The Optimistic Ontarian

-->

Derek's Fireworks over the Lake

Alisha's fiancé Derek loves fireworks, and he has become quite an accomplished pyrotechnist. His firework shows have become very popular among his family, and he always puts on a spectacular Canada Day show at the family cottage outside Thunder Bay. Since we were visiting, we received an invite to the event this year. In fact although we had intended to head home sooner, we were told in no uncertain terms that we HAD to stay for the Canada Day show.

The weather has been pretty good for the entire trip, and although there has been some rainy days, they really haven't spoiled our vacation. However, the weather forecast for the Canada Day weekend did not look promising, with rain predicted for most of the weekend. Determined to have a good fireworks show, Derek decided he would set them off on Saturday if it was a good day rather then waiting for Sunday and hoping for a break in the forecast rain.

Arriving at the cottage with a car full of fireworks and a table built especially to safely mount the various rockets, cherry bombs and massive firework cakes on a floating dock out in the lake, Derek was informed that the show was scheduled for Sunday, because guests had been invited and could not come on Saturday. When he expressed concern about the rain, his father assured Derek that the forecast called for rain all afternoon, but clearing by 5:00 pm. Now coming from Nova Scotia where even Cindy Day rarely gets the forecast that accurate, I had to share Derek's concern, but his dad was confident.

Sunday dawned with cloud and dark skies on the horizon, and by noon it was raining; “See, just like the forecast said.” was Derek's dad, David's optimistic response.

The Fireworks Table

By 2:00 pm, it was no longer raining, it was pouring, but David checked his phone and reassured us that it was still supposed to clear by 6:00 pm.

At 4:00 pm, the driveway was washing away, the downspouts could not longer handle the deluge of rain, and you needed both a raincoat and an umbrella to go outside. “Don't worry”, David assured us, “The weather forecast is saying it will clear by 7:00 pm.”

It was still raining at 6:00 pm, but not so hard, and perhaps the skies to the west might be a bit brighter. “Yup, we're good, clearing is expected by 8:00 pm” David claimed when everyone pointed out the continuing rain.

Well, David was right. By 8:00 pm, the rain had stopped, and Derek hurried outside to quickly get everything organized and set up. By 9:00 pm, there was actually some blue skies, and they towed the now almost prepared floating dock out into the lake for Derek to complete final preparations.

At precisely 10:00 pm, under a beautiful darkening blue sky, Derek set off an amazing 20 minute firework show. Everyone agreed that it was his best show ever, and David's optimism proved as accurate as the weather forecast.

Ready to go - rain stopped

July Fourth - Fireflies & Fireworks

We arrived in Hershey Pennsylvania on the American holiday, July 4th, and after visiting some of the attractions in Hershey, we came back to the campground to relax and wait for the firework display in the evening. We were told that the best place to see the fireworks was downtown at Hershey Park, but that they were visible from the hill just at the edge of the campground.

We went up early, just as the sun was setting, and as it got darker we could tell from the brighter lights on the horizon where downtown Hershey was, and we settled down to wait.

As the evening deepened we were suddenly surrounded by a mini fireworks display; the fireflies came out. They were everywhere, on the grass, in the trees, and up in th

e darkening skies.  I have seen fireflies before, but not in many years. Do these amazing insects occur in Nova Scotia or was it on one of my trips I experienced them previously? If it was Nova Scotia, what has happened to them?

Fireflies have an amazing impact of children. They do not seem to be able to stop chasing them, but of course they are not easy to catch. I'm sure it is built in defense system, but they seem to just stay lit long enough to be seen, but not long enough to be caught.

After they tired of chasing the elusive fireflies, the children played with glow sticks, and flashlights, and after a few false starts from neighborhood pyrotechnic experts, the sky over Hershey erupted in fireworks. We had a good view of them, and were presented with a good 30 minute show.

Hershey Highmeadow Campground

Regis and I can watch the local fireworks on Natal Day or Canada Day from the house, so we rarely miss them and have seen some impressive displays. These fireworks, probably sponsored by the Hershey company - his name seems to be on everything else, and has a reputation for supporting the community, were excellent. Other than the amazing fireworks in China, where they seem to set off incredible shows for almost any occasion, these were one of the best I have seen.