This was the phrase of the night on saturday.

>In short, my R.A. and a few of us had been craving to go to the North Beach, so we did.
Originally our plan was to go down in time to see the sunset which most of knew probably wouldnt end up happening seeing as we were leaving RedStone at 6pm to get there).

>HOWEVER, we decided to go for it anyways.
We all got on the off-campus bus and headed off to city market for our burgers, buns and chips. Let me just say that City Market it quite a packed store and quite tiny. I've never seen so much food packed into such a tiny store.

>Once we figured all of that out we began the hike to North Beach (which is approx. 2.5 miles from campus). Chips and sodas in hand, we were off. The sun was just beginning to set as we passed the main streets of downtown Burlington. After about a 45 minute walk through some rather sketchy areas of Burlington , Tania's distinct voice rang out " WE'RE HERRREEE!"

>So (after obtaining permission from the parker rangers) we ventured into the dark, in search of a charcoal grill by the shore. We found one and lit the coals. I have to say it was quite an interesting experience cooking out in the dark, with a charcoal grill, tongs and very little else. One of the kids in my building (who previously worked at a burger joint) was manning the grill and I was his trusty sidekick (using my camera to take pictures of the burgers & hot dogs so we could tell if they were done).


>The group all huddled around the grill anxious for the food to be done. My RA and two friends who were fasting from Ramadaan, were especially hungry. Finding the buns, chips and condiments was quite an adventure in the dark. Thank gosh for cell phone with bright back lights.
[One girl got very ambitious and decided to go swimming..yes ... swimming in Lake Champlain in the middle of the night amidst all the cold wind and fact that she could barely see her own hand in front of her face. How she found this "fun" I will never understand. We all secretly believed that she would get eaten by Champ if she had swam out further.]

>After devouring our feast, we decided to go down to the sand (literally six feet away) and play some beach soccer. The feeling of sand between my toes on the shores of Vermont seemed a bit out of place, but was a blast nonetheless. As the clock struck 9pm the security guard came speeding down on his little off-roading golf cart and informed us that the park was closed and that we needed to leave. So we pack up our wrappers (using the bright headlights instead our cell phone's backlights, to actually see what we were doing.)

>We ventured back up the hill to the parking lot of the local high school and decided to take turns cramming ourselves back in one of the girls cars (who had met us there). I chose to stay in the second group, so that I could star gaze as I waited for my turn to ride back to campus in the stuffed subaru outback.

>The group that stayed behind decided lay down in the grass of the school yard and stare up into the crystal clear sky, just in awe of the massive sky and illuminous stars. I am proud to say that I saw three shooting stars that night. It was so peaceful and serene to not be surrounded by loud crazy college kids (normally the case on saturday nights at any campus) and just be able to really relax and soak everything in. We all squinted and groaned when our ride returned flashing her headlights trying to find us in the grass.
>So then we all crammed into the trusty subaru and rode back to campus ( instead of attempting to navigate the roads of Burlington in the pitch dark). Aside from a great appreciation for the lake beaches and school yards of Vermont, I ended up with numerous pictures of burgers and hot dogs from the grill on my digital camera.


_charlotte snowe