Oh my, what a driving day... looooonnnnggg. Left Corey's about 8:30 and didn't get here until about 3:45 and then...... someone was still in our camping spot. Really don't think that they had planned on moving on today at all. The Ranger knocked on their door and got them to leave, meanwhile we waited about an hour and it was just about dark by then. That was after all the traffic that Southern California can offer on the Monday after Christmas, you know the shopping holiday ! ! LOL. Plus, Ken is very good at driving but certainly not used to 6, 7, or 8 lanes of traffic each way. Don't know how anyone does this without a navigator. We also had to go over the Grapevine, luckily all the snow was off the road.
We passed Seven Flags, Magic Mountain in Valencia
We actually arrived in San Dimas three days before the start of the Rally. Lots of work goes into getting everything ready for the guests.
The Rose Parade Rally sponsored by Fantasy RV Tours started on Thursday, December 29, 2016 with an orientation, dinner and then at 6:00pm we loaded onto buses to go to one of a million float barns. There were six floats being built in this one tent/barn. We were able to work on three of them. You could work as long as you wanted or change jobs, whatever made you happy.
The number of flowers available was staggering. Never have seen so many in one place. This whole process is so organized. I know that our people put glue on many carnations, filled vials with water, crushed up coconut, glued huge leaves, applied seeds to butterflies and floats and many more things. So fun....
Day two was the start of Bandfest. This is where different bands play at the Rose Bowl and show their stuff. We didn't go this day as it had been raining and was threatening rain again. I didn't think I could use an umbrella there and was worried about getting my implanted abutment/peg soaked. I understand that I can get it wet, like in the shower, but must dry it immediately. Otherwise, infection is a worry. Sure don't want that. Everyone who went to Bandfest totally enjoyed it. That night we had a wonderful dinner at the Coco Palm Restaurant just about a mile from the park. Nice to not have the 45 minute drives. The restaurant has a terrific view of surrounding cities.
Day three was another visit to the float barn where we had worked. We got to see all the progress made since we worked. Amazing ! !
We also had a great New Year's Eve party in our tent. Dinner and then a DJ playing dance music from the 60's. Was so fun. The best is that we celebrated New Year's on east coast time, 9:00pm ! ! LOL Shows how old we are ! LOL
Day four was a trip to the Huntington Library and Gardens. We spent most of our time in the gardens. They are magnificent. We did go find "Pinkie" and "Blue Boy", two of the famous paintings that the Huntington has. Lunch here was great too.
A nacho fiesta and football in the tent rounded out Day four.
Day five is Monday, January 2nd and is Rose Parade Day, Echoes of Success ! ! ! On the 2nd as the parade nor game are ever on a Sunday. ! ! Didn't realize that until this year. Story goes that this tradition goes back to 1893 when the tournament wanted to avoid frightening horses that would be hitched outside churches and thus interfering with worship services. Even tho that would not be the case today, the tradition continues. Our parade seats are amazing. So close to the floats and bands going by and about a block from the TV announcers. Announcing the beginning of the parade was a Stealth Bomber ! ! So quiet ! !
So amazing to think that every surface is covered with something "natural". So beautiful. The parade ends and there is total shoulder to shoulder people. The blue flags that we made were very helpful in identifying where our people needed to be. The route was easy to get lost in when there are soooo many people and the flags just gave everyone peace of mind that they were crossing when they should, etc. Great parade and at least ten degrees warmer than the last time we came. LOL.
That afternoon everyone had the opportunity to go back and see the floats at the end of the route. Very up close and personal ! !
Day six was sad goodbyes ! ! We stayed over another day and, along with another couple, took the Wagon Masters out to dinner as a thank you ! Was nice.
Then, on to Thousand Trails Palm Springs, actually in Palm Desert ! ! Met up with friends from Lebanon and a couple who actually live just down the road in Hemet but they were on our Alaska adventure ! ! Feels like home but without the kids ! ! We are enjoying the weather, however still waiting for the really good weather.
Tomorrow is Ken's birthday and we still haven't decided what we will do... decisions, decisions ! !
