YESTERDAYS PARADE HAD to go through a few water puddles on Main Street. Over night it rained again but that was just dessert to the thunderstorms that came through this end of the lake just as the sun was setting into Lake Iwanttobethere. Labor Day arrived with some clouds in the sky and much better weather conditions. The humidity of the last few days was greatly reduced and you could now walk around town and not have to have cold towel around your neck. It looks like a lot of the tent campers gave up and pulled out early, a couple of inches of rain in an hour will make you think twice about outdoor camping.
Parade started at one and I think everyone in town was on hand to either watch from the curb or be in it. I was lucky enough to find a place alongside a shade tree on Main Street and had a good view of the doings. I was also in a good place to shake hands and exchange HIYA's with local town folk. Usually the tree is a spot that Rick our mayor hangs out at but he was in the parade, matter of fact he was in the first tractor behind the Lake Iwanttobethere marching band. Most stores were closed in town during the parade but reopened right after. Got to be ready for the tourist when they leave Main Street with a few vacation dollars to still spend.
As I watched the parade I kept a mental note of who was in it, as mentioned Rick our mayor was there but right behind him was Mindy and Mandy the makers of Lake Iwanttobethere Root Beer. Behind them was Reed the Realtor in his Bio-disel RV, Reed had a huge banner hanging from the RV with his face on it. Jessie the paperboy was riding in his trailered boat and behind him was Mark the mailman in his boat. A hay wagon being driven by Mick the son of Old McDonnell carried a hot tub with Mabel from Mabel's Sauna and Steam House, lucky for the tourist most of Mabel was underwater. A lot of town businesses did not have time to put together floats so they just marched with banners showing off their business's names. There was the Middle of the Bloc Cafe and Little Louie's Licorice & Liquor Store. The Gas N Go and Josh, Big Earl's nephew and the owner of the Broken Stuff store.
Arlo with some of his fly fishing buddies wearing waders followed and Amy from Amy's Bakery was there pushing a small pastry cart. Barley and his brother Hopps were there with a beer delivery truck and a banner on the truck said they would be giving away free samples at the picnic of their Needabeer and Whynotale. Burt and Bart's Barbershop did have a float in the parade, the two barbers were sitting up front and the Ladies Auxiliary was sitting on hay bales behind them. Next up was Marv and Elmer with their Marv's Magazine & Smoke Shop banner, they both had unlit stogies in their mouths. Paul Bunion and his son, Little Bunion waved to the crowd wearing TV sets to advertise their TV repair shop. Behind them was Twitch with his dog Zap the town's electrician. Dug from Dug's Garage was there and Del from Del's Sub and Pizza Shop, "Home of the flying pie skipped out to your boat" Dan from the Auto Store and Vicki from the Masterbaiters Shop. A flyby by Tinker in his float plane made everyone look upwards just in time to get hit with some water, he must have just taken off from the bay.
Tye Knotts the tackisdurmist was there along with a couple of gals from the Three Sheets Motel which for some reason received a polite round of applause from some of the guys. The FELLOWS were all there riding lawnmowers with the blades of course taken off and Dock Burriem riding with his old nurse Mrs. Stitch followed with his old black buggy and a borrowed horse. Hammering Hank and Skinny came with their work truck and they were followed by Stan and Jean in their mobile Ice Cream/Tackle Truck. Spokes and Wheels bike shop was there along with Rocky from Rocky's Hobby Shop. More banners followed carried by employees of the Chicken Shack, The Robin's Nest, Ma and Pa's Grocery. In Your Face the Breakfast Place and the Fat & Short Shop. Another hay wagon came this time with the Fiona and Fred Fiddle and their kids playing their fiddles. They would stop every hundred feet or so and the family would play a short tune. I think their horse were tired pulling the wagon.
More banners as the Do Drop Inn and the Sunshine Cafe were next and behind them was Dave and his brother Dave from the D&D Drugstore. Close Enough Store had a float as did Clive from the Produce Stand. Bacon Platter Dinner was there and Broken Stuff had a trailer offering great deals after the parade. A school bus with Mrs. Jameson the County Fair Bus Demolition winner, who was not driving was next. Hanging from the windows and waving to the crowd and throwing candy was Jerry and Josh. Mr. Scroggs and Old Man Johnson, Vic was in the back seat sitting along side his friend Elise. Barb from the General Store and Benny from the Three Strikes Bowling Alley along with Junkyard Mike were having a good time tossing candy as the kids ran alongside the bus.
Getting towards the end of the Parade the Lodge had a float with Gus and Honey Sauce and Vinnie. They were followed by the Lumber Yard flatbed driven by Luan and her sons Tongue and Grove in the back along with her husband. Nytelyter in his dump truck and Frank driving his grader. Dotch had his old car which drew some more applause from the guys. The towns fire tucks were next and Big Earl was driving the ladder truck and Lazar Larson the county surveyor drove the pumper. Old man Swenson hung from one side of the pumper truck and Potato Joe hung from the other side.
With the fire trucks came the end of the parade and we, the crowd that is followed the fire trucks down to the park where true to their word free beer and root beer was flowing. Smell of BBQ in the air and the picnic was in full swing. Here I shook hands and made small talk with some visitors who I hope will become residents, I met Monstermoose and Legalmusky talking fishing of course and Anyfish was sampling the root beer while Hoppe was at the mini donut wagon. Ran into my neighbor Chuck who asked me if I have met Vermilionfox, told him no but I have been keeping an eye out. No wind and just a few clouds as I walked around shaking hands I heard many a tourist talking about coming back again to visit all of us here at Lake Iwanttobethere