I think solotripper may have hit this tangential nail on the head again. I never really thought about it but ya, seems to me if flames are licking at the sides of the pot you're wasting limited resources. His other comments brought back some memories as well. Like why can't people work something that has all of the basic directions printed right on it? "so they didn't give a damn" ya, RTFM! Anyway.

This thread is entitled cozies and now that I think about it, the original reason my friends gave me crap about my paddle cozy was because of my stove cozy - that little padded orange sack that came with my first (brown) Peak1. Remember orange and brown being trendy colors for kitchens and/or some friend's mother with the flowered toaster/blender/? cozies and the living room no one was allowed to enter? (Maybe that was a Wisconsin thing.) Anyway, at the takeout Carol spotted my paddle cozy ... It's funny to this day. Too bad me and mine are spending new year's eve at home this year.

I doubt this story has changed much over the years but I know I've told versions of it before. It was two/three trips for us before anyone even considered taking a tarp much less a stove. (We were DUM-dumb but I did admit the tarp was a comfy addition.) A few years later I brought a stove it was like sacrilege. Oooh! And the three FDs - in the original packaging that went with it? Ouch! Every time someone would open the food pack they'd make some smart comment or another. Although I have to admit it was fun as I did it too.

That was a simple, 3x2 portage, base camping trip. Three couples, ten days. Two days in, days out. Botta Bing Botta Bang Botta Boom. Second last day, we packed up in a cold rain that didn't let up and we found ourselves windbound after the third portage. It was miserable and everyone hit their tents but it was way too early for me so I got out and set up the tarp, only to get cold and lonely. Hey, I had a stove in a cozy and the dreaded FD Mandarin Orange Chicken so I made up a batch and coxed my girlfriend out. Slowly but surely, they all proceeded to come out of their tents one by one to what they all say was the best meal they ever had. (Can't stand the stuff myself anymore - too spicy. It did hit the spot that day though.)

Once everyone's spirits were up, we sat under the tarp w/ an extra windbreak around an admittedly smokey fire ... shared the last of the libations ... one of my all time favorite BW/Q memories. We all learned a lot about what it takes to be comfy/happy that day. A little effort at the right time goes a long way. Saving a bit for the rest ... thinking ahead ... that's another good idea.