I drove up to Seattle yesterday, so Mark and I could enjoy one last fireworks show (from his lovely picture window with a view of Lake Union) before he gives up this apartment and moves to Portland this fall.
We took a long walk in the afternoon, down the Burke-Gilman trail, through Gasworks Park to see the gathering crowd-and-carnival, and to remind ourselves of how much we hate crowds and how lucky we are to have said picture window. Then we walked on and sat a while by the Ballard locks, watching fish jump and boats go by. Then walked back here, made a nice dinner as we watched people continue to pour into the park, as the cops blocked off streets to traffic, etc.
After it got dark (10pm or so, I love how late it gets dark this time of year!), we sat in the window, waiting, then noticed a huge plume of black smoke coming from what looked like the center of the gathering. Hmmm, we thought. That doesn’t look right.
Then the sirens, then the firetrucks and other emergency vehicles converged…(both on land and on the water)
Turned out it was a fire in one of the boat yards–the one with the boats stacked three or four high, out of the water. Started by illegal fireworks, of course; fortunately, no one was injured (except a firefighter hurt his knee). Could have been so much worse!
Anyway, when the official fireworks show finally started, it was great. And so nice to watch it from up here, and not get caught in that monstrous tangle down there…we watched people, cars, and bikes inch out of there for ages afterward.
Today, as soon as this fog lifts, I think we’re going to go kayaking. Dinner with friends tonight; a barbecue tomorrow. And that’s the adventure from here!