Sparklers

Happy Independence Day...

I marked the holiday afternoon by meeting up with these interesting characters...



There's trouble a brewin'...

Then back home for dinner, then out again to take in some fireworks. We had gone to Springfield's always phenomenal display the past couple years, so this year we decided to check out Amherst's. The sky was pinking up as we headed north...



Amherst's fireworks festival was being had behind the UMass stadium. We parked way up the road, and rode our bikes in, to avoid the inevitable human tangle trying to leave afterwards...

It was bigger and more organized than I expected. There were vendors, bands and some rides and activities ringing around the main viewing area, where a mass of people had collected...





This band struck a patriotic theme as we arrived.



This couple could no longer restrain their patriotism (a little unfocused, but you get the idea)



Shortly afterwards, and a few minutes ahead of schedule, the show began...



It was a good one. As soon as the last burst cascaded down from the sky, the mass of people began moving as one for the exits. We tried to pedal wherever we could, but soon found ourselves jammed up, and walking with all the other bicycle-less people. The bicycles, in fact, served only as Albatrosses, in the sea of people; Old ladies scraped their shins on the pedals, bumped their ribs against the handlebar ends, kids got their little glow in the dark light sabres jammed in the spokes. It was a constant stream of "Sorry"..."Woops"..."Watch yourself there"..."

We were slowly swept through a couple parking lots and side roads, and finally into a more thinned out area. We mounted back up and pedalled the last couple hundred feet to the car. A little aggressive driving, and we were free and clear, and motoring back home.

One more stop at Friendly's for a sundae, minutes before closing time...



....and another Fourth has passed...