Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade 2002 Inline Skating Articles and News with PortlandSkate

Grand Floral Parade 2002
Home Inline Skate Resource Skate Journal Skate Schedule Learn To Skate Skate Accessories Skate Links Article Archives Where to Skate Skate Maintenance Speed Skating Roller Hockey Email Sign-up for Email List Weather	(Left to right) Jerry, Maria, Abigail, Noah, Daniel, Sean, Charley, Wade, Cyndy, Charles and Adam, Me behind the camera	The RedShirts Are Coming!! Portland Skaters skate back to the Coliseum along the parade route after handing out SOLV bags.
	Skate Poet Jerry Simone, during an artistic block It was a cold gray morning A little skating started us warming A little dampness it must be told Not one of us landed on the road By the time we went a mile The drying roads made us smile Seeing all the happy faces in the crowd It was enough to make me proud Jerry	Jerry skating across the burnside bridge
Adam joined his dad Charles this year for both parade runs
Home Inline Skate Resource Skate Journal Skate Schedule Learn To Skate Skate Accessories Skate Links Article Archives Where to Skate Skate Maintenance Speed Skating Roller Hockey Email Sign-up for Email List Weather	The rain, the cold, the sun. We didn't know what it would be from one moment to the next, but that didn't keep this group of diehard skaters from our annual tradition. The streets were mostly dry by the time we skated back along the parade route to the starting point after handing out the SOLV garbage bags. We were well received by the public and I heard many comments about what a great idea it was for us volunteers to be on skates, and how they (parade watchers) wished they had thought of bringing their skates. What a great way to promote our activity and gain positive publicity! Maria	Maria on the Burnside bridge.
	It is always a great feeling to skate the route on parade day. The streets are closed the people are lining the routes, wrapped in blankets, sleeping in lawn chairs, nursing a steaming cup of coffee or cocoa in their hands. Kids and "big kids" with chalk perched in their fingertips, the smell of bacon cooking on a camp stove. It's the one day of the year when it is OK to play in the streets. Portland's parade watchers gather for a community tradition, and share in the 4 mile long street party! It's worth getting up to be a part of. -Nancy	Nancy picking up more bags
Wade and Sean during the morning briefing
	What a fun time! Noah (6) and I skated both the drop off and the pick up. Actually, we both skated the first route, but Noah had to sit in the van on the second run -- apparently, only teens and older are allowed on the second run (too much heavy machinery). But that was fine because Noah was exhausted anyway ;-) Noah told his whole hockey team what he did, and now they all want to do it next year. Any interest in adding 12 kids to the mix? We'll definitely be back for next year! The skaters were fabulous, and the parade watchers were wonderful. So many people on the street said they would have skated if they had known they could. Thanks for organizing this Nancy: it was a pleasure meeting you and the great Portland Skaters. We'll try to do more inlining this summer with you. Daniel Baxter Noah	(right to left) Noah and Daniel Baxter, preparing for the early morning skate.
	The more people get out of their car's and into the streets, the more friendly this world will be. It was very enjoyable to talk with all kinds of people out there, the police smiled too! I had a great time and was exhausted at the end of the day. Great job Nancy for your organization efforts! c u skating, Charley	Charley 'stylin' down the parade route, Jerry follows close behind.
(left)Charles Kidwell, with police escort, (right) Charles, Abigail and Lynn
Home Inline Skate Resource Skate Journal Skate Schedule Learn To Skate Skate Accessories Skate Links Article Archives Where to Skate Skate Maintenance Speed Skating Roller Hockey Email Sign-up for Email List Weather	"Skating the parade route was great fun and highly recommended. Not only do you dispense with your social obligations for a short while but you get to see some really interesting people. It is also a great forum for promoting skating as it appears that the public was highly intrigued." Ciao. Sean	Sean, Lynn in the background, 1st on the scene at the rendezvous point before the parade
	"The positive response from the public to receiving the garbage bags was heart warming. People were eager to use them and intrigued by the sight of a group of friendly faces on skates helping out for the environment. I particularly enjoyed skating back along the parade route to the starting point. The streets became a moving obstacle course of happy children, street vendors, and artists drawing with chalk on the pavement. Volunteering for this event was really worth it." -Cyndy Anderson Cyndy and Jerry, working their way up the route	Cyndy distributing SOLV bags on the parade route
	I am proud to live in The City of Roses. I feel fortunate to have been able to skate through the streets of Portland and feel the enthusiasm from so many Portlanders. One does not realize how much organization it takes to present such a wonderful parade. It felt good to volunteer and at the same time have fun doing it. Skating back through the streets of Portland was like being part of a street fair...everyone was out having fun. I look forward to the event next year. -Lynn Covington Lynn, foreground, Wade, Adam, Charles and Abigail wait for the PGE van to catch up to the them.	Lynn crusing the streets