And of course it all went well. There's nothing not to like about Dan and my parents are cute and likeable themselves, so we all got along very well. Friday was a relaxed but short morning. The plan was to arrive at Gasworks Park at the north end of Lake Union early enough in the day to secure a prime viewing spot for the evening's festivities. I had never gone there with the intention of saving space, so I really didn't know how early to start. We shot for noon. A picnic was packed, blankets and chairs were tossed into the car and we were off. A quick stop to pick up Kathy (who had packed a cooler full of cold drinks) and then we were at the park. Jay, from my Oregon adventure had decided to join us and followed us to the park on his bike, having ridden up from Vancouver, WA earlier. The five of us found a great spot and the day was perfect for sitting out on the grass. It was also fun to watch the crowds gather and I think Mom and Dad were impressed by the sheer number of people who filtered in over the next nine hours. Boats of all types plied the waters of the lake while police boats shooed them away from the barge. Kites filled the skies and people of all ethnic backgrounds surrounded us. It was a scene of constant motion and entertainment.

There were vendors, childrens' games and business displays in some areas and we all took turns walking around and checking out the sights. Finally, around 10pm the show started. Each year the fireworks are launched from a barge that has been towed to the middle of Lake Union, giving us a view of the city's skyline as a backdrop for the explosive show. And now I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story: