Holidays
Kingston
Living Aboard a Boat
Independence Day the Kingston Way
Friday, July 07, 2017TheCambriansCreated with flickr slideshow.
The last time I celebrated the Fourth of July was probably
20 years ago, but I’m only guessing. It
was then that Sally the Dog came into my life (David followed suit a few years
later). Like most dogs she was deathly afraid of fireworks. But unlike most dogs,
she took her fear out on my side of the bed – by peeing on it. Needless to say,
I did whatever I could to steer clear of pyrotechnics over the years . . . or
anything else that might upset Miss Sally. So, apart from teasing David about England losing its greatest colony in a war, we’ve never
celebrated the occasion (D’s British and claims his countrymen were too busy
fighting Napoleon to handle the job themselves – but just because the facts
support him on this doesn’t mean he’s right, lol).
This
year was different. After spending four weeks stuck in a hardstand in Olympia, we desperately needed to clean Cambria and get back to work listing her with a local yacht
broker. Thanks to a last-minute cancellation at the Port of Kingston, we were able to do just that Sunday afternoon.
We’re
not ones for crowds, but our need to move forward in this (seemingly) never-ending
process outweighed our disdain for being surrounded by the masses. And I’m glad
that it did.
I
have to admit, the 241st anniversary of our country’s birth didn’t
feel like a cause for celebration to me. I won’t get too political, but I harbour
a strong dislike of the current administration based on their heartless policies
and propensity to lie, to say the very least. So for me it felt more like a day
of mourning, but Kingston changed that.
For
a small community, they sure know how to throw a party. The festivities began
on Monday with bouncy castles and blow-up ball rooms set up at the Village
Green. There was a talent show, live music, races for the kids, and hot dogs
throughout the day. In the evening, things moved to Mike Wallace Park (the
marina’s backyard) where there was a beer garden and more bands. It was
impressive.
Tuesday
started off with a pancake breakfast at the local yacht club which was followed
by a fun run. Meanwhile, the farmer’s market was in full swing at the marina. By
noon, the main street was cleared of traffic and
spectators where lining the road to watch the 4th of July parade – the longest running one west of the Mississippi, or so they say.
This
year’s theme was “Independence Day the Kingston Way” and it was a true community event with entries
from the fire department, sheriff’s department, local schools, businesses, and
bands. People cheered. Candy was thrown. And everyone had a great time. Our
favourite float was one of the last ones featuring a Star Wars theme with
dozens of marching Princess Leias (including a slave version pulling a paper
mache Jabba the Hutt). They even had a cantina band – it was brilliant!
While
events were taking place for the kids at the Village Green, we hid out on the
boat until the evening. With a blanket in hand, we walked up to Mike Wallace
Park to listen to some live music, eat a couple of hot dogs, and people watch. We
never made it over to the beer garden, darn it!
Homebodies
at heart, we packed things up after an hour or so and came back to Cambria where we sat on the aft deck and listened to the bands
while we waited for the fireworks to start. For simplicity’s sake, I decided to
use the iPhone to take pictures but wished I hadn’t. The show was fantastic and
the photos don’t do it justice, so please don’t judge it by them.
So
if you’re looking for a great place in Puget Sound to celebrate the 4th of July next year,
give Kingston a try. You won’t be disappointed. But call early
for a reservation. The marina is completely booked by 10 o’clock on the morning of January 2nd – it’s
that good.
How about you? Did you do anything special to celebrate
the 4th of July or did you avoid the crowds and hide out somewhere?
