PUYALLUP, Wash — On a day with temperatures close to 100 degrees, nothing beats the sound of the North Pole Snow Cone truck at Puyallup's Bradley Lake.
The truck is a new venture for Steve James, whose regular businesses were sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic. He normally does photography and works at local events and conventions.
“Wife got tired of us sitting around the house just looking at news reports and said, 'Why don't you go do something you've always wanted to do?'" explained James.
His friend Russ Richards, a graphic artist, is also out of work because of COVID-19, so they turned a delivery truck into a snow-cone mobile.
“It's always been something as a kid I thought would be awesome, getting the chance to do something fun like this as well,” Richards said.
Neighbors said the truck was a welcome sight on a day when relief is hard to find.
Across town, Pioneer Park was quiet and the splash park that would have provided welcome relief is closed due to coronavirus.
James and Richards said they wish the virus was not keeping them away from their regular jobs, but for now, they make the most of it.
Although, James said record high heat like Sunday's doesn’t help business as much as you would expect. Sometimes it just keeps people home.
"Sometimes it's just too hot for snow cones if that's even possible,” he said.