July 4th.

July 3rd in Juneau Alaska is a pretty magical night. The law states that it's illegal to shoot fireworks on any day that's not July 4th, so the city decides to set off a gorgeous display the night of July 3rd, because it gets dark so late at night. The entire city comes to Douglas Island, or the Marine cruise ship docks downtown to watch the 15 minute display. Normally I feel ambivalent to fireworks, yet in Juneau its different. The surrounding mountains create a special kind of acoustic effect where the "boom" from the exploding fireworks is bone shakingly deep. It's unreal.

Above, me, Ally, Erin, Andrew and Jr. Kane all digest delicious prefireworks salmon, ceviche, and fruit salad before heading out on the town.

I met up with "the masters" (newly graduated Masters in Teaching students Emily Waters and Chris Bacehowski) to watch the display on the city docks at Marine Park downtown.

The next morning I somehow dragged myself of bed and into a kayak spray skirt decorated like the AK state flag (with petticoat!) and joined the Juneau power ladies to help Erin hold the banner for their kayak drill team spirit group in the July 4th Parade. Erin and I held the signage and marched through downtown as the ladies twirled their kayak paddles and danced through the throng of watching Juneauites. The entire town was out on the streets for the parade! It was great. I think I saw everyone I have ever met in town...unreal. Erin on the left, me on the right.

getting ready for the parade. The weather reached 90 degrees!!!


After the parade downtown, Erin, Andrew and I took bikes across the bridge to Douglas Island for the parade over there. We ate Polish Sausages, fry bread from local frybread genius Garfield, and settled down at Island Pub for a still and spicy bloody mary.

Later after snacks and drinks I joined a boat party which transitioned to a house party on Douglas...met a bunch of great people, and biked home after the longest, funnest, and more tiring day ever. whew! The Juneau love affair continues....