Fireworks on Lake Union

Evening of 4th July
We went on a boat trip on Lake Union in the evening of Independence Day because we thought that would be a good way to watch the celebratory fireworks. And so it was! We boarded the boat at 7.30 p.m. and cruised up and down the Lake for a while in the warm evening sunshine. By the way people keep telling us that we are very lucky to be having such good weather in Seattle, where the weather can often be very rainy. Lake Union was very busy - everybody in the area who had a boat or knew someone who had a boat was out on the water, and the shores were lined with festive crowds. Along the banks of the lake were rows of very smart houseboats - one of which was Tom Hanks' character's house in the film Sleepless in Seattle. As we cruised past the inhabitants (and what looked like all their friends) waved happily to us. Eventually our boat took up a prime position near (alarmingly near in fact!) the barge of fireworks, ready for the kick off at ten o'clock. However this was delayed because plumes of black smoke had started rising from one end of the lake and the sirens of the fire brigade were heard going to put out a fire in a nearby boatyard. At last the fireworks started and oh boy they were great - perhaps the best fireworks display I have ever seen! It was certainly the nearest I have ever been to a large fireworks display and it was quite deafening! The accompanying music started with the Stars and Stripes, then there was an assortment of upbeat rock music. The display ended with a rendition of God Bless America which I actually found quite moving. Here we were, very many miles from home, taking part in a celebration which was clearly very important to the people of America. I was glad to be there.