Hood River Fourth Parade Delivers A Nice Slice Of Americana

The prancing horses are always my favorite.

We spent Independence Day in Hood River, Oregon, enjoying the usual pleasures of the holiday -- fireworks, watermelon, and a parade of local organizations and businesses and people who, well, just like to be in parades.

As we've been attending this parade for several years we're now able to recognize the fixtures of the parade and celebrate their ...uniqueness -- there's the woman who puts dogs on a surfboard mounted on a wagon and man who dresses like Evel Knievel on a homemade trick bicycle. Latin horsemen show their stuff while runners and families drift along promoting something or other.

Nothing shocking, political, or untoward occurs in this updated parade, which is a shame. I have some great photos of political protest from the Bush years that make me proud to be an American.

Here is the parade medley: