how will I start a fire?

[Mary F]

I still think the most useful tip in this thread is that the s'mores can just be eaten raw.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Just rub [b]a stick together.

I suppose you know what is the sound of one hand clapping?

[Adrian W]

Brandy, more than likely, it was better that she did not go camping with you, campfire or not, as you wrote: "She was very excited but I know she has grand ideas with little follow thru (more of a 4 star hotel kinda gal)." Not many campfires in 4 star hotels. If we give the Devil a little slack, perhaps he used building a fire as a way to help you out of a not to cool of a camping experence. No! That would be too much slack. Too bad it did not fall together, the kids would have had fun, as would the two of you. Maybe, he just didn't like the idea of a "Girls Night Out"? Or he was afraid his kids would fall into the fire? Whatever, we all found out some different ways of fire starting. I like the dryer lint and egg carton and p wax the best. If that is too slow for you, soak the carton sections in gasoline before lighting it. No, don't do that. I was joking. I know, for a xmas present give the guy a carton of wax covered lint.

DesertHawk

I also liked the story/illustration of Walter, the Volvo and cheating husband. I may need to start reading the joke section sometimes.


Moral of the whole result of the thread, be careful of how we title our posts or read the whole post before we answer them.
Maybe both.

I have given it some thought, you can rub a stick together if you have a fairly long, flexible stick. However, I wouldn't expect getting a fire going with it. To damp if it is that flexible.

[Flygal]

I did snicker a few times as I read true how to advice on starting a fire...but I love that people actually responded. all you fiberglass loving folks can't resist a good lesson, and I for one have learned alot when I've learned to shut my yap. I did end up staying at a hotel with the gal last week and her youngest is three...I learned or was re-reminded that I don't miss having a three your old so for whatever the reason it was good that camping was not in the cards for us. Thanks for "listening"

[DaveK]

I suppose you know what is the sound of one hand clapping?

It's a very singular sound.

[Mike Watters]

I did snicker a few times as I read true how to advice on starting a fire...but I love that people actually responded. all you fiberglass loving folks can't resist a good lesson, and I for one have learned alot when I've learned to shut my yap. I did end up staying at a hotel with the gal last week and her youngest is three...I learned or was re-reminded that I don't miss having a three your old so for whatever the reason it was good that camping was not in the cards for us. Thanks for "listening"

Who ever said we were obligated to stay on topic in these threads???

Drifting over into firestarting approaches wasn't all THAT off topic after all (I've seen worse).

[Glenn Baglo]

Who ever said we were obligated to stay on topic in these threads???

Drifting over into firestarting approaches wasn't all THAT off topic after all (I've seen worse).

Just to stay off-topic, I recall, with great satisfaction, starting my fire, while my neighboring camper watched. It had rained hard and all wood was wet. He stood in his cloud of smoke either gaping in awe or cursing me, probably trying to get newspaper to ignite ( very high moisture content at any time ).

Meantime I had just arrived at my site and had a merry fire going five minutes later. My secret was a little dry kindling and 1/3 of a firelog to build core heat. I guess I should have offered him a piece.

baglo

[Flygal]

*tisk tisk tisk* FIRE LOG* shakes head......well I bet it was fun to secretly be some sort of miraculous fire god on a rainy night.mwhahahahaha the power of FIRE

Just to stay off-topic, I recall, with great satisfaction, starting my fire, while my neighboring camper watched. It had rained hard and all wood was wet. He stood in his cloud of smoke either gaping in awe or cursing me, probably trying to get newspaper to ignite ( very high moisture content at any time ).

Meantime I had just arrived at my site and had a merry fire going five minutes later. My secret was a little dry kindling and 1/3 of a firelog to build core heat. I guess I should have offered him a piece.

baglo

[Mary F]

[Morgan]

I suppose you know what is the sound of one hand clapping?

You funny, sailor.

I love this thread, thank you Brandy.

To get more philosophical, if a man says something in the woods and there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?

[Mary F]

Depends.

[Mike Watters]

I probably should have included this story here too...

First time my (future) wife and I went camping: We were tent camping on Vancouver Island. The drive up to the campground took twice as long as we expected, we get to the campground to discover the spots were 100% gravel covered with NOWHERE decent to set up a tent. THEN we discover that despite the fact my little Datsun 210 was packed to the gills, that the ONE item we'd forgotten to pack was a lighter or some matches or something. Furthermore - we'd planned on using the fire (and only the fire) to cook with.

Ever see someone trying to start a fire with a car cigarette lighter? It's not a pretty sight. One of the campground rangers (or whatever their official title is there) finally took pity on us and came over to light the fire for us.

Other than the delays driving and the fire problems and sleeping on gravel - the clutch on the car started slipping (which made some of the larger hills on the island a real joy) A_N_D the carburetor freaked out on us so the car wouldn't idle (had to gun the engine to keep it running).

mkw

[Mary F]

Wow. She married you anyway!

[Coach George Jessup]

First time my (future) wife and I went camping: ... Datsun 210 w...

Ok...... ahhhhh.... hmmm. Future wife?? as in not your wife yet? And you expect her to marry a guy who drives a 25+ yr old Ratsun 210? Those things weren not made to last that many years.... suprise it runs at all.

From on old Datsun nut.
Coach George

PS----- I guess that could also be read as a story about you and your wife to be on an adventure 20somthing years ago. That would make more since.

[Darwin Maring]

Use a plethora of "Camper Logs" that are in another thread titled "Camper Logs".

[Kevin K]

The three things needed to make a fire are heat, fuel and oxygen.

[Lainey]

Wow. She married you anyway!

Mike Watters did start some sort of fire that trip after all Way to go Mike!

[Mike Watters]

Mike Watters did start some sort of fire that trip after all Way to go Mike!

Not to put too fine a point on it... Sure did. And considering the tent was sitting on gravel that was no small feat.

I should also point out - the Datsun wasn't 25 years old at the time of the story. We've been married 18 years now. The camping trip would have been in 88.

Mike