Bikes and cigars, one family

[Lee Davis]

The three of us were parked in line in Skagway, Alaska to drive our motorcycles up on to the ferry to Haines. A fellow near us on a bike was quietly smoking a cigar and I walked over to start up a conversation and see where he was from. I asked "I hope you brought enough of those (cigars) for all of us", quite in jest. Without saying a word he walked over to open his pannier and pulled out 4 cigars and handed them to me. I shouldn't have been surprised, and it made me reflect on the feeling that we all have for other bikers (or cigar smokers, if you are one). We are always ready to look out for the other guy, it seems, and that makes it a nice group to belong to.

[tazio]

 

[mtiberio]

Done the same many times and enjoyed the largess of others many times as well. I would not however smoke a cigar on a ferry/boat ride.

[Lee Davis]

You sound like my ex. I didn't smoke on the ferry... just in the line during the hour long wait. But, I HAVE smoked on the top deck on Alaska ferries... out in the open refreshing Alaska air... but I didn't ever smoke when my ex was with me, just lots of martinis. By the way, now that I am a bachelor, I have cut back on both. My indulgences now are motorcycles.

[LowRyter]

I like motorcycles and cigars. 

Attending my first Guzzi rally brought it all together.   Before that, they were separate activities. 

[Lannis]

I like motorcycles and cigars. 

Attending my first Guzzi rally brought it all together.   Before that, they were separate activities.

It was at a Guzzi rally that I realized that my days with cigars were done.

Hadn't smoked one in a year, so I bought a $10 one in a tube to take with me to a rally.   Sitting around the campfire, I carefully cut it, carefully lit it, took a drag or two to get it burning evenly ....

and next thing I knew, I was laying behind the log I had been sitting on, holding on to tufts of grass to keep from falling off the face of the earth ....

This old man can't do nicotine any more.   I miss the sociability part, still like the aroma of a good one ....

Lannis

[Guzzistajohn]

Hmmmm, I think I'll pour a little glass of Jim Beam rye and go out to the garage, snip the end off an Arturo Fuente and pull out the old lawn chair🥃

[LowRyter]

It was at a Guzzi rally that I realized that my days with cigars were done.

Hadn't smoked one in a year, so I bought a $10 one in a tube to take with me to a rally.   Sitting around the campfire, I carefully cut it, carefully lit it, took a drag or two to get it burning evenly ....

and next thing I knew, I was laying behind the log I had been sitting on, holding on to tufts of grass to keep from falling off the face of the earth ....

This old man can't do nicotine any more.   I miss the sociability part, still like the aroma of a good one ....

Lannis

You outta just stick with marijuana then.   

Stay away from the hard stuff.   

[Texas Turnip]

You don't get to enjoy the smell of a cigar when you are smoking it, however I've had lots of comments about how good the stogy smells. And Lannis these comments are not from slut puppies!

Tex

[Vagrant]

I rode the new V7-3 on what I call the Cherohala loop yesterday to lose its virginity. after a good lunch I lit up a great stogie at 5000 foot to celebrate.
I even made the whole 300 mile loop without the 60% chance of rain they predicted!
10 minutes after arriving home I ordered a Corbin and the skies opened up.

[Lee Davis]

That did it... bought some cigars yesterday. Think I shall get a bottle of Bombay this evening.

[Lannis]

You don't get to enjoy the smell of a cigar when you are smoking it, however I've had lots of comments about how good the stogy smells. And Lannis these comments are not from slut puppies!

Tex

Well, I didn't mention the other downside, which is that Fay absolutely DESPISES the smell of a cigar, either while it's being smoked, or on me afterward.

Her attitude is "Smoke 'em if you got 'em, but don't be expecting ANYTHING from me until about 3 showers and that stink is out of your hair and beard .... Your choice."

My grandpa had a classic "man-cave" den - big red leather furniture, TV always on boxing, wrestling, or sportsball, a big humidor, a smoking stand, a rack of pipes, and an unlimited supply of Roi Tans, Dutch Masters, King Edwards, and Prince Albert tobacco.  (He wasn't a fussy smoker as you can tell).   When I were a little lad, some of my first memories are the smell of that room, and how relaxed and happy my grandpa was lounging back, tapping out his pipe or cutting his cigar, and watching Saturday Night boxing ....

