After 2 years of putting off pipe smoking, figuring it too complicated… I picked up the cob pipe I bought 2 years ago and put in some sir walter I bought 2 years ago (kinda moist still). Packed the bowl not too tight, lit, and proceeded to smoke, with one relight and no tongue bite on the first go. Was it really always this easy? Lol
Maybe because the tobacco dried out a bit it was easier for you to keep it lit. This may also account for the lack of tongue bite.
Way to go Jack!!! and welcome to the club. Now you can tell your children and friends the old German saying. “He who points with a pipe is always right”.
Deceptively simple pipe smoking (or is it just elementary my dear Watson). More of a craft than an art maybe I reckon; you can definately over think it rather than just chiling out and savouring the experience 
- Well done you tho!
For me a cob was the easiest to learn to smoke. Brairs were harder to figure out. Definitely worth the effort to learn. Sir Walter or really any of the OTC Burleys, Carter Hall, Prince Albert, Granger etc. all seem to shine best in a cob.
@bigmick Burley & cobs are a “marriage” made in heaven, IMHO =D>