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Published: September 2nd 2007
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Dancing with glowsticks.... Roar of the F1 11... The Fireworks start. Hurray! RiverFire is here! We started off with a BBQ with family to celebrate Fathers Day and to use it as an excuse to get together and watch the fireworks. While we leisurely ate food we watched from our varandah, as car after full car drove by all occupants scanning for empty car spaces. Very sad, the street filled up quickly, making us glad we can fit four cars in our place. There was even a bit of "parking rage" so we were happy we weren't out there struggling with the kids trying to find a park, but inside our cosy home with family. We were able to watch the "Roulettes." 4 planes flying over doing tricks and sychronised flying. The girls ran from the back of the house to the front and back again to see them as they flew over. They were great to watch zooming over the house in perfect formations.
We ended up going to the Kangaroo Point Cliffs to watch Riverfire. A fairly good spot without the crushing crowds of southbank. I didn't fancy taking 3 small
children there.. to scared I would lose them. At the cliffs it was very laid back and enough room for them to run around. They met up with a couple of friends from school so they had a great time with glow sticks and sparklers. I was even so organised I pre bought glow sticks weeks earlier. In previous years we have had tears as other people had them and I never take my purse up, so had to say NO to purchasing WAY overpriced ones from people selling them "making a killing" So we had enough for all their friends and others. After I gave them all away a boy came up to me asking where I got them. When he found out I bought them along from home and there were none left... he was crushed, he walked away sad. I would have gave him one if I had some left. Well atleast we could comisserate... that was us in previous years!
We were surrounded by many friends and acquaintances at the Cliffs so it was a nice relaxed chatty atmosphere. There were some people on strange looking stilts. They were like an arc and bent
when the person walked.. *very interesting* We had yummy brownies to munch on provided by my sister in law. Their were many people who had been up there all day to get a good spot. There were tents and gazebos, picnic rugs and tables. Very friendly warm atmosphere. We shared our brownies and glowsticks with those around us and someone shared their sparklers with the girls much to their delight. We kept an eye on the time to remind the girls to cover their ears as at 7:01 when the F1-11 would zoom past.
Then it was count down to the F1-11. Last year it flew right over the top of us and was VERY LOUD. We could even feel the heat as it went passed it was that low! This year it had a different path so wasnt as loud and we felt no heat - So not as exciting - but the kids still think it is a rocket! Then the fireworks started. They were very nice and bright, but I spent half the time working out 'nightshots' on the camera so missed some of it - This will teach me to experience things and not
worry so much about photos for my blog!!Fireworks are particularly difficult to photograph. With night shots the delay is about 6 seconds or more so you have to snap the picture before the firework is in the air!
A senior couple missionary from our church thought the fireworks were lovely - and the biggest they had seen - We were incredulous - "Aren't you from the USA? 4th of July?" But apparently that only happens in BIG cities. Our student from Taiwan also said it was bigger than ones they have in Taiwan. "What! Bigger than Asia?" Well that made me suitably impressed. Our RiverFire in Brisbane is bigger than some in the USA and Taiwan! Go Brisbane ... Go Brisbane... We are the best! YEAH! Well everyone loves a good fireworks.
With the 2 F1-11's dump and burning again... RiverFire was over for another year.
We waited around for the crowds to disperse which happens fairly quickly. But no need to rush for us. We ambled home and enjoyed some more dessert. No need to rush.. the bridge remained closed to clean up the fireworks that were shot off it.
Info
from RiverFire Website:
QBE Riverfire makes a stunning impact over our city skyline as Brisbane’s most anticipated annual celebration launches Riverfestival for another year. Brisbane’s favourite fireworks spectacular explodes in celebration on September 1, ablaze from the Story Bridge to the Victoria Bridge turning our iconic city skyscrapers into an artistic installation of colour and sound for an evening. The deafening power of the RAAF F1-11’s* ‘dump and burn’ will signal the finale of the dynamic pyrotechnic display, as well as announcing the official beginning of the 10th anniversary Brisbane Riverfestival.
click here for some
professional photographs much better than mine 😊
Free fun, Family Fun, Friends Fun.... What more could we ask for in an evening.
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Zan
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photos
Your fireworks photos are way better than mine. Mine all look blurry and just like squiggly lines :(