CALIFORNIA...part 6...Rose Parade Rally

By

Minuet in G

"MinnieG"

(a 1979 Argosy made by Airstream that loves a good rally...and this one fit the bill)\

THE AIRSTREAM TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE RALLY
December 28...January 2

December 28
There were 28 Airstreams attending this rally. 
We were all crammed into an elementary school parking lot.
Dry camping...but worth in the inconvenience... 

  
🌹🌹🌹"Everything's Coming up Roses"🎜🎜🎜

Everyone is expected to do their part.
Vannie and Dave loved their breakfast duty.

Pink California Skies
Palm Trees
28 Pretty Airstreams
Can't get much better than this...

Delightful Neighborhood

The Wild Parrots of Pasadena

Mostly green with a little red on top...

Endangered in their native Mexico,

but are quite plentiful in this area.

Loud squawking

...and then there is this "other" bird...

The Bird of Paradise

On every corner...

Ready for the LSU game...

Vannie wasn't disappointed one bit.!!!

Sorry about that Oklahoma...

December 29
Equest-Fest
Performances by the horses that were marching in the Rose Parade...
Here are the Budweiser Clydesdales
Entertaining at it's best.!!!


Arabian Horses
Scripps Miramar Ranch
San Diego, California

A Real Cowboy and Vannie
Vannie always wanted to be a cowboy.
Some people never seem to grow up.
1952 - 2019

Dave loved seeing and visiting with the Buffalo Soldiers..."Civil War"
So interesting...

That night after the Equest-Fest, several of the Airstreamers
headed out to see the Christmas lights in the Pasadena area.
Hastings Ranch Subdivision
Each area has their own theme...snowmen, Christmas trees.
Christmas Cards, Angels, drummer boys, and more.
This one was especially impressive...this is one house. 

December 29
Band Fest
The Band Fest began with a little musical rendition,
including the spectators.
Each person as they entered the stadium, received the instrument
pictured above.  As they were instructed, they played a rhythm or melody
on their mini-instrument.  Lots of fun.
Of course, after the bands performances, instead of clapping, the crowds
played their instruments...more fun.!!!

Greendale High School Marching Band
Greendale Wisconsin

Los Angeles, California All District Honor Band
Over 200 Members

Japan Honor Green Band
Kyoto, Japan

Southern University "Human Jukebox" Marching Band
Vannie and Dave were hollering and cheering for this Louisiana band.

Really a treat seeing the bands...
This was a Los Angeles band member that Vannie grabbed for a selfie...
Notice the guy in the back...photo bomb.!!!

December 30
Runyon Canyon Hike
...a fun hike right in the middle of Hollywood...
It's a 3 mile hike...and a LOT steeper than V and D realized.
They thought they could easily do the 3 miles,
but didn't happen.  A mile and a half was good.

Beautiful flowers along the route

After Runyon...they headed to Santa Monica Pier...

Delicious meal of fried squid and a Caesar salad...right on the pier...

You can not leave this area without putting your feet in the Pacific Ocean.
Brrr...Colder than the Gulf of Mexico, for sure.

Great day at the beach...

The Los Angeles Central Library...next on the list...
Right in the middle of downtown
Why this library????
Well, V and D recently read the book, The Library Book.
Non-fiction
The book not only tells about the 1986 fire at the LA Central Library,
but also discusses the evolution of libraries in the United States.
A fascinating book by Susan Orlean

An Example of early Art Deco

Torch symbolizing the light of knowledge...
This one was the original torch.
It was later replaced. 

The Children's Reading Room is one of the few rooms that have maintained
it's original design.  

The walls of the elevators were papered with card catalog cards.

December 31
Woke up to a beautiful day...
Still chillier than Vannie and Dave were expecting it to be


New Year's Eve...
Vannie wearing her light-up tiara and Dave with his original "uni-horn". 
Food and Fun with Airstreamers

January 1, 2020
The day started with a sighting of the Goodyear blimp...

V and D headed to the parade grandstands.
That's what is so awesome about being in a group.
The rally leaders handled the tickets for the parade, as well as the band fest
and the equest-fest...plus lots of food and parking and encouragement.

The Stealth Bomber
B-2 Spirit
Flyover at the start of the parade...
A M A Z I N G 

First Float in the Parade
Honda...The Power of Dreams
V and D Worked on those orange crowns...orange lentils and coconut flakes.
They were beyond excited to see their handy work rolling down Colorado Blvd.

They had great seats...

Some of those people in the crown had been camping out for a couple of days.
Notice no barricades...unlike Mardi Gras parades...but no one was throwing anything, either.

The Southern Band Majorettes were the prettiest, by far.
They knew how to strut their stuff.
A huge crowd pleaser.!!!
A Louisiana band that made these Louisiana folks proud.!!!

Fa-nominal 

The parade was over around 11:00 Pacific Time.
That afternoon V and D headed to the post-parade,
"A Showcase of Floats".
This was created with coconut flakes and a corn cob in the middle.  

The sights...The smells...

The Rotary Club decided to use blueberries for their lettering.

Silver tree leaves are a favorite for the floats.
They come from the Leucadendron Silver Tree, native of South Africa.

All the fresh flowers are put on at the last minute.
Each has their own small water vase.

These long trailings are made from garlic pods.

Ah...the Honda float again...
Those orange crowns are magnificent.

Vannie was in her element feeling proud as punch
 having had the chance to help create this float.

What a "bucket list" ending to a extraordinary experience.!!!!