tired of the cheap lighters... on top of that I carry a makita 18 volt leaf blower if I need to build up a fire fast to make coals for dinner time. I get a few funny looks while I am doing all this in my stainless washing machine drum.....
All fires were made with Flint and steel, no matches or torches. Just drier lint, fat wood and dry kindling. Sometimes I'll use a fire piston.
I would love to see your fire piston or better a demonstration video by you. I do flint and steel occasionally but never have seen a piston fire in person. Did you make it or where did you get it?
Awesome story Feel bad for the chap that was browbeat, but some lessons can be tough. Glad your bride lent a neighborly hand
