Have a Safe Happy July 4th

A Bicyclist waits for it to get dark and watch the fireworks at Cascades Falls Park

I remember one year back in 1976. My Uncle Jerry was visiting from Maryland and Dadio decided we all should watch the Cascades Waterfalls. Dadio had left his parking lights on so his battery went dead and after the fireworks we all packed into my 1974 Pinto Wagon. It was a tight squeeze and the shocks bottomed out a few times hitting some bumps but we all made it home. Momio called from home to get a towtruck to give Dadio a jump. The first public showing was May 10, 1932. The Falls are 500 feet in length and have 16 falls with hundreds of different colored lights. The many color combinations are spectacular. A new sound system and computerized lighting were installed in 1983. Seating in front of the Cascades can seat 3,000 people. And many times a Band will play on the small stage. The Cascades Falls Park even has its own Ice Cream Paulor and it was packed today! Also there is a 911 Memorial. A piece of the World Trade Center. You can definately tell that piece of steel was in a very hot fire. You can see the Cascades Falls in the upper left of this photo. They aren't in color yet as it is too bright out . This year was very hot, it was prob 86F at 9 pm. In fact as I.m writing this it is 100F out and suppose to be 100F Thursday and Friday. We need rain badly. I'd guess to say at least 60,000 to 80,000 people watched the fireworks this year. Many came on bikes [I got 4 pics] and many even had their dogs with them. I saw a beautiful Husky Puppy and a Greyhound and a few Pugs and Chihuahuas. A guy drove his 1965 Lincoln Continental Convertable. Red-Orange, a wonderful car. As I was riding Betty Lou [my bike] home, I could barely see the thousands of people sitting on the Cascades Park lawn. Every time a firework went off and spread its majestic colors in splender, it cast a golden glow over the crowd. A Full Moon helped to illuminate a certain erieness of wonder and delight to all the children there. Each time I hear the rockets take off, I looked behind me while on my bike and watched each glorious color and shape. One nice thing also- I avoided the mad rush after the fireworks had finished. Let me just say- You don't want to get caught in traffic as thousands of families are scrambling to get home and me on Betty Lou would be like 2 sitting ducks. This is Jimio saying *Ride for Fun* *Ride for Health* *Ride ahead of the Madening Crowds*