Happy Birthday America – 2005

My alarm clock was going off but I did not want to get up. But I had to because I was going to the river today. I got my boat hooked up to my truck and headed to get Loren. We went to the gas station and filled up my truck and the boat with gas. I was worried that there would be problems with the boat still. But I was holding out hope.

We went to Safeway and got some food and supplies. Then we waited from Russell to show up. Nik was going to meet us down there around two pm. Russell was on Russell time, meaning he was late. But that is what we expect from Russell.

We got down to the launch and readied the boat for launch. Once in the water it fired up right away. I was very pleased. We got out into the open water and I let it idle as I cleaned off some dirt that gathers as it sits outside between times out boating. Then we started to cruise around. It was running nicely. I was very pleased.

We went to Granite Point and Russell jumped off the cliff. After that we cruised around for a while sort of sticking around by Granite Point looking for Nik from time to time.

Russell wanted to waterski. So we got the skis out and the tow rope hooked up. Russell got up on his first attempt and skied very well as we cruised down the river. Loren video taped it. Russell finally crashed one time over the wake. Then we broke out the tube. Russell went on it first. Then I showed Russell how to drive the boat with someone on the tube. I let him drive around for a little while to get use to driving the boat and making turns and using the throttle.

I went out tubing for a little while. It was nice. I rode it backwards and had a great time doing it. It felt good to get into the water and have some fun out there. I have not done it very often over the last two year because most of the people who go out with me are not experienced boaters.

We looked for Nik a few more times over the next couple hours. It was clear after a while Nik was not going to make it. So around five o’clock we called it a day and headed to the boat launch. We were waiting for the people in front of us to go in. Then a boat cut in front of us and took the launch. They looked right at us and took it. We were mad about that. While they were cutting in front of us another boat drove into the docking area. They it left. He dropped off someone who got a truck and backed it down, so we got cut in front of again. Loren flipped off the guy in the truck.

Loren’s Middle Finger

The guy got out of his truck and started to yell at Loren for flipping him off. Loren said he was waving not flipping him off. The guy told Loren he would “bust your nose.” We got our boat out of the way and let the second set of cutters in front of us. Then we got our turn finally.

We pulled the boat out. We put the covers on it and unloaded everything. Then we headed back to Safeway to drop Russell off. He fell asleep on the way back. He had not slept at all since he went to work last night.

Loren and I went to his place. We cooked up some hamburgers. I was very tired, but I wanted to go to the fireworks show in the park. Loren and I decided to take the bus up there. We drove to Safeway. I got some pop and snacks to have up there and then we waited at the bus stop. We took the bus to the park and found a good spot. I laid out my beach towel to mark our spot.

I talked to Glenn about my announcing for the football games. Then I went down to the fire engines and talked to the people down there for a while. Then I went back to our spot. I took a couple pics of Loren when we were standing around. Sort of artistic type shots.

Ansel Adams Shot of Loren

More Adams’ work with Loren

Once the fireworks started a little after ten o’clock PM I took some pictures of the fireworks.

Fireworks over Pullman

Fireworks over Pullman

Fireworks over Pullman

Fireworks over Pullman

Fireworks over Pullman

Following the show we got on a bus, but it was slow going. It took about twenty minutes to get back to Safeway. I took Loren home and then I headed home myself, because I had to go to Seattle in the morning.