On Dec 2, 12:15�pm, HK wrote:
Today. Just saw it. Lots of fire trucks and fire equipment, student ROTC
types marching, high school bands, et cetera. No Jesus on a Stick.

Our Special Peoples' Cruise was Sunday afternoon.

Despite a lot of FUBAR aspects, (the buses arrived two hours early!),
it was as much fun as always.

A number of the boats "chickened out" at the entrance to Lake
Washington. One of the first boats out that far reported on VHF:

"The big 150-foot tour boat full of kids is turning around in the
channel. They aren't going to risk the run across the lake. Winds have
to be well in excess of 30 knots, on the beam."

Some of us forged on, anyway. I'm not sure where the first guy came up
with an over 30 knot wind estimate- there were some whitecaps and a
little spray, and conditions weren't exactly flat- but 30 knots was
absurd. I radioed a condition report from the far side of the lake,
reporting the white caps, a little spray, and that conditions weren't
exaclty flat- and somebody else confirmed that with an anemometer
reading of 21 knots. On the way back across following the turn in the
parade route, I did notice a greater number of boats venturing out.

Next foray; the Chet Gibson Lighted Boat Holiday Parade on Friday
night.