2011 PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES: THE HOURS ARE COUNTING DOWN! CROWDS BEGIN TO ARRIVE and ONE RECORD SETTING FLOAT IS GOING TO THE DOGS...LITERALLY!

By Randy Economy
www.Economy4ABC.Blogspot.com
December 30, 2010
12:01 a.m.

Pasadena, CA

Let the countdown clock begin.

It is total madness over in the "Float Tents" in Pasadena and Azusa and surrounding "hoods." Literally thousands of volunteers (known as "Pedal Pushers") are sticking hundreds of tons of flowers, seeds, bark, glue and wonderment to more than five dozen super cool works of art we here call "floats."

This is PERFECT Pasadena Parade weather. Yep. Cold. Into the 30's tonight. We had a great day of rain. The flowers are literally "popping" in all the right places. Looks like sunshine on New Years Morning.  Bundle up.  Don't be cold, be cool.

The Marching Bands are also getting rested and prepared to march over 5 1/2 long miles in ultra cold weather that his expected for the 8 a.m. start of the parade.

The horses are also getting ready for their final "grooming sessions" and thousands of fans have already begun to camp out to get their front row seat. Great festival over at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center today featuring all the amazing and talented horses and their riders!  (My best pick are the Buffalo Solider Riders).

COOLEST FLOAT EVER?
Look for the coolest float in the 2011 Rose Parade to be the massive entry from Natural Balance Pet Food.  It could be the "coolest" float in the history of the 100 plus year extravaganza.Yep.  It is going to be a record setter.  (Biggest, largest, and heaviest float to ever to chug down Colorado Boulevard).

Floating down Colorado Boulevard, literally.....

The float will feature world famous skating bulldogs Tillman and Rose.  Joining them will be a half dozen skim boarders and a team of Dock Diving Dogs. Yep. Cowabunga dude.  This mega float is all about water. Pools of dogs diving, skim boardin' and just having a total blast while a billion humans watch them via television, and the Internet.

The theme of the Natural Balance Float is apply called  "Havin' a Splash". Thousands of wanna be "doggie" divers auditioned to be part of this entry.  Mega amazing Jim Hynd from Fiesta Parade Floats is the mastermind behind this record setting float.

Here are a few of the impressive stats on this bad boy:

• 104 Feet Long (Biggest ever, a world record)
• 18 Feet wide
• 26 Feet tall
• 84,300 TOTAL POUNDS
• Two independent steering systems
• Portable heating system for the swimming pool
• Tens of Thousands of flowers, Gerber daises, roses, seeds
• 12 dogs
• 2 human drivers (not seen, at the front and the back)

Wow.  BTW.  If this float sinks along Colorado Boulevard, since it is so heavy, look for a real dog eat dog controversy to break out.  Stay tuned.

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