How To Light A Beach Cooking Fire In The Wind

One of our favorite stops is Government Island in the Columbia River near Portland. There was just enough wind so that with our motor not running we had quietly sailed right to the park dock the night before, followed by a very pleasant evening dinner. The next morning we slept in, but finally awoke to the sounds of life at the dock. As the day warmed up our son played in the water, swimming to shore and jumping off the boat. Eventually he tired and announced he would prepare lunch for us on the beach. The boat has a stove, I offered. Its pretty windy I pointed out. We have a microwave, I said as he walked down the dock carrying some newspaper, and a hatchet. I continued reading my book but from time to time noticed a wisp of smoke coming from the nearby beach. My type A personality finally takes charge, so I close my book to go help. Grabbing a small folding back pack saw and my pocket knife I casually stroll onto the overhead gangway leading to shore. From above I survey my son Jaidens fire making progress; he has taken over an old cold campfire. Theres some pretty good size driftwood but no small stuff. Jaiden had been whacking at a few logs making some chips but was never going to get more than one cut before exhausting himself. I yell to him from the bridge truss, do you want some help, I have a saw sure he says. When I get on to the beach Im surprised how much wind is blowing right at ground level. Scattered around half buried are a dozen or so medium size rocks that we arrange in a half circle creating a shield against the increasing wind. Jaiden and I dig a foot deep pit inside the rock barrier throwing the sand around the rocks to better seal the openings. We dont need my pocket knife; Jaiden had brought the big sharp carbon steel knife from the galley. I survey the logs lying about and choose one that still has many limbs and part of a stump attached, its bleached white and has no bark anywhere. Jaiden busies himself whittling shavings for tinder while I start sawing a four inch diameter limb. Soon I have several campfire length pieces of firewood and Jaiden has a big pile of shavings. Using the small hatchet, Im able to split one of my rounds into kindling. I take a jab at Jaiden and mention that I saw smoke earlier but dont see any fire and the newspaper is gone. Next we lay a few pieces of the split kindling on the sand in the bottom of our pit, crossed by a few more leaving a hole in the center. Jaiden fills the center area with his wood shavings making sure to keep the pile loose. I know I have said it before, but I repeat the same story over again that all fires start small and then grow into the size fire that you want, not the other way around like so many beginners think, which is to make a huge pile of newspaper (tinder) covered with a pile of wood. Jaiden saves some of the tinder shavings to add later if needed and has ready some more kindling to add at the right time. We also have a small stack of fuel wood to add after the kindling takes off. When building a camp fire it helps to think about a fireplace with a chimney. The rising heat (this would be the flames) creates a draft up the chimney drawing oxygen in at the bottom of the fire. By building our fire in a pit with a rock wind shield we have essentially made a mini fireplace that will burn using the same chimney draft principles. Some of the shavings Jaiden has made are paper thin and easily ignite with the first match. The small flame grows and as it does we add larger pieces being very careful not to smother the flame. It is very important to not smother the hot flame because that will stop the draft and likely cause the fire to go out. Within a few minutes it is obvious our fire is a winner and will soon grow into a good roasting fire. For cooking over a fire remember you are cooking from the heat of the coals not the heat of the flames. If you insist on placing your pan, griddle, or food in the flames you will be rewarded with burned, bad tasting, black on the outside, cold on the inside hot dogs, and your pans will be soot covered with burned contents. While waiting for our wood to burn down into good cooking coals we prepare our Kielbasa sausages on three foot long cooking forks. Linda brings from the boat folding chairs, drinks, buns and mustard. We have a wonderful lunch; afterwards we pour water on the fire and separate the bigger unburned pieces of wood.