have a bonfire on the beach at night

friends, beer, smores, pictures and fires.
one day <3

I lived half my childhood on North Padre Island, so beach bonfires were a wonderful event my family did usually twice a month. Now that I live 4 blocks from the beach in San Francisco, I’ve done this a time or two here.

It’s so worth it. Bring a very fun group of friends, some blankets or warm clothing in case it gets chilly, loads of wood (wood palettes work well), a legal place to do it and go for it! Bring several coolers of drinks and if there are sand dunes, play “dune tag.” There’s no better work out than running up and down sand dunes in the cool of the night, feeling the breeze of the ocean blow gently past you while your adrenaline is pumping. Dune Tag is like Hide and Go Seek, but at night with only the light of the fire and possibly some moonlight, it’s VERY fun. Just be sure the dunes you play in are free of sharp objects (broken glass, etc.). Make one car nearby “base” and go for it!

While in the Marines I was stationed at Beaufort SC, and I would go out to Hunting Island State Park and camp out for weeks at a time. At night I would go down by the shore and build a fire. I don’t think I was ever so much at peace with myself at any other time. You can forget everything else in the world. I long to feel that way again.

The Puente class was having a bonfire, and since I know a girl in Puente pretty well, and their counselor, I was invited to their bonfire at night in Huntington Beach.
It was one of the most memorable nights I’ve had this year. We threw a lot of things int othe fire: weenies, marshmellows…wrappings…since this girl was a pyro and wanted to just burn everything.
We had an undeclared competition with this other group with who made a larger fire. They won, but we were pretty loud and sang happy birthday to everyone there.

I’m going to another bonfire next week—this time with friends.

eh

here in peru where i live we have bonfires on the beach every summer. i definitely recomend it, there is nothing like seeing the faces of your friends lit by firelight while hearing the ocean next to you.

and hopefully many more to come.

I remember a spectacular one I built out of driftwood with my family…to quote Longfellow: By the shores of Gitche Gumee/By the shining Big-Sea-Water,(northern shore of Lake Superior). The wind howled and thrashed our tents all night long, sometimes collapsing the flimsy material into our faces; the poles couldn’t withstand the force of their gale. I just thought the whole thing was magical, having been a fan of “The Song of Hiawatha” for the longest time!!

until next summer and unti I find people I want to do this with.

I live about 5 minutes walking distance from the beach and bonfires on the beach for me are alot funner than spending the day on the beach. Its been a while since I have done this and would really like to get a group of friends together to do it again