If I didn't have that, I might think that cigars stank too.   But I do, and so I don't .... !

Lannis

[webmost]

You don't get to enjoy the smell of a cigar when you are smoking it, however I've had lots of comments about how good the stogy smells. And Lannis these comments are not from slut puppies!

Tex

Well, yes, you do, though. For one thing, the cigar comes to visit right under your nose. So how do you not smell that. Secondly, you suck a mouthful in and then you blow it out your nose. That's called retrohale.

[LowRyter]

Grandad and I always watched the Gillette Fight of the Week whenever I would visit him.

He was a cigarette smoker most of his life but gave up the nasty habit before he retired.  He was a pumper for DX.   I inherited his Hamilton company watch.

[webmost]

The three of us were parked in line in Skagway, Alaska to drive our motorcycles up on to the ferry to Haines. A fellow near us on a bike was quietly smoking a cigar and I walked over to start up a conversation and see where he was from. I asked "I hope you brought enough of those (cigars) for all of us", quite in jest. Without saying a word he walked over to open his pannier and pulled out 4 cigars and handed them to me. I shouldn't have been surprised, and it made me reflect on the feeling that we all have for other bikers (or cigar smokers, if you are one). We are always ready to look out for the other guy, it seems, and that makes it a nice group to belong to.

I have a special project I pull off three or four times a year on average. I get six or eight of those Pirouette canisters from the dollar store, eat the cookies, and fill the cans with cigars. I can usually get five or six in one, plus a box of matches, a water pillow to keep the canister properly humidified, and sometimes a key chain plug cutter, to cut the cap. I'll cruise up & down the Blue Ridge Parkway with these, looking for some unsuspecting souls to bomb. Standing round the fire at Willsville, for instance, where the Ural gathering was under way, smoking a stogie, some guy smoking cigarettes asks for a light, I handed him a canister instead. "There's cigars in here!" says he. "Deal with it.," says I. Led six of us to an evening drinking Russian Baltika beer, smoking gars, & swapping lies. One time I dropped in a gas station, there was a nice young fellow and his girl, waiting for the place to open so he could buy some cigarettes. On his way to help his girl's Mom clean the gutters. I handed him a bomb. "Deal with this."



Great fun. After all, the most fun you can have with a cigar is to give it away. That's why at the moment of greatest joy, such as an engagement or a new baby, a man will hand out cigars. Cause it's a happy event.

[Lannis]

I have a special project I pull off three or four times a year on average. I get six or eight of those Pirouette canisters from the dollar store, eat the cookies, and fill the cans with cigars.

Sounds like a great idea!

The only way I can see for it to backfire is if the recipient really loves Pirouline cookies, and thinks that's what he's getting, since he's so happy about it he's not listening to the part about the cigars .... !

Lannis

[Lee Davis]

I remember being in Campbell River, BC on Vancouver Island and in a pub they had a large selection of cigars, all Cubans. We were on a bike trip up the Island, on the way to Port Hardy and on to Alaska. The price was astronomical though... $50, and so I passed. Had a fair number of Cubans while in the Bahamas, and I decided that I didn't care for them very much. I tend to gravitate to milder cigars, and the Cubans will sometimes take the top of your head off. Here in New Mexico I have an advantage, for at the smoke shops on reservation, a pack of 20 Quorum Gordos (Nicaragua) are $38. I usually ride the bike to the shop. So, whenever I am headed to Canada on a motorcycle trip, I take a few bundles with me. More often than not, I give away more than I smoke. Sure brings a smile to a Canadian's face to hand him a few cigars! Now, if only there was some trick like that with pretty women


...

[Pop]

Cigars!? Now your talking. First and foremost, don't just buy one, ask questions. They range from light to really strong ( I call them dog turds). Once you've found your favorite, just like booze, stick with it. I am not a snob, but working in the shop, I smoke a Black Pearl rojo rated medium. While relaxing either  after a great ride or barbecue I like a Gloria Cubano siere R rated full, (ass kicker) smoked very slowly with a glass of Jack and a cube. Always have at least 5 with me at all times.
I really like the cigar bomb though.



