I wasn’t expecting to feel nostalgic as we approached July 4, which has never been a super-big deal for us, so I was surprised when I started feeling almost homesick for those Muskegon picnics on the lakeshore and fireworks that ring all the way around the lake. Nope, just going to be another day in the camper, biking around, route planning and cooking over the fire.

But mid-afternoon at the Swan Lake campground someone mentioned the community picnic they were having at nearby Irwin, described as a can’t-miss event. So we biked to the town park, where we found 50 or folks gathered and the food already put away. But we did get to grab a beer and join the crowd for what was a unique fundraising experience for me – a helicopter dropping numbered balls corresponding to tickets that were purchased. Apparently the ball that got closest to the flag in the baseball field won half the pot, with the other half going to the Chamber of Commerce, presumably for the fireworks display.

There was much excitement as the 600 balls were dropped and winner announced. We didn’t arrive in time to get in on the ticket purchase, but it was still fun being part of that red, white and blue crowd.

Later that evening our campground host let us know there would be good fireworks viewing right from the campground and we were invited to join the other campers and kids around the campfire. I didn’t try the new s’more version on croissants instead of graham crackers, but again – so cool to be part of the celebration.

Even as a nomad traveler just passing through there was something so great about feeling that little bit of connection to a community and knowing wherever one is in the country there was celebration that day. I’m grateful to have spent my first holiday in Idaho among those folks, even if it didn’t diminish those cherished memories of sailing our boat on Muskegon Lake and watching fireworks in all directions.

I’ve been working on the route planning for Christmas and New Year’s and I only hope that TX gulf campgrounds are as great as Idaho was to spend a holiday.