A Fourth to Remember

Joanna and I spent last weekend out on the Western Slope, venturing over a bunch of mountain passes we had never crossed before. Thankfully the weather has warmed up some, allowing us to travel higher without being turned around by large snow fields. As an added bonus, the 4Runner accomplished 22 mpg during the trip! We stayed those few nights near Crawford with the overly-gracious Lance and Laura, and the overly-cute baby Seth.

For our 4th of July, we had the opportunity to travel to Ouray for their festivities and fireworks. The small town, nestled in the midst of a slew of mountains, boasts an impressive fireworks show every year. It was accordingly packed with people when we drove in, with most congregated in a two-block section of main street. I asked Lance what they were doing, and he told me that the fire department was having water fights. Of course I had to get closer in and watch the fun.

The crowd was assembled around the intersection of 6th and Main, as the next two teams prepared to contend with their fire hoses. These friendly combatants consisted of two men apiece, each man armored with heavy clothing and a motorcycle helmet, sharing a fire hose hooked directly to a hydrant. I stood as close as possible with my camera, waiting for the games to begin. I was only able to clearly see the red team, so they became my team to cheer for. Then, without much introduction, the spraying began.

Each team dug into position and sprayed as much water as they could on the other team, aiming mainly for the head and neck.

The water fight became one of endurance, with every man almost immediately soaked in freezing water and standing rigidly in position. The minutes ticked away; each team had its share of close calls, the crowd responding in cheers and tense escalation whenever one faltered.

My red team held on well, as the fifteen or so minutes passed by. But the end came quickly, as my red team decided to advance on their opponents.

The crowd roared in excitement, but it was not to be. The second man of the team got knocked out by a blast of water, leaving only the first to contend.

He couldn't last long alone, and he didn't. But in a water fight that is staged for fun, even the losers walk away with smiles. And really wet clothes.

After watching the firefighters play, we drove up to the west side of town and found a spot to park for the evening. Some friends of Lance and Laura were there already, and let us share in their cookout. All that was left was to enjoy the beauty and wait for the fireworks to start.

After some tinkering with the G12, I was able to catch some interesting shots of the fireworks exploding out in front of us. But the most unique part of the show was the loud, long echoes of the show all around us. Ouray on the 4th is worth the drive for that reason alone. Thanks to Lance and Laura, and to everyone else who spent time with us last weekend. Thanks to Ouray for keeping fun traditions alive every year. And thanks to God for the resonant mountains!