"A good cigar, some smooth booze, and a sexy lady, ahh hell who am I kidding. 2 out of three ain't bad."

[webmost]

Cigars!? Now your talking. First and foremost, don't just buy one, ask questions. They range from light to really strong ( I call them dog turds). Once you've found your favorite, just like booze, stick with it. I am not a snob, but working in the shop, I smoke a Black Pearl rojo rated medium. While relaxing either  after a great ride or barbecue I like a Gloria Cubano siere R rated full, (ass kicker) smoked very slowly with a glass of Jack and a cube. Always have at least 5 with me at all times.
I really like the cigar bomb though.



"A good cigar, some smooth booze, and a sexy lady, ahh hell who am I kidding. 2 out of three ain't bad."

Hey Pop, PM me your addy & I'll shoot you a cigar bomb.

[Sheepdog]

I don't care much for tobacco, but I enjoy smoking salmon. Very tasty, but hard to keep lit...

[Socalrob]

Another great Lee Davis thread.   

[blu guzz]

I always bring enough on my trips to burn and give away.  After a day's ride, it goes down well with a glass of Scotch or Bourbon and a soak in a hottub if one is handy.

[drawnverybadly]

Cigars are my other indefensible vice, once you get locked into a serious cigar collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can lol.

Cigar Acquisition Disorder is a real thing, not too different than N+1, let the CAD run out of control and you'll end up with more cigars than you can ever smoke so serious BOTL (Brothers of the leaf) tend to be very generous with sticks casually passing something to you if you mention the faintest interest in smoking.

[Lee Davis]

My Mother took a guided trip with her friends when she was 82 years old... to Italy. She knew that I liked cigars, and so quite impulsively bought 10 Cuban Monte Christos and put them in her bags for the trip home. At customs in the US she was asked if she was bringing anything back from her trip and she answered no, quite innocently. She really had no clue that they were prohibited. When home, she presented them to me and I found out the story behind them. Perhaps a little too strong for me, I took pleasure in passing 9 of them out to friends, identifying my Mother as my mule.

[Pop]

Ya know, I have had Cubans on different occasions. I was not impressed, in fact rather disappointed. In Aruba we paid upwards of 30 American for lousy smokes. A couple years later went to Cancun. Smuggled in my own Honduran delights and enjoyed them at 6 dollars a stick. I think Cuba exports crap to sell to American touristas.
Pop

[Lee Davis]

I agree on the subject of Cubans... don't really care for them. They are fine cigars, but tend to run on the strong side, and are certainly overpriced... I suppose because they are something that Americans are not allowed to have here in the US. Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and even some places like Jamaica and Tampa, Florida produce some very fine cigars at a reasonable price. The best wrapper leaves are even grown in Connecticut... some of which make it to Cuba, of all places. The Quorums that I am smoking now are from Guatemala and are $2 each... superb cigars.

[Guzzi Gal]

Sounds like a great idea!

The only way I can see for it to backfire is if the recipient really loves Pirouline cookies, and thinks that's what he's getting, since he's so happy about it he's not listening to the part about the cigars .... !

Lannis

That'd be me.  I love those things! 

[webmost]

I think what happened, back when the commies stole all the factories, the best makers had the wherewithal to get the hell outta there. They landed in Nicaragua, the DR, and such. A pocket full of seeds, a bit of cash, and now they're making better sticks in what used to be the sticks. Meanwhile, back in Vuelta Abajo, you got serfs who don't much care, just filling their quotas and laying low.

Viva la Revolucion!

I'm still hoping someone will step up and PM me an addy so's I can bomb you with some gars.

[webmost]

Target acquired


update: Bombs away.

[Shorty]

Boy you guys are top shelf. I like the el cheapo Hava Tampas and Garcia y Vegas. Along with some dried smoked herring and cheap Tennessee whiskey.       I gots no couth. No culture