If it's December, it must be a boat parade - Reprise

The weekend of the 15th we joined the usual suspects (Rupperts, Boutilliers) along with Doug & Mo Oudin, on Breyers boat for the Naples boat parade. Another event instantly added to the "Favorites" category.

We met on Carpe Diem for cocktails, snacks, and chit chat before boarding Restless to join the boat parade. Yep....we were participants. I guess the reasoning would be that, if you want a parade to be done correctly....sometimes you just have to do it yourself! What a hoot.

Alamitos Bay has two parades on that same night. The large boat parade (anything that doesn't fit in Naples canal) kinda meanders around the bay while making merry. The whole deal takes about 20 minutes.

We, on the other hand, were part of the small boat parade which tours the Naples Canal. There must have been 50 or 60 smaller boats (including outrigger canoes, deck boats, barges, etc), all decked out with lights and decorations. The "Making Merry" thing was in full swing.

The gathering spot was Marine Stadium and from there through Alamitos Bay and clockwise around Naples Canal. It was very cool.

I've never seen this before (not sure if it's ever been done before) there were spectator boats anchored and rafted up in the bay. The parade snaked its way through the anchored boats and into the canal.

The canal including both sides and all bridges were totally lined with people. Sometimes several layers deep, sometimes on floats, etc.. All the houses and the bulkheads of the canal were decorated with lights. It would be hard to say which view would have been more impressive. To be a spectator watching the boats on parade or being a boat on parade watching the spectators.

For added fun Doug Oudin had brough bags and bags of hard candy which we threw to the crowds as we went by. That was fun all in itself. Watching the eager anticipation in the eyes of the kids followed by the jubilation if they actually were lucky enough to catch the thrown candy.

Following the parade it was back to Carpe Diem for some warmth, spiral sliced ham, and beverages. A good time was had by all.

If it's December, it must be a boat parade

Right next to Summer, and Fall, and any other time when there are parties, the holidays are always my favorite time of year. This year is no exception. While the boys are missing the parties are not.

The Huntington Harbour boat parade took place this year on the weekend of December 8 & 9. It was a smallish turn out for parade participants with about 40 boats on parade. The last few years we've had more like 60 boats.Still it was fun.

As per usual, Rupperts and Vaughans both brought their boat over into the slips next to ours and the party was on. Since they both brought their small boats and we have this new aquatic mansion the party during the parade was pretty much on our boat.

The attendess were Rick & Marsha, Keith (Gloria in NY w Katie, shopping), Mark & Shanna Smith, Jim & Kathy Morley, Johnny Vaughan (EJ was sicko).

Following the parade which came to our channel first this year we adjourned to our house for some warmth, lasagna, and beverages. Very nice group of people and a delightful evening.