9.15.09 "Coleman Propane Can Incident of 2009"

This is a can of Coleman Propane after the funniest event that occurred on this trip, and perhaps one of the funniest things I've witnessed in a while. The kind of gasping for air you're laughing so hard in silence kind of event. You'll notice the propane can is all frosted up in the picture and that appears to be the after effects of a rouge dispersion of propane into the atmosphere on par with the space shuttles external rockets on the launch pad...

Its about 11pm and Chad and I are sitting back on some chairs next to the campfire having just enjoyed some campfire food and a few cold ones. The campsite is very quiet as most patrons are are enjoying some early fall rest in the confines of their tents or campers. And its dark...really dark. The only light is front Chads headlamp. All you can hear is the crackle of the fire. Well I guess its time to clean up and head to our respective tents. As Mike remains perched in his campfire chair looking up at the unbelievable stars, Chad elects to disassemble the Coleman stove burner which is nothing more than a burner screwed to the top of the propane canister. eee...eeee...eee...as the top comes off the canister. HIIISSSSSS! and then a huge plume of vaporous propane ejects from the canister at an extreme rate of speed. The sound was loud enough to be heard in 3 counties and Mike is left speechless as Chad makes multiple executive decisions about the fate of the canister in a matter of 24 seconds...most adjusted by the proximity of the propane vapor and the burning fire! The Chad shimmy shake with the glow of his headlamp like a unguided rocket going every which way except at an intended target...screw cap back on, no hide it behind the tents (the fire will never see the propane!), no hold it under the picnic table, no run across the street and let it empty! Oh shit a car is coming should we tell the driver there is a roadside bomb ahead??!! nah...