There is a proper way to enjoy a campfire, although its not a serious topic as I don’t know of one single person who doesn’t enjoy a fire. For anyone who loves the great outdoors a campfire is a beautiful thing as well as a necessity. People have been building campfires since the beginning if recorded history.
Sitting by an open fire when it’s cold and wet outside is many people’s idea of a perfect winter evening bit its just as wonderful in the summer, especially if you’re camping by a lake or river. Now an anthropologist claims that this love for the hearth is deeply ingrained and borne out of evolution. Studies has shown that sitting next to a logfire causes our blood pressure to drop and leaves us feeling more at ease. The reason for the relaxing effect harks back to prehistoric times when Stone Age man socialised around camp fires and felt safe and warm while bonding with friends, he claims.
You can even sit by a campfire all by yourself and contemplate the world around you or solve some of life’s most troubling situations. Having people around you is so much better but the fire doesn’t care. It will soothe everyone regardless of size.
Animals are even drawn to campfires for many reasons. One of which is sound, smell and curiosity. It’s been long stated that horses feel very comfortable around a campfire.
The size of your campfire is important and having the proper wood makes all the difference in the world. Hardwoods burn the
best and the oak, locust and cherry woods throw off the perfect amount of heat. If you happen to be in the area of shed bark hickory trees you can break off the bark and use them as kindling to start your fire. The fire is a signal for the end of the day and the beginning of the day. You can cook your dinner at night or heat up the coffee in the morning all by campfire.
Telling stories and legends are very much part of the campfire lore even if you get creative and make them up. That’s half the fun. But, you can tell any story you like and make it fun. If you play or can strum a guitar I promise that will sound better if you’re sitting around a campfire.
The only drawback to sitting by a campfire if you’re in Wisconsin are the mosquitos. Mosquitos can ruin your visit and literally drive you inside. I cannot stand putting on bug spray as it gives me an uncomfortable sticky feeling so I will add layers of clothing before bug spray, but that’s just me.
There is a time at night when the sun can no longer fight the darkness and it gives way. That light is one of my favorites times of the day. The colors seem more vibrant and the flame from the fire seemed to stand out better against the mid level darkness. Everything seems different and it doesn’t last long. The light can no longer fight it and the darkness wins. The color of the skyline is a dazzling display of reds, purples, blues and yellows and I’m sure poems, songs and stories by the thousands have been written about those few minutes.
Sitting by the fire is one of my favorite things to do and I will do it every night if possible.
