We decided to build a fire in our woodstove today. We should probably do it more often to help dry things out and keep down the mold. The weather is never really uncomfortable, though. It’s 67°F outside (and the usual 99% humidity) so it’s pretty nice, even though it is pouring rain.
I fancy myself a good Bringer o’ Fire. (“Twoprops make fire good. Keep cave warm. Cook mammoth. Ugh.“) But I’ve done most of my camping in California, which is largely desert. The humidity here has been in the high-90’s since I arrived in August and nothing — nothing is particularly dry. That includes our fuel, even though it’s been kept in a “dry” location under a roof in the old garage. Starting the fire was a little trickier than I’m used to. We have huge piles of packing paper from the moving company, and even that is difficult to light having absorbed considerable moisture in the past couple of weeks.
Perseverance and camping experience prevailed, though, and now the house is drying out and we have a pretty little fire in the stove.
—2p