Fireworks

Our family tradition has been to camp out at the lakefront in Columbia to watch the fireworks but this year we found ourselves in Maine. To make up for it, we watched 2 fireworks displays: one in Bridgton and on in Portland.

On July 3rd, we experienced the small town Maine Fourth experience. We sat on a hillside at the local Bridgton elementary school and celebrated the birth of the U.S.A. It was a quiet, charming night with the family. The fireworks were close by and very enjoyable. Not wicked good, as the Mariners say, but a nice evening. We had about a five-minute backup to get back to the cabin, but things, but altogether a pretty normal drive home.

On the other hand, Portland was insane. On the 4th of July, we arrived several hours early, meeting at the Portland Lobster Company which sits right on the water. There were 16 of us, so we elbowed through the crowd and commandeered 2 picnic tables. Most of us had lobster rolls and beer.  Lines for ordering our food and beer averaged 20 minutes. It was another 30 minutes before we could pick up the food.

We hustled to the park about a mile away, weaving through countless people until we found a grassy spot for all of us. We looked over the harbor, filled with boats where an occasional fireworks exploded into the air. It was a nice warm up to the real thing on this warm pleasant evening.

We listened  to Sousa marches and the 1812 overture as a spectacular fireworks display shown overhead.  It was a memorable evening only matched by the challenge of  navigating our way back  through a massive rowdy crowd with 2 elderly women. We eventually all arrived home, safe and sound. It was quite an ordeal.

The next night we again came into Portland, having dinner at Liquid Riot, getting a table right on the water. It was a mellow night after the huge crowds for Independence Day. We had some simple food for dinner but the vegetarian nachos were scrumptious. They make their own beer, so I got a flight. Here they are:

• Oatmeal Stout – Dry stout. A bit watery for an oatmeal
• Spiritus Sancti – Spicy sweet tripel. Very boozy at 11.7% (The star of the night!)
• Disbelief – Candy sweet with hints of cocoa.
• Saison La Norme – Nice Saison. Mild esters, slightly tart

I had a great time in Portland! Many thanks to Carolyn and Gregg.

Cheers

Warren