Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:49:32 -0800
Reply-To: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Rose Parade Pasadena & the Vanagon with a Z-bed
In-Reply-To: <ed721f540912210853r5a7f88fes3be3dfc37267ca2d@mail.gmail.com>
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Having grown up in nearby Sierra Madre, Monrovia & Glendora I went to many
Rose Parades over the years. I even marched down Colorado Blvd as a member
of Glendora HS Band one year (5.5 miles is a long way to haul a Sousaphone
;-) ).
Because I lived two to several miles away at the time, I always rode my
bicycle early in the morning to watch it. On a few New Years Eve nights I
would go down there with a sleeping bag to camp along Colorado Blvd and I
agree with Markus, fuggidabout parking on side streets from about the 28th
onwards, they'll be maxed out with every vehicle known to man or woman.
Pasadena usually looks the other way during that week, but camping on
Colorado Blvd is verbotten except on New Years Eve, period. No alcohol or
bonfires either and the place is usually swarming with Pasadena PD, Arcadia
PD, LA County Sheriff and California Highway Patrol from one end to the
other. Besides, the past few years it's been @#$%&*! freezing cold.
I'm watching it on TV (local KTLA 5 is the best coverage and I think their
signal is simulcast on the Travel Channel for the out of towners,) again
this year, especially because Glendora HS is again marching in the parade.
Tartans forever......
If yer gonna personally view the parade, the best way is to make
reservations and park a motorhome (or a Westy, I've done it once) at PCC
(Pasadena Community College) parking lot right there on the boulevard a week
or so before the parade and get tickets for the accompaning bleachers.
Can't get the time off for that these days or I'd do it again in my Westy or
my Class C. Oh well....when I retire in a decade or so.....
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
Full Timing Since March 1999
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
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On Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 8:53 AM, Markus Mumper <markusmumper@gmail.com>wrote:
> Rob,
>
> I lived in Pasadena for many years and went to one Rose Parade (one is
> enough).
>
> The only caveat I can think of is that Pasadena does not allow overnight
> parking on ANY city streets. I don't know if they would hastle you on New
> Year's but it is something to consider.
>
> As far as off-street parking - good luck. Pasadena gets filled to the gills
> with out of towners.
>
> Some before hand planning will go a long way.
>
> Markus in Pismo Beach ('87 Westy (The Girl)).
>
> On Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 11:00 AM, Rob <becida@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > I was looking at the maps and reading on line about the Rose Parade.
> > Pasadena is around a 17 hr drive from here. With a Vanagon as a place
> > to sleep, driving down on the 31st, sleeping in the bus on a side
> > street and watching the parade is not an impossible thing.
> > Probably not going to happen for me this year but....
> >
> > There is always a learning curve. Anyone done this before? Folks
> > from around the area able to offer some advice?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
> >
> > Rob
> > becida@comcast.net
> > Western WA state with a Subaru powered '84 Westy
>
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