Woodsmoke and coffee

I often wake up early. It isn’t out of a sense of virtue or a need to get to work or to make a fast start on the day. Goodness, no! I’m a light sleeper, and tend to stir once the birds start on their morning songs.

Our new tent has pretty good blackout, but not sound out. That’s fine by me because 6AM camping is one of my absolute favourite times. I like coffee and I like camping. Is there a better cup than the first of the day brewed on the Trangia – slightly blearily so somewhat carefully – when it feels like the rest of the world is still asleep?

No hurry

The other day it was me and the birds and three deer. The deer stopped to have a staring contest. I won. They blinked first, before moving on almost silently through the trees once they decided I was no threat. Just me and my cup of far too strong (no such thing) dark roast.

“Just you? Wait a minute…”

All was calm and birdsong quiet if you know what I mean. Not entirely quiet, but in a good way. The forest floor was mostly still. In the tree tops, the rustling of leaves stirring on a gentle breeze. Those leaves! Green on bright green, and brighter still as the sun climbed higher, lighting up the day.

Leafy

The mosquitoes and biting types didn’t seem too interested. A combination of my eau de bug spray by Muskol – lemony notes and a hint of, hmm, gasoline? – as well as the woodsmoke and charcoal aroma from last night’s campfire seemed to do the trick.

Bug deterrent

It’s safe to say not all is well in the world. Some understatement, that. However, temporarily disconnected and unplugged, it is safe to say that all was well, under canvas and over caffeinated, in the small corner of the world we found ourselves in.

Disconnected? Perhaps not!

Woodsmoke and coffee – not too sure it’s always the answer, and not too sure what the question even is, but it’ll do on an early summer morning camping in the woods.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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plaidcamper

I am a would be outdoorsman - that is if I had more time, skills and knowledge. When I can, I love being outdoors, just camping, hiking, snowboarding, xc skiing, snowshoeing, paddling a canoe or trying something new. What I lack in ability, I make up for in enthusiasm and having a go. I'd never really survive for long out there in the wild, but I enjoy pretending I could if I had to...

16 thoughts on “Woodsmoke and coffee”

  1. Wonderful! The first cup of coffee while camping is the best!
    The brand “Trangia” was created a few miles from the house I grew up in, just a fun fact 🙂

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      1. Indeed! I have a Trangia kitchen in my hiking backpack. I recently purchased a book about how to dry your own produce with the purpose of cooking meals at the Trangia stove.

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      2. That would be pretty cool – rehydrate your own food on a Trangia!
        We just got a pocket sized wood stove (folds down really small, best with tiny branches and twigs, that’ll also house the Trangia burner. Trying it out next week, mostly out of curiosity!

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  2. Oh, those spring leaves look great! They are changing to summer colours here, slowly. Good things the bugs weren’t too bad, because that is a rich environment for them. I had to look up the meaning of Trangia. Oh, I have one! Much easier than starting a fire, especially first thing in the morning. Makes me want to go camping again, though I need to pick up a new tent. Keep your eyes open for another round of aurora borealis and have a great weekend.

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    1. The Trangia is such a great little stove! Hope you get out there to use it when you’re ready.
      Missed the lights if they were visible here, but have been enjoying spring into summer weather. And only one bad (on the ankle) bug bite so far…
      I hope your week is going well!

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  3. You sure captured the serenity here, pc, in your words and photos, and how lovely you could bring it to us. I love the photos of the trees and the all-leaf photo was my favorite. Happy times, my friend, may you have many.

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  4. I too have been pretty disconnected the last week. Been prowling around Pennsylvania’s State Forests and state parks, a welcome respite from the grind of the news cycle. Haven’t missed much (no real need to keep reminding myself how crazy and unbalanced some of my countrymen have become), it makes me wonder how much deeper I could immerse myself into this “out of the loop” lifestyle.

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  5. Coffee and camping…one might have thought you lost me at the word camping, but I loved every word about your beautiful morning enjoying your coffee in the woods!! I found myself almost relaxing just reading about that perfect cup of coffee thinking how lucky you are to be out enjoying your wonderful country while I’m going crazy over hockey and our election!! Like I said, almost relaxing.😁 Wonderful photos and I hope you’re already planning and packing (don’t forget Scout’s air mattress) for your next camping trip!!😎

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    1. Go Oilers! (Never thought I’d ever say that after living in Calgary…)
      Scout loved camping and is excited to be heading out again next week. She doesn’t even want a fancy air mattress, so long as she can stare down deer and raccoons!
      Not looking forward to November. I am happy it looks as though friends and family are going to get a change after 14 years of Tory uselessness in Blighty. So much damage to undo, that’s the problem there…
      In the meantime, either/and/or camping + coffee for distractions and good times!

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      1. I just got home early this morning. Fabulous trip. I’m going to be getting my house ready to list. Looking to retire. Cheers

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