If you live in Coon Rapids, you know the drill for the 4th of July Community Celebration.
Everyone knows the fireworks show at the Ice Center is the best in the North Metro. But everyone also knows the price of admission isn’t money—it’s your patience.
The Grand Slam Trap
For the rookies out there: The parking lot over by Grand Slam and the Boulevard is technically “prime real estate.” It’s huge, and you get a front-row seat to the action without having to hike through the grass.
But the moment that finale ends? Total nightmare.
We’re talking bumper-to-bumper gridlock. You could watch the fireworks, bake a lasagna, and learn a second language in the time it takes to exit that parking lot once the show is over.
The “Genius” Plan
So, a couple of years back, I thought I had hacked the system.
“We aren’t driving,” I told the family. “We’re taking the bike.”
We loaded up the wagon, hitched it to the back of my bike, and threw the kid in the back. It was a solid plan. We cruised the 1.5 miles to the event, bypassing the line of cars with a smug sense of superiority. We parked the rig, watched the show, and enjoyed the night.
The fireworks were, as always, spectacular. The photo above doesn’t even do it justice. Coon Rapids really knows how to light up the sky.
The Quest Home
Then the show ended.
While thousands of people fired up their engines to sit in the Grand Slam parking lot for the next hour, we hopped back on the bike. I started pedaling, feeling great about my life choices.
…For about three blocks.
Halfway home, the resistance on the pedals went from “leisurely ride” to “uphill climb in mud.” I looked back, and my heart sank.
The back tire of the wagon had popped.
Suddenly, I wasn’t just biking; I was dragging a dead-weight wagon carrying a child and gear, with a flat rubber tire grinding against the pavement.
The Workout
That last mile wasn’t a bike ride; it was a strongman competition. I had to put my head down and grind. I really worked my ass off to finish that quest home. My legs were burning, the kid was probably wondering why Dad was breathing so hard, and my “genius plan” suddenly felt a lot like a CrossFit workout I didn’t sign up for.
The Verdict?
Was it worth it? Absolutely.
Even with the popped tire and the unexpected leg day, it beat sitting in that traffic.
So, if you’re planning to hit the fireworks this year:
- The Grand Slam lot is great for viewing, bad for leaving.
- Biking is the pro move.
- Just check your tire pressure before you leave the driveway.
See you out there (I’ll be the one with the extra air pump this time).