Family Traditions

It's kind of funny how when you are young and know everything how little importance you placed on traditions. Sure we all grow up and want our spouses to cook the way our moms did or do something special our fathers did. Sometimes it works out and sometimes not.

This one seems to have stuck. It was probably fifteen years ago a family at our church invited us to go to Grand Haven Mi on the first Saturday in August for the best fireworks we would see for a long time. Not knowing exactly what to expect it was fantastic. There were quite a few people but it was a bunch of fun. The beach, Lake Michigan, the pier, fireworks, and of course a Chiwawa Chili Dog at Butches Beach Burrito. Ah yes, the last big event of summer.

This year was special in that we get to pass down to another generation this tradition. Yes it was colder than normal, a little drizzle and a bunch of wind, the fireworks still were fantastic.

A couple of years ago we started going out to Grand Haven on the Monday before the fireworks for the "Parade of Boats". I guess two boats constitutes a parade.

The photo above was of a Coast Guardsman tossing the line ashore. This was the Ice Breaker United States Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw. This is the second version of this vessel as of 2006. Click on the link to see more of the history on the Mackinaw.

The photo below is of the Bristol Bay. A buoy tender based over in Detroit. This was the first time I had seen the Bristol. These are magnificent vessels wo see maneuver the narrow waters of the Grand River.

I had a good opportunity to grab a snap of my most better half. I was shooting with the 40D and the EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS lens. A little fill flash to work with the hard mid day sun did the trick. I was standing about ten feet away so I could zoom and get a nice bokeh.

I guess that will wrap it up for this week. Enjoy the weekend and we will be back on Monday.

Cya... Doug