Happy Birthday to the USA…
Well, we attended the early day festivities here in Florence and they have what they call a Wet or Dry parade. Not sure how it evolved and not sure why other than it usually is pretty hot on the 4th and maybe it is an easy way to wash down at least one block of main street.
We got there early enough and should have brought our own seats, but found a decent bench that the main street has a lot of, to set down. Unfortunately we were a block from the wet end. I did get up and head down to the dividing area to see some of the action and it was “a blast” for those on the wet end, just glad I was dry.
Some how if you made it to the end of the block with out getting wet…. they had that covered…
Down on the dry end before the parade this guy was having a hummm little roll? There is a place called Itty Bitty cakes and has room for about 7 people inside but they have some fine cakes, we got a couple to take back with us as we had already had breakfast.
All of the local police, swat, fire, even some of the surrounding area offices made it through the wet end, but most were inside, with windows rolled up… that float? was a pontoon boat pulled by the local sheriff vehicle and I suppose some of the local dignitaries were inside… see what the folds think of them?
Along comes the city maintenance water truck… this was in the dry end… at the junction in the streets, he got out and threatened the wet crowd, but no one left…
This was their penalty for standing the ground….not a single dry spot down that block…
Yet they all continue to fight across the street and smaller trailers loaded with water tanks and various sprayers went through to fight back the crowds…
As I watched I was amazed at how brave some of the participants were but was certain the Knights in uniform would not tackle the wet crows and …
They didn’t. there were uniformed officers at this junction keeping the peace between wet and dry… and if the parade participant wanted to stay dry they were allowed to divert off at this point.
Generally this junction was strictly adhered to although a few young ones had a problem and were quickly corrected by the officers… “no wet on this side of the street”! or you off to jail…
A lot of the local businesses tried to travel through the parade and face the wet MOB, this was one of the most unique… The storm troopers and Darth and ? but they got the same reception, although they did give a lot back to the crowd.
Even the Classic car group was in but they quickly turned off at the end of the dry run.
Toward the end of the parade were these two cowboys that seem to have gotten the saddle on the wrong animal but hey, if it works ride it.. the guy with the white hat was really popping the whip…
There were a big group of motor cycles and most all went through the “wall or water” , I had moved back down by the time this guy… remember him from the little muffin? got in line… so I am not sure he went through the water but he may have?
Now Florence is tagged (itself) as the antique capital of Colorado… maybe even a wider range than that as 80% of the stores and store space on main is full of antique shops. So when the parade is over we decide to do at least one block… that was enough but got a few pictures of the oddities and old stuff along the way.
That is a closet full of 1880’s to 1910 dresses and there were a lot more in that store. All were supposed to be original and had do not touch with out gloves, etc. the black one is stated it was very old and delicate and might not stand a touch.
one place had this full sheet of beer cans, uncut, probably 30 or 40 can plates here… now I have never heard of this beer and wonder if it smelled and tasted like Hynne?
In one “antique” type store they had all these “used” boots. Yep selling old used boots but appears most were like some of mine… “dress” boots that seldom got used and ended up in the yard sale or at the give away store?
Now for the other oddity we have found… while cruising in Canon City I spotted this house… and the odd marker on the house?
Look close at the top of the spire…not to mention the gold window that is a mirror.
Sure looks like a witches hat to me.
That was just down from the old Catholic Girls school that is now empty , again… They have a lot of other buildings but this was the old original..
So that was out day here, other than tonight we might see some fireworks?
WD0AJG