We meet our tour leaders, Bob and Sue Spears, at 6:00 AM on the west end of the Colorado Blvd Bridge. - aka Suicide Bridge. This is near the junction with Linda Vista Ave. Despite all the traffic trying to get to the parade route, it is actually easy to get to the run start and park - download map directions. Get off the 134 freeway at San Rafael and on the south side of the freeway, turn right on Colorado Blvd. Turn left on San Rafael Ave and find a place to park on the street - Thomas Map 565-F5. If trapped in Pasadena south of Colorado, east of Orange Grove and west of Sierra Madre Blvd, try going south to South Pasadena. Take Mission west, right on Grand which will merge with Arroyo blvd. Turn left and go over the La Loma Rd bridge. Then right on San Rafael - see Google map.

Wear warm clothes, bring a camera, flashlight and FRS walkie talkie set to channel 6.0. We will jog and walk by all the Rose Parade floats on Orange Grove going down the east side and coming back the west side with a short detour east on Del Mar to see the bands and special entries. Then back to the east end of the Colorado Blvd. bridge for the Stealth Bomber flyover at 8:04 AM. Following the flyover, back to your car and on to the Nano Cafe for breakfast - North side of Duarte Road just east of Mayflower. Take the Huntington Dr. off ramp from the 210 east bound, and go east to Mayflower. Turn right and then left on Duarte Rd. - map.

Even though it was 34 degrees at the west end of Suicide Bridge at 6AM most of the group is smiling.

The group can't believe they got all the flowers on the Sierra Madre float after seeing it the previous Wednesday night on the club run. No fast food floats this year so we did not get to see Ronald McDonald.

Todor could not join the club on the run because he worked it as a White Suiter minding the Uno float.

Noiz Indian Chief Manny was amazed to find a float dedicated with his likeness in the parade.

Fly over of the B2 bomber at 8:04AM as we regrouped at the bridge. 2011 photo and 2012 video.

Another view of the B2 as it flew over the bridge.

23 showed up for breakfast at the Nano Cafe after the 2011 parade.

See all of Robert and Maria Vangilders photos taken at the 2011 Rose Parade float run.

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