The weather is good..
The wind is good…
Well then, it’s time for a campfire.
I headed to my usual Peace Park to try out the BELMONT Tabi that’s been sitting in a corner on the 2nd floor lately.
I had a good time. A moment to forget the rush of busy time, stare blankly at the fire, and sip coffee. Are you getting enough time like that?
What you should bring,
Where you should go,
How to use it.
I'll introduce it all so you'll know by reading to the end.
Essential items for a campfire
・Fire Pit
First, the fire pit, which is the star of the show.
There are various sizes and shapes. Choose the best one (and the one that really speaks to you!) depending on your style.
・Fireproof Sheet
A sheet to protect the ground from the heat of the fire. You need to be especially careful when doing it on a lawn. Embers can pop, so a larger size is recommended.
・Fire Tongs
Fire-resistant tongs for handling firewood. If you think you can just poke it with a branch, you'll be in trouble when a burning piece of wood dives out of the fire pit.
・Gloves
Cotton gloves are easy for general work, but leather gloves that don't conduct heat easily are better when handling the fire.
・Firewood
If you are in a place where you can reliably find branches and leaves, you might be fine without it, but if you're going specifically to enjoy a campfire, buy it in advance. You can find it at hardware stores.
・Ignition Tools
A lighter or matches are enough, but there are many options if you're worried, like a high-output burner, or a fire starter (flint) if you want to enjoy the process of starting the fire.
・Ash Container
Taking your ashes home is a matter of etiquette. Without this, once the fire is completely out, you'll be stuck just waiting for it to cool down. A heat-resistant can with a lid that seals tightly is commonly used, but there are also bag-style options.
[Nice to have]
・Chair or cushion, etc.
・Fire blower
・Fire starter (handy when there are no pinecones or cedar leaves)
・Campfire accompaniments (food, alcohol, radio, book, camera... my bags always get heavier because of these things. But they're important.)
BELMONT Fire Pit TABI
What I'm introducing this time is an essential item for a campfire, the star of the show, the BELMONT Fire Pit TABI.
The item at the very top left is an option, but the TABI consists of these parts. It's very simple!
Interlock the two iron plates and attach the legs to the cutouts on the left and right. It's very simple!
It gets so thin and compact that it's perfect for carrying on a bike. The sold-separately dedicated case has bands and loops, so it can be attached in various ways.
And also sold separately, there are replacement side plates for the fire pit. They increase the rigidity of the main body while also improving the design with mountain cutouts. They make it easier to load large, heavy firewood.
Even firewood that doesn't fit can be loaded on top or added to the fire by removing one of the side plates. With a small fire pit, the "problem of having to cut the firewood" inevitably arises. You can even fit a sweet potato in there, so it's good for baked potatoes too.
Also, since the side plates can be removed, you can scoop the ash directly into the ash container, making cleanup easy. One point to keep in mind is that the titanium plates that form the body are extremely thin, so I recommend wearing cotton or leather gloves when working with them. (I assembled it with my bare hands, but you might cut your fingers if you're not careful.)
The one I used for this photo shoot is Bashibashi's personal property. It has developed a nice patina, and the unique rainbow discoloration of titanium has emerged. Titanium is both tough and lightweight, and it's nice to be able to enjoy the pleasure of "raising" it over time. Mugs and cutlery can be given a beautiful color by being heated directly over fire, so if you're interested, please try it. (Be aware that double-walled items cannot be used over direct fire.)
There are truly a great many fire pits in the world, with various materials and vastly different features. Because it's an item you can use for a long time, I'd like you to choose carefully, but I personally think this is the fire pit that is currently the most compatible with bicycles.
Lightness, durability, the size of firewood it can accommodate, its storage size, and whether it can cook (whether a trivet can be placed on it) are the points I care about, and the TABI fulfills all of these.
BELMONT TABI
Material: Body / Titanium, 18-8 Stainless Steel
Storage bag / Nylon
Size: When in use / 237×360×170 mm
When stored / 178×360×15 mm
Weight: Approx. 478 g
Price: 12,100 yen (tax included)
Recommended peripheral items for campfires
A tea pot loved by Chan-Mai with a charming, rounded form. It has a spout, so it's suitable for drip coffee, and since the opening is wide, it can also be used as a cooker as-is.
An extremely thin design of just 4.5mm when stored. Because it's made of aluminum, you can place burners and heated cookers directly on it. It’s also thrilling that it’s made by Mikashima Seisakusho, a long-established domestic pedal manufacturer that supports the feet of many cyclists!
・MKS Sylvan Works Sylvan Grippin’ Gator
These are also produced by "Mikashima Seisakusho" and are fire tongs that focus on being lightweight, compact, and storable. These tongs, which can be extended with a snap, can be used not only for campfires but also as food tongs.
Where can you have a campfire?
First, it's a major premise to choose a day with good weather. If it's raining, you'll need to prepare a roof (tarp or shelter), and you must also be careful about fire spreading to them. Also, on windy days, the campfire flames will be caught by the wind and are likely to spread to other flammable materials, so you should avoid those days as well.
Regarding the vicinity of Circles, honestly, there are very few places in the city where you can have a campfire. Parks like Tenpaku Park and Kanoko Park can be used for day camping, but it is often limited to the time before sunset.
My recommendation is "Heiwa Park" in Chikusa Ward, where we gathered for our 18th anniversary ride event. At the Metasequoia Plaza inside, you can use fire-making tools, and you can enjoy campfires even after sunset.
There are other options like riverbeds, but in Nagoya city, there are many areas where it is mostly prohibited. (Strictly speaking, it is not prohibited on the sandbars of riverbeds, but it is better to refrain from it because sudden rising water is dangerous and it attracts public attention.) As a good cyclist, I want you to follow the rules and manners, so I recommend that you research thoroughly in advance. Campgrounds are the safest and best option!
#6 Chan-Mai's Break Room
Why were you born
What do you do to live
I hate that I cannot
answer that!
By living in the present
My passionate heart burns
That is why you go
Smiling
Yes, it's a happy thing
The joy of living
Even if the wound in your chest hurts
Ah, Anpanman
You are kind
Go! To protect everyone's dreams
It is such a famous song (poem) that just reading these lines makes it flow into my mind as a "song" set to a melody I recognize.
These are the lyrics to the first verse, but perhaps you might have felt a slight sense of discomfort. It seems that the "Anpanman March" broadcast as the opening for the anime is actually the second verse. The lyrics start with ♪ "What is your happiness..."
Perhaps the meaning was too deep for the opening of a children's program, so the second verse was adopted for the anime, but I feel like the first verse might pierce deeper for adults.
This is because ever since I read the book "Me, Justice, and Anpanman" that I picked up for the first time in a while, this has been playing in my head over and over... It has a lingering effect. It was nice to make "time to read a book" once in a while, rather than just reading in snatches of spare time.
Whether I'm working, spending time with family, or enjoying time alone, I want to cherish the moments where I feel like I've had a good time.
A moment to forget the rush of busy time, stare blankly at the fire, and sip coffee. Are you getting enough time like that...?
