four to fourth
July 4th is one of my favorite days to be living at the beach, and it always amazes me that I lived here for 7 years without even knowing what a big event it was in the beach cities. The highlight of the day is earlier than I care for, but the best things always are. The Hermosa Beach Ironman kicks off the day between 10 and 11am, but this is no ordinary Iron Man. This unofficial renegade event features several hundred guys and gals braving a one mile surfboard paddle followed by a one mile run before downing a 6-pack of beer. The first contestant to hold the beer in for 20 minutes wins. Needless to say, its a spectacle. As much as the suburbanite nouveau Hermosaans whine perenially about the event, it has managed to survive for more than 25 years, and is always a good spirited romp with no trouble. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. The entire strand from Manhattan to Redondo takes on a party atmosphere, and its the perfect day for the ultimate beach barhop on bikes. Along the way we have run across hot dog eating contests and margarita wrestling, so you never know what to expect. We naturally make a stop at our favorite watering holes, including Naja's, which is also the perfect place to catch the fireworks at the end of the day. If you're in the area, feel free to come along for a beachin 4th.