2010 TRAVELING FLOAT

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

April 5 - 11, 2010

by Tom Grady:

We are into our last week of the project...

I flew up on Wednesday night. Greg took a couple of days off from work so that we could be sure to complete the float on time. Carol scheduled a work party on Friday so that didn't leave much room for error as we scrambled to put the finishing touches on the Summertime Fun float.

I had to get the other half of the audio system - but unfortunately we didn't get to install it until we got to Puyallup on Friday night. Imagine having such a crucial piece of your float not installed and untested until 12 hours before the parade....not very smart...

Greg welded the exhaust tailpipe and the resonator extensions for both the engine and the generator. DC helped out by doing a lot of finish work for us. We made sure that everything folded up correctly and that all electrical systems operated as they were supposed to before we made the journey to Puyallup.

Once in Puyallup, everyone pitched in to do the floral and final decorating touches. Greg and I worked on the audio system. We have really high expectations for these components after years of disappointment. We used our good friends at Omnisistem in Kent as lighting and audio consultants for this project and they recommended two of their Omnisound US800-2.1 systems. They are two 800w self powered AC systems with a total of six speakers. We are using a mixer to manage the systems and an iPod nano to provide the content. Well, after we finally figured out how to run the darn thing....ummm....well...it's sounds so clean...and it's so LOUD! Yikes!

We ran really past Ernie Ouellette's shift that night...sorry, Ernie! So...we had to clean up, close up and pray for everything to work on parade day - Saturday.....