We see the Rose Parade!

One of the Missus' friends offered to take us with her and her husband to see the Rose parade on New Year's day.  We are not ones to turn down a fun adventure so we enthusiastically accepted.  We had to rendedous at the departure point at 0430 in the morning on New Year's day.  

 We rode on a motor coach to the heart of Pasadena by 0600.  Since it was only 35F outside and still dark we stayed on the coach until the sun peeked over the mountains .

Once we could see to walk we headed for our seats on the grandstands overlooking the parade route.  Did I mention it was very cold?  We are all so bundled up we could barely move!

The parade route was jam packed with revelers and parade viewers.  our bleacher seats gave us a great view but because everyone was so tightly packed in, if someone needed to leave their seat, everyone between them and the exit had to get up and move out of the way.  I'm afraid it was a bit too crowded for me.

It was lots of fun seeing the parade up close and personal.  I marveled at the bravery of the marching band members in their costumes more suited for a 70 degree day rather than 40F!  My favorite marching band was the all girl high school from Belgium in their sailor outfits complete with red pom-poms on their sailor hats!  Very jaunty.

When it was all over we fought our way back to the bus and in short order we were back home, exhausted but happy to have seen the fun.

Our magic carpet to the parade

Some of the many people who camped out on the parade route for a couple days before the show.

Up in the bleachers, waiting for the fun to start

Sure is crowded up here!

A flyover from a B-2 to start the parade.  What a sight!

The Missus and our friends being very brave in the cold waiting for the parade to start

Some of the crowd on the parade route before the official show started.

The parade is finished for another year.  Time to go home!