Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

July 5, 2012

Bourne on the 4th of July

I have fond memories of going to the July 4th Parade in Sandwich, 'back in the day'.  July 4th really isn't a big deal on the west coast, other than an excuse to drink heavily and light fireworks.  The holiday really means more on the east coast, especially in the 13 Colonies, since this was Ground Zero for the American Revolution.  

When I saw the "Bourne on the 4th of July Parade" banners across Main Street, I decided to go check it out.  We awoke that morning to pouring down rain.  My honey bunny decided to stay home and relax, so I went downtown to take some pics.  It was surprisingly crowded considering the weather.

This was what was promised:  Bourne - 10:00 am - Clowns, bands, floats, fire trucks, sirens, horses, costumes, scouts, veterans and lots of flags will be part of the Fourth of July scene once again along main Street in Buzzards Bay. The parade route will be the intersection of Academy Drive and Main Street to the Bourne Veterans Memorial Community Building.

The reality was something else, altogether ("the reality was something else").  Let's just say that Bourne didn't get the A List participants.  We didn't even get the B List participants.  Russell was smart to have stayed home and dry, while I got somewhat soaked, hoping that the parade would get better.  There were about 3 or 4 clowns, a few flags.  No marching bands at all.  Not even Bourne High School. No horses.  Maybe 4 floats. Can't recall seeing scouts or many veterans.  Mostly it was military vehicles, cop cars, fire trucks and then all the town vehicles, including the street sweeper.  There were 2 bagpipe bands.  I texted Russell that it would have been nice to see his truck in the parade because at least it would have added some colour.



I do love the old firetruck brushbreakers.


These pipers were pretty good but they didn't do my fave, "Scotland the Brave" till after they'd passed by me.




Cape League baseball team The Bourne Braves.

Jeep Club of Cape Cod.  This was when things really started to get lame.

Bourne Scenic Park is a seasonal trailer park near the Canal.

Really?

Were they paying these town guys time and half, plus fuel costs for this?


Then I thought, finally, here come the floats and stuff!



Did they really pluck the whale out of the garden at Barlow's Clam Shack for this?

At least Monument Beach had it together enough to do a float.


Best one in the parade.  I got 2 strands of beads!

Aleppo Shriner's Fire Brigade.



A few local businesses participated.


Farmers.




Because nothing says 'Bourne' like a mariachi band.

And that was just about it.  45 minutes long.  Sorry to be a Debbie Downer but to be honest:  Lamest. Parade. Ever. 

10 comments:

  1. Well as bad as this sounds, the parades here make that one look sort of like Macy's LOL!

    Bet you were glad that it was a little overcast to keep the heat down a bit. :)

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  2. I think it looks like so much fun! I love the hometown parades - they are the best!

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  3. Anonymous12:35 PM

    Rain outside of the UK? I'm stunned!

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  4. Yeah, yesterday's weather in the Northeast wasn't conducive to a fun in the sun Independence Day. Good for you, for getting out there, even though it rained. I was home all day with a nasty headache. Blah. :-)
    Some Dark Romantic

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  5. Small town America at its finest.

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  6. euw - this is so like carnivals back home - can't really see the point,tho

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  7. What a sweet parade! We dot get them here like that !:)

    Hugs,

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  8. Lov the parade! I miss that aspect of life. Used to enjoy it as a kid but hate the big mass of people in the places I have lived recently so we never go.

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  9. Wow. Um... Yeah... not very impressive was it? We didn't have to go to the parade this year because my ex had my daughter and my son hates parades but we figured we would walk down. There were 108 entries this year and some pretty awesome floats. I didn't take my camera with me, so sadly no pictures other then a couple quick ones I snapped on my cell phone of the D.A.R.E. kids for my daughter. I don't understand why our fire department has a team of bagpipe players because it isn't like Southeast Idaho has a large number of Scottish immigrants, but I love them! Love the kilts and I love the sound of the bagpipes. They wander around downtown sometimes practicing and it always makes me smile and chuckle a little.

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  10. **Snort** Well your parade was much bigger than OUR parade! (check my FB page) We had one fire truck, two floats, a couple of bicycles, & 15 equestrians... (but we still had fun)

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