STARLIGHT PARADE

Saturday, June 5, 2010

PORTLAND

by Carol Kapua:

We left Saturday morning at 9:30 am and headed for Portland. The float crew consisted of Greg, DC, Judy, Angie, and myself. We stopped at the park and ride and picked up DC. The Royalty left a little later than us. It was a nice day.

We went to work to repair and get the float set up. There was a lot of fluffing to do after the rain from the week before. They were going to move us starting at 3:30 pm and started getting us lined up about 4:15 pm.

Greg and DC and Angie were not able to get the speakers fixed on the right side but Greg is going to come up and do that and he will get in touch with Chuck for help. We also need to get better ventilation for the speakers and the sun/moon. It froze up again Saturday night. We made it through judging.

We have the hardest working girls on the circuit this year. They are absolutely amazing. Kaija helped Haley and Ella out by going from side to side to get the crowds more into it than they were and it worked. The crowds were great to us as well as all the announcers along the way. They even joined in and were dancing. Thank you ladies for a GREAT JOB!

Teresa and Rick carried the banner. Angie up front and DC and I to the back. Greg had to slam on the brakes because a little child ran out and Kaija almost ended up on Greg's head. Thanks Greg for being so alert. The ladies were not hurt. Judy drove the car for Astoria. They needed a driver.

We all came home afterwards. The Royalty and Rick and Teresa got off at the end of the parade and left and we put the float away and were on the move by 11:57 pm. We were in Marysville by 3:55am and Greg got home at 5:23am. Greg did all the driving. THANK YOU FOR GETTING US THERE AND BACK and all the other stuff you did!

We had dinner on the street of Portland using this time our microwave. We served up 18 pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad and much more. They seem to have fewer and fewer floats. Not like the past. They did give us a gift bag with goodies in it.

It was nice to see old friends again and make new ones with all the people who stopped by to chat including Ella the brown lab.  Couldn't understand why our Ella did not want to have her picture taken with Ella.

Next weekend is the Rose Festival in Portland where Angie will be knighted. They will leave on Thursday and come home on Sunday.  And then the following week is our own festival in case you needed to be reminded. This Saturday will be the Berry Run. Call Judy if you can help.

Have good week!.