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July 4 came on a Tuesday this year. This probably accounts for the ferry from Point Judith to Block Island not being as crowded as last year. The Ferry was scheduled to leave at 9:30am. Louis was there early to get his truck in line for the ferry. Everyone met there, got their ticket from Dick Furtado and went on board. I got there about 9:00 and went on board with Jim Dunlap. We were there early enough to see most everyone else come onboard. This accounts for many of the pictures taken of band members boarding the ferry |
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The weather was warm and a little foggy when we left Point Judith. Once we got to Block Island the sun came out and it warmed up nicely. After meeting behind Finn's Restaurant, when proceeded to move the the other side of the parking lot and get the bus to the start of the parade. |
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We were earlier than most other groups, so we ended up with the whole bus for the band. The driver dropped us off at the start area and we proceeded to wait for 1 1/2 hours. The parade went well. We had a pool as to what the first march would be. No one guessed it. Louis fooled us all by starting out with ORAMBOIA (a decidedly Portuguese march). We ended up playing it two more times. Comming down the main street we played the trio to "Stars and Strips" over and over and over. After the parade Finn's Restaurant provided us with a meal. We then played a concert on the upstairs porch to Finn's Restaurant. Typical of bagpipers, they were unable to turn those things off (squaawwwk) and played in the parking lot below us for the first 1/3 of the concert. We ended the concert again this year with "Stars and Stripes Forever" and featured Debby Howarth (I think that is her name) Owner of Finn's Restaurant playing the piccolo part. She did an excellent job. We caught the 4:00 boat back and I was home in time to see Arturo Sandoval with the Boston Pops on the Esplanade. It would be nice if could get that gig next year. Much easier commute for me. |
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