When I think about what fire means to the world, it’s hard to argue it isn’t one of the greatest discoveries of mankind. I find myself picturing how it was first discovered and trying to piece it together. Was it from flint striking rock, natural wildfires, maybe volcanic eruptions. But what it meant for people is unmatched. Cooking food, boiling water, safety from the night. It allowed people to build, create, and eventually form civilizations. It meant safety.

I picture people gathering around fires to share, cook food, eat together, feel safe, and rest. It kept people warm in the cold months and helped basic needs be met so they could focus on something beyond survival.

Today, the idea of a bonfire isn’t all that different. When I spend time with my family, my dad will always have a fire going. As a kid we had a fireplace next to our kitchen and on cold mornings he would have one going. It felt cozy. We still carry that tradition now at family gatherings. We sit around outside and visit. We all have very busy lives, but at my parents’ house we sit around the fire and slow the evening down. Share funny stories, talk sports, catch up on what’s going on. But it’s always still.

It’s my hope that our fires feel like the part of your trip where things slow down. A place where everyone can catch their breath, relax, and just be together for the evening. There is something really special about the rhythm of a beach bonfire. The excitement of being there and the fire just getting started

The coal bed develops, the logs collapse and sparks go. Maybe gas in the wood crackles as it burns. The flames are bright and burn down slowly to just coals. Adding new logs and watching them slowly light and the flame get reignited only to burn back down. Each time the rhythm getting slower and slower. Its a hypnotic rhythm to unwind and relax to. Its ancient and taps into something deep inside us.

– Sayer