Independence Celebrated, Family loved

Ahhhh. Summer. I'm sad that my fave holiday is in the rearview mirror. This year Independence Day landed on a Tuesday, resulting in a "dangling holiday". That means we didn't have a 3-day weekend. Paul and I went to work as usual on Monday but took vacation at noon after some six hours of hard toil on the rock pile. (insert cubicle).

We spent a couple hours at home and hung out with the pooch. Paul loaded the bikes on the car and we packed some water and bag chairs. I got Odie's kennel out because when the fireworks started flying, she would find that comforting.

July 3rd was a big night in DSM - we headed downtown to ride north on the Neal Smith Trail - past the Botanical Garden. The trail runs through a neighborhood and along a park. Then it goes by Birdland Marina, noting a bar called Capt. Roy's. After we missed the trail turn, we ended up...guess where. Back at the bar drinking ice cold (not for long because it was really hot out) Ruthie lager in tallboy cans.

Birdland Marina - before they put boats in

The bar overlooks the marina - a place I'd only seen one time before, and that was during winter. This seemed like a whole new place - bursting with activity. Birdland Marina was full of boats. People were on them. They were sitting by them grilling and chatting. And people were sitting to the right at Capt. Roy's under umbrellas, watching the boats. It was grand, like being at a tiny LOTO (Lake of the Ozarks). People came and went, overloading boats - heading up river and down.

The bad part about hanging at the marina was the uphill ride back to downtown DSM. We conquered though, loading the bikes back on the car back downtown. We decided to walk to Guru for barbecue. There was a bit of a wait thanks to all the activity - an Iowa Cubs game, live music at Nitefall on the River and the big deal - Yankee Doodle Pops.

Our view at Nitefall on the River

After eating we settled into our bag chairs for live music and then after dark, fireworks. The first couple bands at Nitefall on the River weren't that great, but the headliner was good. People watching was great. Paul and I liked watching families throwing Frisbees and eating together. Fireworks were fabulous! I think they've invented new colors and shapes. Kudos to the shooters.

check out the root systems - good discussion with Paul about this

Love paddling with my honey

On the 4th of July, we put the kayaks in the truck (much easier loading that putting them on top of a car) and drove to Raccoon River Park. It was nice a quiet. We shared the water with ducks, a few other boats and a blue heron. The rest of the day was pretty quiet until out neighbor began to shoot their own cache of fireworks. Odie and her parents weren't entertained. Leave it to the professionals. We had to work on Thursday, so the late night sound effects sucked. And then there was the whole back to work thing.

At least we got to look forward to the Friday arrival of Jud. Kara traveled Thursday to Denver for Amy's bachelorette party weekend in Nederland. We got the "boys". Jud, Henry and Archie, the yipping puppy. They were great and hey, Odie's kennel was already out for her to huddle in.

Jud wanted to ride bikes, so we took him to the High Trestle Trail. We hadn't been there all summer. It was a beautiful summer morning, not too hot. It was fantastic to get a chance to spend time with our favorite boy doing something fun. It sounds like the girls had a grand time too - all 13 of them.

Summer. Don't you love it?