July 4 – Happy Fourth of July!

Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 74 Location: Barrow, AK

This morning was a lazy Sunday. I woke up early to watch the Wimbledon Men’s Finals on my cool satellite television here in the NARL Hotel. The Finals started at 5 am, but I didn’t really wake up all of the way. I kind of drifted in and out of sleep, while I watched. It probably would have helped if I had actually gotten out of bed – but I was TOO sleepy. Smile

Finally, I got up to go see about breakfast, but I had forgotten that it was Sunday and there is only Brunch. So I came back and watched the rest of the Finals. The rest of the morning was also sleepy; I watched the Mariners and catnapped all morning. I must have needed to get caught up on a lot of sleep – darn 24 hour daylight.

After a quick bite, we all got busy on the float for the parade. Well, it was the Aerosonde BASC truck with balloons, computer-printed logos for each science group and an Aerosonde plane on top. We quickly made big copies, taped them and the balloons on the side, attached the plane and went into town (at 15 mph) to get in line.

Our BASC float

Kim, Kirstin and Daniel went to get candy at the Stuaqpaq and bought 3 big bags of mixed candies. We thought it would be plenty! Ha, Ha!

Kim, Kirstin and Daniel with candy for the parade

The parade wound through town and we were followed by the town fire trucks, blowing their horns and sirens.

The parade behind us

As we went through town, people lining the sides of the road, waved and yelled “Happy Fourth of July!”

Parade spectators

We tossed candy to them. Kids (and adults) scrambled to grab them and put them into their bags.

Parade spectators scrambling for candy

It was great fun – until we ran out of candy. About ¾ of the way through – we were out. Sad

When we got to the fairgrounds – where the Nalukataq had been – the parade stopped and we had a flag salute. An Inupiat woman sang the Star Spangled Banner and they played Taps to remember those who had died to protect our freedoms.

Flags at the fairgrounds