Another Christmas Parade gone wrong

[BPjunk 184]

This years Christmas parade jus' didn't go too well .... here's the story.

We had spent a lot of time trying to build a float set up for the Christmas Parade out of cardboard which was OK except the cardboard got wet from the rain we had. I planned on making huge Christmas presents that rode on top of the Wheel Horse dump carts but when the cardboard got wet the cardboard warped and had to be replaced.... jus' try an find huge sheets of cardboard this time of the year. After the big presents were built it was found that the connectors I use to hook the dump carts together were not long enough to allow turning of the float with out hitting each other. So each connector had to be recut and a section welded in to give proper lenth. Remeber I don't plan on paper first .... I jus' build as I go along. <_<

Now jus' try to gift wrap a box the size of a refrigerator with cheap wrapping paper .... not fun. The huge presents were covered up with a tarp before the parade date because of poisble rain .... but they still got wet????

The theme of the float was "Presents of the Christmas Romance" as the fifth present being towed was a four wheeled cart that was aslo out fitted like a present but my wife Sharon was made to look like she was popping out of the box ..... to represent the "His" present. OK ... guys ifn's I have to exsplain that part it will have to be in a PM. And behind the four wheeled cart was yet another item being towed all with one tractor I might add was a old heavy lawn roller that carried a seat holding a jewerly ring box ..... A BIG RING BOX WITH A HUGE DIAMOND RING! This ring was the "Her" present. OK now back to parade day, the wind was around 35 MPH and ya' don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what will happen to cheap wrapping paper that has gotten wet ...... we lost a good bit of it while driving the float to the parade. I had anticipapted repairs so supplies were brought along .... but not enough. Plus all the signs saying Presents of the Christmas Romance, "his" and "Hers" did not get made do to the time being spent on repairs. Ifn's ya' think a NASCAR pit crew moves fast you should have seen me puttin' this set together jus' before the parade but it was not fast enough. The tractor club was called out into the street and I was still working my float, by the time I was done the rest of the tractors were no where in site NO WHERE! If you kept count of this project there is 7 axles on 6 peices that the little 6hp Wheel Horse is pullin' which total in lenth around 35 feet long and now moving at full throttle passin' $50.000 street rods with in inches of their custom paint jobs .... jus' to catch up with the tractors. Although this set up was road tested at my house it soon became obvious that going down hill with 6 trailers plus the rear 2 being the heaviest was going to be tough. :horseplay: But I could handle this AND DID! I did get a police escort down the one hill. (a police escort ... thats nuttin' new for me )

Although things went wrong getting this float together once out in the street seeing famlies huddled together to watch us go by and waving while saying Merry Christmas made it all worth while.

I hope ya'll enjoy the pictures.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

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'nother picture.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

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The set up complete ..... well almost.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

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Sharon as the "His" present and the jewerly box with the big diamond ring as the "Her" present.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

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The only sign that DID get made was this one that hung on the back of the float. Saying "the Christmas Mother in-law" with a Grinch doll fastend to the sign.

It got lots of laughs from the crowd.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS

From

Wild Bill and Sharon

at the

Pearson Plantation

Richmond, Virginia

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[charger10us 1]

all & all, I think yaw still had a good time. MERRY CHRISTMAS from us to you'ens.

See yaw at some of the shows. Billy in Va. :banana: :banana: :horseplay:

[bell 11]

Bill, it did look GREAT while it was still together! Excellent job!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[Michael Bullington 5]

WOW Bill! and I thought Henry went to the extreme with Christmas floats!! Too bad you two live far from each other...Yall would have a prade of your own

Have a Merry Christmas

[pond195520032003 27]

looks good Bill glad you had fun even if their might have been snags along the way hope you and Sharon have a Great Christmas aswell as everyone else on here :horseplay:

[rustbucket 4]

Happy Holidays Bill and everyone else i hope all spend quality time with family and friends in nice warm safe places.

[Teddy da Bear 11]

Great job Bill!

But in the future.....instead of wrapping paper. Why not try painting the sheets of

cardboard? They would not tear and might offer a little weather protection.

Cost of paint is a consideration....but maybe there is a way.

[KyBlue 655]

WBP ... You take christmas to a great level .. Its awesome to see your work!!!

I agree with TDB - 99 cent cans of spray paint from Wal Mart, might be a better choice next time. Just make you up a Spray Template to put the different designs on.. (circles, Stars, trees, Etc etc)