It all started about 7:30 pm on July 1, 2017.   We had been to the park earlier, left to go home and then came back to plant our chairs and claim our seats at the East end of Henderson Lake.  This end of the lake gives us a perfect view without feeling crowded or having to smell the smoke wafting off the amazing pyrotechniques used.

I saw very few birds aside from gulls and crows that day.  As the sun started to set, the breeze came up and then the wind started to blow.  Well, gust actually, but it was nice after the hot, hot day we had just been through.  Anyway, just before the sun went down, two people came by with kayaks, set them in the water, put on life jackets and they were off.  It was nice to see them row off into the sunset, I watched them until they rowed under the bridge and were gone.  

Once darkness descended and the time for the fireworks drew nearer,  I could feel the butterflies in my stomach.  I have always liked fireworks and, like a child, I OOH and AAH with excitement.  I always try to take pictures in hopes of getting that iconic shot but in doing so, I sometimes miss watching them.  This year I decided there would be no pictures and I would watch with no “alterior” motive.

As the fireworks began, with what I will call a few false starts (at least in my opinion), there was another sound just North of where we were sitting.  I could here this splashing sound, vigorous splashing, and I wondered why someone would let their child play in the water, in the dark, with no supervision.  It was at this time that Daniel said “Look at the bird”.  As we waited for the official fireworks to start, I saw a Canadian Goose running across the water flapping it’s wings.  He/she ran across the water and almost to the other side before settling in to swim.  And then, just as the first large and bright firework lit up the clear night sky, this goose swam by for all to see.  As majestic as can be, both in silhouette and in colour, everyone saw it.  As the fireworks continued, this goose swam back trailed by about ten others.  It swam back again, only this time there must have been forty swimming along.  Calling out every once in a while but for the most part they swam quietly, back and forth, for the next half hour.

The fireworks themselves were some of the best I have ever seen.   After, as I said, a slow start they were continually lighting up the night sky.  There were star bursts, waterfalls, sparklers and even a happy face.  The colours ranged from bright white to almost a dark purple at times. There were some lower on or near the ground that, when lit, would burst and then go off in different directions looking like multitudes of fireflies, some looked like they were weaving through each other, and others seemed to burst sideways (almost in 3D).  

The best was the end.  After about a half hour or so, they sent up multiple at one time (as usual) but this time it was a little different.  And it was at this time I wished I had decided to take pictures.  As the multitude of colours lit up the night sky there, right in front of us, on the lake was a lone silhouetted kayaker, just floating on the water and taking it all in.  It actually made me choke up a bit.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is why this years fireworks were the most iconic ever.