Capt Steve
US Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2008
- Messages
- 1,678
- Reaction score
- 3,014
We moved to Payson Arizona, a smallish town/city of 20,000 folks about 100 miles north of Phoenix at 5,000' about 2 years ago and absolutely love it. Despite a lot of recent growth {everybody and their dog are out buying up property up here} it has still retained that small town vibe.
An annual event, the city stages a 4th of July parade primarily for UTV/ATV's, jeeps and trucks with a few vintage cars thrown in. Everyone decorated their rides with lots of red, white and blue and not to mention a bunch of flags and a very festive mood prevailed.
We signed up Sunday morning and were number 151, I'm guessing we had at least 250 entrants perhaps more, the local paper should have a number by Tuesday. The parade route wound through town for 5 or 6 miles {for 45 minutes} and the entire route was lined with happy spectators with lots of kids of all ages thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. The local LEO's had their hands full with traffic control but did a respectable job.
The biggest issue {but not for us} were all of the folks camping up on the Mogollon Rim {30 miles to the east of town} on this the busiest camping weekend of the year. Many thought they could beat the holiday traffic by returning home Monday morning but alas the parade ruined those plans. The only road east/west is highway 260 which dead ends into 87 {aka the Beeline Highway}.
As the parade wound through town the backup on 260 stretched for miles as all in/out traffic was halted to accommodate the parade. I was delighted to see that 99% of the participants left their politics at home and just reveled in celebrating our great democracy with the the 4th of July. The enthusiasm of the crowd, both participants and spectators alike was electric, I can't remember being at any event with more smiles per mile.
Given all of the nonsense that has wracked our nation of late I think this event was the perfect opportunity for folks to put it all aside even if just for a day, celebrate all that is great about America and our town responded accordingly.
An annual event, the city stages a 4th of July parade primarily for UTV/ATV's, jeeps and trucks with a few vintage cars thrown in. Everyone decorated their rides with lots of red, white and blue and not to mention a bunch of flags and a very festive mood prevailed.
We signed up Sunday morning and were number 151, I'm guessing we had at least 250 entrants perhaps more, the local paper should have a number by Tuesday. The parade route wound through town for 5 or 6 miles {for 45 minutes} and the entire route was lined with happy spectators with lots of kids of all ages thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. The local LEO's had their hands full with traffic control but did a respectable job.
The biggest issue {but not for us} were all of the folks camping up on the Mogollon Rim {30 miles to the east of town} on this the busiest camping weekend of the year. Many thought they could beat the holiday traffic by returning home Monday morning but alas the parade ruined those plans. The only road east/west is highway 260 which dead ends into 87 {aka the Beeline Highway}.
As the parade wound through town the backup on 260 stretched for miles as all in/out traffic was halted to accommodate the parade. I was delighted to see that 99% of the participants left their politics at home and just reveled in celebrating our great democracy with the the 4th of July. The enthusiasm of the crowd, both participants and spectators alike was electric, I can't remember being at any event with more smiles per mile.
Given all of the nonsense that has wracked our nation of late I think this event was the perfect opportunity for folks to put it all aside even if just for a day, celebrate all that is great about America and our town responded accordingly.
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