Happy 4th of July!
What better day to start blogging than 4th of July!!! The day of Independence where everybody proudly wears red, white and blue and enjoys a long weekend of BBQ’s and partying.
Depending on where you live in the States, there are many ways to celebrate. We’re showing you how it’s done here in sunny Cali, Los Angeles or Hermosa Beach for that matter.
Hermosa Beach is not just where we reside but also where thousands of people flock to enjoy the sun, fun & festivities. People watching is just one of the priceless activities, especially in the later hour. That’s when the alcohol level raises and the inhibition drop! While it may sound like fun to be completely wasted in public, public intoxication is not just a fancy word but it can also lead to a misdemeanor charge if you misbehave drunk and disorderly…
We usually start off our 4th of July watching the annual Hermosa Beach Ironman. For the 42nd time hundreds of fit and not-so-fit contestants will run a mile, paddle a mile and chug a 6-pack of beer in the early morning hour. The contestant who is the fastest and can keep the beer down for 15minutes is the proud winner of the Hermosa Ironman.
The short event sure ends in a crazy mosh pit with a local band egging on the puking crowd. While it may seem chaotic, it’s actually a very well organized event and quite fascinating to watch. It’s like a flash mob. 20 minutes after the event is over you couldn’t even tell that something has happened. In my opinion the smartest ones are the recycling peeps, who are collecting beer cans as they’re being emptied. The tricky part of it all is to stay out of (puke’s) harms way because it can get pretty wet if you’re not watching your back.
At first it may appear as a drinking event but it’s actually a friendly competition that has raised thousand of dollars for charities. It’s a local event that you have to check out if you happen to be in the area next year.
The pictures will show you Southbay pride, tattoos, bikinis and a good time. I have been a Hermosa Beach local for the last 14 years and absolutely love living here. Maybe I should challenge myself to participate next year just for the heck of it!
(Click on images for better viewing)
Due to a special request, I'm adding some bonus pictures from the Hermosa Ironman in 2013. Even though he didn't bring home the Ironman title, I'm confident he must have gotten paid by somebody. Maybe he was still inspired from the movie Borat, which was released in 2006. One very observant reader also noticed a "small" difference between the 3 years. Can you figure it out as well?
Happy 4th and thanks for reading!
Mirjam
