2010 TRAVELING FLOAT

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

March 22 - 28, 2010

by Tom Grady:

I have been on vacation this week to ensure that we are on track for Daffodil....and I think that we are. I am starting this week out by visiting some old acquaintances - that are regular friends of Greg's. They are John and Randy Woodruff of Woodruff's Products down in Puyallup. They have primarily a recycling business, but also do welding, garbage removal, machinery and tools and other things. They are located off of East Main just a stone's throw from where the old Float Barn was where we built this original float.

I needed to have some metal bent for the waistband restraints for the Royalty stanchions. Greg told me to go there as he didn't have enough time to go. John and Randy are very community oriented/supportive and Randy bent four waistband restraints for us. They are really nice folks there and have helped out the Puyallup Community float for many years.

When I got back to our float barn, Carol, Judy, Bobbi, Linda & Arvin were there to greet me! Linda worked hard on stenciling material so that it looked like a rock path. We will use it to meander through the grass near the front of the float. Judy re-painted the storage bins. Bobbi painted the the receivers on the Royalty stanchions. Carol worked on the floral elements. Arvin and I worked on carpeting the storage bins. The sun was also painted during this time. 

On Saturday, Bobbi & DC showed up and Greg and I took them to the unveiling of the Daffodil float. It was a very nice function. I had realized that of all of the times that I had been there - this was the first time I had been there early...well, at least before the Daffodil Royalty got there. They have a ritual where their girls arrive by bus - they are warmly received - and then they al are gathered in front of the garage doors that lead to the float. Behind the scenes, the float crew has the float animation elements moving, all the lights on and the music cued up for the big moment. Then....when they are given the signal - they roll up the garage doors! Oh, my! The Daffodil Queen and all of her Princesses scream their approval and the crowd roars to their reaction. It was quite a scene. I was impressed - but I always am with my Daffodil friends....

After returning to the float barn, Angie arrived. Bobbi worked on the storage box in the rear. Angie worked on painting the moon. I worked on fixing the gaps in between the side storage compartment doors and the sides. It's time to solve it.

On Sunday, Greg and I finished off the side storage compartment gap problem. I worked on the papier-mâché characters - getting them placed all over the float. I started on the bee's turntable. Greg will need to make some angled receivers for these guys. Carol will need to find a flower to stick in the middle of these three bees to circle. The turtle, basket and bees are the last elements that we have to work on. Then we attach signs. We have two weeks left until Daffodil....