Roast beef in a box

Finally! Photos

Sorry this took so long, I got them from the lab early in the week but have just not had a chance to look at them and post them. I'm sorry for the managing-to-always-catch-people-with-their-eyes-closed quality of the photos.

And now for some well-deserved thanks

First, I want to thank Queen Bicycle Pam for stepping up and taking on the mantle of Queen for the parade, even when she was not completely sure what was expected of her. She was regal and lovely, and the perfect Queen Bicycle.

Next, Frog went above and beyond the call of duty in being the driver for the Royal Pedicab. He did a great job and I so thank him for persevering for the whole route. You rule, Frog!

Then, of course, Queen Bicycle's entourage, Susan and Hilary, did an excellent job as ladies-in-waiting, and handing out candy to all the children of High Springs. Thank you!

Leah and her family turned out with beautiful, decorated bikes and trailer for the event. Thank you for coming through and making it such a special, glittery treat!

Karen and her daughter, Charis, were the first to arrive and caravaned out to High Springs with me. It was a relief to have someone there when I got there. Thanks so much for coming out for this, you guys!

Special thanks once again goes out to the Gainesville Cycling Club for being good sports about the miscommunication and not being too annoyed with me.

A Very Understanding Person Responds

This is part of an email correspondence I had with Velvet from the Gainesville Cycling Club today. I'm so relieved they were able to participate in the parade but still feel awful about how it went down. Here's the email:

Hi Michele,
sorry we missed you at the parade - Rob and I
misunderstood your directions, and thought that we
were supposed to meet at the field behind St.
Bartholomew's. After I phoned you, we rode our bikes
towards city hall, where the parade was already
starting; after riding around trying to find your
group, we finally settled for riding with the High
Springs BMX contingent. So 4 of us were riding with
all the little BMX'ers! Dan, who arrived too late to
participate in the parade but watched it, told us that
your group was actually some distance behind us. The
parade was much bigger than I expected.

It was still fun, and I'm sure you have a better idea
now of what to expect next year. Our only thought was
that the pace was really too slow for bike riding -
participants should be prepared to walk their bikes
(as we ended up doing).
Thanks, Velvet

First, Apologies

My thanks and gratitude to Velvet, Dan, and the other members of the Gainesville Cycling Club who made the trek out to High Springs, and my never-ending apologies for missing them while I hunted the grounds for the cyclists participating in the parade. I should have:

a. Given Velvet and Dan my cell phone number, and
b. Had a sign reading "Alachua County In Motion" to parade around with, no pun intended

Also, as Queen Bicycle pointed out at the termination of the parade, I should have come to High Springs a day or two before the event and scouted out the territory. I am not as familiar with High Springs as I once thought.

I take full responsibility for this neglect and deficit in planning and organization, and I do truly, deeply apologize. If they can see their way to giving me another chance, I promise to make Alachua County In Motion's participation in next year's Christmas parade a smashing (and better organized) success!

One More Plea for Royal Pedicab Driver

As I mentioned, I have a pedicab that I am currently decorating to be the royal pedicab for tonight's parade. If anyone lurking out there is confident in their riding abilities and their level of fitness, please step up and volunteer for this very important job!

I'm taking the boat battery out that powers the lights -- unfortunate, but the battery is dead. That will definitely make it lighter to ride.

Great Parade Weather!

According to Accuweather it's supposed to be about 67-degrees by 6pm parade time. That's in Gainesville, but it's probably close to that in High Springs. Use your best judgment, but I think it's going to be perfect for riding!