Today I took advantage of beautiful sunny skies, sub zero temperatures and beautiful riding conditions to enjoy my first snow ride of the season.

Once again I put my handy CS 2500 mini chainsaw to work dropping a large very rotted out stick to use as a base for the fire keeping it up off the snow followed by a few more sticks to burn to a good bed of coals.

I usually use my Fiskars axe on outings but today I decided to fancy it up and take my beautiful Georgecraft Damascus Steel axe. This is not one I let beat around in the box on the bike, it rides inside my knapsack. It's very functional but this axe is used and not abused.

Project Foreman continues to run very well trip after trip. At 27 years old it's a great feeling to have such an awesome bike for so long and still be incredibly reliable.

I decided to get a little fancier for my boil-up, of course I will be boiling my Kelly Kettle for coffee in my GSI Commuter java press and to make a pot of Mr. Noodles. Today I added a fresh pork chop grilled over hot coals and a pan of fried onions.

I moved the stack of logs over to one side of the fire pit and laid my grill over a lovely bed of coals, perfect for cooking over without burning everything up.

It was truly a meal fit for royalty, there is nothing quite like a meal cooked over an open fire!

With supper finished I took a seat and enjoyed the fire with coffee in hand as the sun set and December early evening darkness arriving all too quickly.

Gear all packed up and coals safely doused in snow it was time to head for home.

Cheers, MIKE

Copyright © 2025 Michael Smith