Bonfires

Another memory of bonfires.
On the beach when young,
The salt soaked wood making that special tantalizing smell only salt water can make,
the sense of smell and taste.
The waves beating against the shore, wave after wave after wave, after wave.
The smoke from the salt water soaked wood rising and making a steamy smoke in the air. The crackling, fire spitting out little spurts of fire bursting in the air with a snap.
The smell of sand of many days and nights being beaten against the shore, and a few days of hot sun beating down, roasting it.
Those fires where just that....a fire to keep warm in the cold northern California air. To keep the night at bay and the body warm. They were wonderful.

Bonfires now are of the woods, the smell of the woods, rising to the air and giving off scents of moss, bark, rain soaked and dried leaves, and anything and everything gathered to make the fire roar, into the night. Rising in the dark, filling the animal eyed darkness with soft light from the campfire, the bonfire. They are also fire to cook the food, the steaks, chicken, toast, hamburgers, ribs and fish of many a night. Potatoes and corn wrapped in tin foil and cooked in the coals pulled away from the fire so not to burn them.