The morning of the 4th we got up and had breakfast at the hotel. We headed off for Martha and Dick's beachhouse at about 11:30 and arrived there very quickly. We were very surprised about this because we were expecting bumper to bumper traffic on the 5. But the entire way there we could not believe the parking lot the freeway was on the northbound side. We headed right to the beach when we got to their house. (just a quick jump across the railroad tracks) The water was warm, but the waves were all shorebreak. We avoided a first round of water balloons launched from the deck of the house, but then witnessed a water fight break out among the "launchers". We started to relax because there were no more incoming artillery, but then we heard a HUGE crash. During the water fight there were many things being used for ammo. There had been a large flat bowl on the table on the deck, and in the bowl there were floating candles along with a good deal of water. The water was too good to pass up, so the candles were removed, and as the water was being dumped on somebody, the bowl slipped and crashed on the deck. All we heard was the crash and screaming, but we found out the details later.
Roger and Shelly, and family arrived soon after the water fights. Shelly does not know how lucky she was. (she HATES bermingham water fights) So we run up to see them, eat a little pizza, grab a drink, and run back down to the beach. We sat in the water and hung out with everybody until we started to BBQ. We all stuffed ourselves, and hung out on the deck watching the sunset. So right at about 8:30 we ran down to the beach again, this time armed with fireworks. We had a huge box of fireworks and a couple added pieces. We acquired a mortar tube with 12 bursts. While we were setting off the fountains and random little stuff, Doug set up the mortar and fired the first burst directly over our heads. It scared the shit out of everybody because nobody knew it was coming. They thought everything was going to be on the ground. This thing blew up over their heads and the party really started at that point. I had thought that we would be the only ones with a large number of fireworks, but i was surprised to see EVERYBODY on the beach had their own.
We ran back up to the deck to watch the real fireworks displays down the coast. Closest to us is the fireworks on the San Clemente pier, and then in the distance we can see the fireworks in Dana Point. Every once in awhile we'd see a few bursts inland. We all left a little after 10 and headed home or whereever. Jen and I headed to Dana Point because we really just didn't want to drive home that night. We had no traffic at all all the way into Dana Point, but as soon as we got off the freeway we had to deal with the mess that the Dana Point Police created. They pride themselves on directing traffic worse that any other law enforcement agency known to man. We were staying at the Mariot in the Marina, which is accessible by ONLY one road in the marina. So we sit in a half hour of bumper to bumper traffic that is being held for no reason at all. When we get to the turn we need to take we find the street is blocked off. Now this is AFTER the fireworks. Everybody is going home and leaving the marina, but the Dana Point Police are smart enough to block off all traffic INTO the marina. So we go straight north on PCH for one more stop (which is almost another mile down the road). To take a left into the marina from this point it takes us another 20 minutes because the Dana Point police just have everybody stopped. There are clear exit roads in two directions, but they only let about 20 cars go every 5 minutes. To my surprise when i get to the front of the line here, the road that we want to take into the marina again is blocked off. One truck in front of us finally makes the turn down the road and says something to the Police officer there, and gets through. So another five minutes when i finally get directed through the intersection i make a move to go into the marina. I get hassled by the officer because i tell him we are staying at the mariot. He looks at me as if he does not believe me at all, and then demands that he see my room key. At this point after waiting in traffic for no reason, i am so pissed, but just pull my room key and get his excellencies' permission to pass. Nice thing about this is... i'm now on the other side of the marina, and have to sit in another 20 minutes of traffic getting OUT before i can make a turn on to the street the mariot is on. Needless to say, as soon as we got back to the hotel, we hit the bar and had a final drink of the night.
Today Jen and I got up and jumped on PCH. We drove up the coast through Laguna and Newport Beach and finally ended up in Huntington. We had lunch at Dukes on the pier, and then headed home.
My parents came over and dropped off the ipod mini for Jen and we had a little to eat at crown city brewery. We've just been building playlists for Jen now, and getting her ipod all set up.
All in all it was a very busy, but relaxing weekend.
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