Victoria Symphony Splash – 8/2/2015

August 2, 2015 (Sunday)

Today was all about the Victoria Symphony Splash. Larry had gotten up early to get his walk in and said it was filling up (around 9:00 AM) in the Inner Harbor. We hurriedly got everything together and went down to try to get a spot. We finally found a good spot on the grass near the “Welcome to Victoria” flowers that greet visitors in the Inner Harbor. We all took turns waiting at the chairs or walking around and checking things out. There was a fun little area where vendors had lots of local and unique craft items. Jan and Caron met us at the chairs in the early afternoon.

We sat our chairs on the grass outside the flowers.
We sat our chairs on the grass outside the flowers.
The Empress is so pretty.
The Empress is so pretty.

Want to mention about Larry and his walking. He has a “fitbit” and tries to get in at least 10,000 steps a day. The fitbit measures his heart, how many flights of stairs, how he sleeps, calories burned – all sorts of things. So cool. Michael and I are wanting to get one, or something like it. The only thing we don’t like is that it’s not water proof. Even though we don’t go swimming that much, we would like to have the option of taking it in the water to measure our exercise. We want it all darn it!

We got to watch the Sunday morning water taxi water ballet. So fun and cute. Glad we finally got to see it as we’d been hearing about it the last few years we’ve been coming.  Just never wanted to get up that early to see it.

A boat ballet.
A boat ballet.
They do lots of blue angel type maneuvers.
They do lots of Blue Angel type maneuvers, well, not so fast or high, but very very close..
Weaving in and out.
Weaving in and out.
The ferry boat ballet was fun to watch, once.
The ferry boat ballet was fun to watch, once.

 

We waited and the warm up band started singing around 4:00 PM.

"The Midnights" did an excellent job as a warm up band.
“The Midnights” did an excellent job as a warm up band.
Nice group.
Nice group.
Float planes are awesome to watch.
Float planes are awesome to watch.
Landing before the performance.
Landing before the performance.
They add to the show.
They add to the show.
Fun to watch.
Fun to watch.
One of the lead singers of the Midnights. We gave them a round of applause as they passed by us.
One of the lead singers of the Midnights. We gave them a round of applause as they passed by us.

The Splash started with the bag pipe parade down Government Street at around 6:45 PM.

We could hear the bagpipes escorting the symphony down the street.
We could hear the bagpipes escorting the symphony down the street in back and above us..
Orchestra players heading to the barge/stage.
Orchestra players heading to the barge/stage.
Dragon boat slippin in for the performance.
Dragon boat slipping in for the performance.
A fair number of dogs in attendance.
A fair number of dogs in attendance.

As usual, the Splash was wonderful.

Maestra Tania Miller is so excellent.
Maestra Tania Miller is so excellent.
Renee, Larry, Jan, Caron and Grumpy.
Renee, Larry, Jan, Caron and Grumpy.
Lots of folks out on the water.
Lots of folks out on the water.
Official website says more than 45,000 were in attendance.
Official website says more than 45,000 were in attendance.
Maestra challenged folks to dance to one number. People were dancing all over, it was such fun to see.
Maestra challenged folks to dance to one number. People were dancing all over, it was such fun to see.
Dancers.
Dancers.
Dancers.
Dancers.
Dancers.
Dancers.
Dancers.
Dancers.
Dancers.
Dancers.

 

The fireworks this year seemed more intense and lovely. Sure is a great thing and seemed much more crowded this year.

We’ve decided we’d have to get up way early next year to get a good spot (or maybe sleep out on the lawn). Once again on our walk home we got to see the cannons being loaded up into the truck.

After the Splash everyone but Jim and Anna went back to our room and shared more stories, laughs, and wine. Great time.

That was our day. Hope yours was great!