Spot It, Sandstorms & Swags
There’s something about playing a dumb game under the stars that makes you feel like you’ve got life figured out.
It was one of those nights down the beach, tucked up against the dunes, wind howling like it had something to prove. We’d camped in a bit of a wind pocket sand whipping over the top, but we were in the bunker. Dusty, but solid.
Just me and two of the boys. One of them I hadn’t seen in ages and one i hadn't met before but was a friend of a friend. His Mate was rolling in a Y62 Patrol so decked out it looked like it’d been prepped for Mars. Lifted, lit up like a UFO, rooftop tent, coffee machine, probably made toast too. Every bell and whistle you could bolt on, he’d done it.
Naturally, we gave it to him.
“Where’s the butler, mate?”
“Can I plug my hair straightener into your inverter?”
“Does it come with a barista, or are we roughing it?”
It was too windy for a fire, gusts were sending sand sideways occasionally, and nothing was going to stay lit without risking a runaway. So instead, we flicked on a couple of camp lights, and chucked some decent jackets on, and someone pulled out Spot It.
That fast-paced card game that turns adults into wild-eyed lunatics and makes you question if your brain even works after a couple of beach beers.
Three grown blokes, hunched over in the sand, battling it out while the wind tried to snatch the cards and blow the laughter straight out of us. We’re shouting symbols like maniacs:
“CACTUS!”
“SNOWMAN!”
In between rounds, we swapped stories about old rigs, worse decisions, and how time somehow sprints between camping trips.
It wasn’t a wild night. No parties, no Instagram sunsets. Just three mates, some flapping swags, a big night sky overhead, and a card game that somehow made it all just right.
So next time you’re out there down the beach, up the bush, wherever the track leads don’t forget to pack the simple stuff:
A few lights,
A couple of solid yarns,
And a game that brings everyone in, even when the sand’s in your teeth.
Oh and if your mate shows up in a shiny, spaceship-level Patrol… remind him that money can’t buy wins in Spot It.
Gear Notes
-
Wind shelter: Tuck in behind dunes or natural barriers makes all the difference on gusty nights.
-
Swags > tents: Easier setup, less to flap around, and quicker to pack when conditions turn rough.
-
10–15psi: Ideal for beach access and moving around near soft dunes.
-
No fire? No worries: Pack some reliable camp lights, lanterns, head torches, and warm LED strips do the trick.
-
Card games: Spot It, Uno, or whatever fits in your glovebox, good laughs, no setup, all ages.
-
Sand stakes & guy ropes: A must in high wind. Keeps your shelter where you left it.