Photo Report Z: Portland Rose Parade

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Tah dah! I know its a day late, but I wasn't allowed access to a computer until just now, and it took awhile to upload all the pictures (that, and Happy Gilmore was on ).And with that I present to you my slightly belated Portland Rise Festival Parade Photo Report.

We got up at 6am and left the house around 7. We payed $5 to park only three blocks from our spot we'd marked off late last night. From our parking spot I was able to get this shot of the twin glass towers of the Convention Center.

Here's a view down the sidewalk we sat on. Some people had slept overnight in their spots (hence the reason for the tent).

It's early. It's cold.

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Look at the cute doggie.

Even Mickey showed up!

"And he took two of every pop culture icon, except for Dora, whom he favored."

These dudes came down the street every once in a while carrying signs like this.

"Pop a wheelie!"

"We can't! They said no more after last year!"- actual conversation

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They're like Johnny Appleseed... except with cotton candy.

These people sat next to us shortly before the start of the parade and set up a face painting tent which hindered our view. Grr.

A little girl was passing these out. Not sure what for.

OMG the first float of the parade! Or not.

Announcers on a local judge: "We call him the hanging judge. He hangs out at the courthouse waiting for someone to buy him coffee."

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It was quite cold, so we walked a while up the street. This is looking down the route towards our spot.

I was going to make some connection to American Idol, but I think you can make one on your own.

All the local artists came out to play.

I don't like like blatant product placement; so whenever I see at some distracting logo, I eat some delicious M&M'S? Brand Candies and I feel oh-so-much better. Yum.

Convention Center. Sweet.

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Never bring a tripod to a quick-shot contest. Zing.

We weren't in a very scenic part of town. This was the most picturesque street I could find.

I don't like clowns.

...And the parade begins!

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Southwest Airlines sponsored the parade. In case you can't tell, that's a plane driving a car. Wierd, I know.

Marching band, anyone? I was in a marching band once.

Der goes da choo choo.

This reminded my of a kind of Spongebob-meets-Pooh sort of thing.

This was a great band. Here's a video clip of them playing the old favorite "Louie Louie."

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This float won 'Best Theming'.

This won 'most outstanding float', I think.

Another choo-choo.

Reminds me of the good old days when gas was what; four bits?

It's Bigfoot taking a bath. Great.

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Suddenly the normality of tha parade was thrown into chaos when this very float began to (right in front of us I might add) veer dangerously to the right. So far, in fact, that it crashed through the white picket fence there and lodged on the curb. And that's why you don't let Bigfoot drive his own float.

While they fixed up the Bigfoot float ahead, these guys had to wait. -"Stall boys, stall!"

After a few minutes they fixed the float and the parade resumed.



It wouldn't be a Zip~a~dee~doo~dah photo report without clouds!

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Viva Mexico! Dang, just typing that made me want a Del Taco taco and some Del Scorcho...

I miss Speedy Gonzales...

..But I like mexican music!

After the Mexico segment there was a very long gap in the parade.

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Sky cleared up, though.

These people were great. I really like the Japanese style of music and dance. And anime, I like that too .

Dutch style of square dancing or something. Interesting.

Sayonara!

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Cool.

I don't remember whose float this was; I was preoccupied with what was going on in the gold-ish orb.

This was so cool. Those are mototcycles in there. They would drive around inside...

and around the equator of the sphere. Awesome!

"Hey, I can almost see the top of my house form here!"

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How. Remember when Disneyland had the native dances and village? Yeah..

Its a bird! Its a plane! Its... well, nothing, actually.

We're bakers, we're bakers- We bake-a bread and cake-ers...

Note all the horses.

Yeah, that what I want to do. Drink some beer and go horseracing. Oorah.

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Remember that team of horses? Well, they did their business as they went by. But here's the catch: there were no pooper-scoopers behind. Watch out, kids.

After a marching band and some Boy Scouts went past, a pooper-scooper finally materialized.


Now who doesn't like a good bagpipe band?

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About now I could use some of PMM's wit; there's gotta something funny going on here.

"Its Bearzilla!"

Llama! Llamas are so cool.

*tips hat*

"ma'am."

For those of you who like marching bands, here ya go.

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At first I thought she was a nun. Then I thought, "Dude, I really want a spicy chicken filet right now."

Antique cars are nifty.

And that's the end, folks!

These were just sitting there.