The Burning Pyre of the Archangel, originally uploaded by hep.

After getting busted by the cops, we built two fires, one the secret drinking at fire, and the second the Christian Singalong fire which would give the signal if the cops were coming. The signal was "Where's my cigerettes?" leading to many amusing false alarms which we decided were disaster drills like in grade school. Duck and cover under your desks kids. Later when we ran out of wood, we abandoned the decoy fire and cannibalized it for the remaining partly burned wood. This is a picture of some of the logs being dumped off the grill that was used to carry them across the frozen wastes. [exp 6 (0.167 sec) @ f/4]

The Burning Pyre of the Archangel, originally uploaded by hep.

Last night was the Ocean Beach bonfire some friends have been planning for a few weeks. Shortly after we got there and literally just when we spread our blanket and sat down the cops walked up and busted the party for drinking beer (zero tolerance no-alcohol policy). However victory was snatched from the jaws of the defeatist pigs (VIVA!) and we just moved the fire about fifteen feet down the beach after they walked off. As they left one of the cops mentioned that soon even the bonfires would be illegal. Later on some folks came by from Save Ocean Beach handing out flyers with the Public Comment Phone Number on it:

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Ocean Beach bonfires are a longtime pastime of myself and many of the social circles I have been a part of. I saw several fires with children last night (children attending, not fires made of children), and often I take my own kids with me to bonfires, as it's free, relatively safe since I watch them as I would in any other public place, and an exciting experience for them. I hope when they grow up they can still go to their own bonfires and have their own social learning experiences. If you have ever been to a bonfire at Ocean Beach, SF, or ever plan to come to SF and want the chance to go to one, please take the time to email or call and let them know. Don't let this traditional sf pastime be lost.

The Burning Pyre of the Archangel, originally uploaded by hep.

bourbon fireblowing
AngryPacket BBQ Bonfire @ Ocean Beach, SF
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ocean beach bonfire, originally uploaded by hep.

bancon 2.0