Pensacola Beach Mardi Gras Parade - I

The Krewe of Wrecks Pensacola Beach Mardi Gras parade took place on Sunday, February 22, a cold and windy, but beautiful day. I must have walked five miles that day, back and forth along the line, and still didn't get all the photos I wanted.


A lot of work and a lot of fun went into preparations for the event, and when the day finally arrived we did exactly as the sign said, "Enjoy the Parade"!


Looks like a group of Daisy Dukes to me!


Appears Ms. Bonnie (Boogie, Inc.) is calling for her driver. It's inspection time! All parade float/vehicle drivers must pass a breathalyzer test before the parade and at any time during. Safety first!


Ahh, haven't we all felt this way at some point?

Nereids on revue...and what a hoot they are. Remind me to show you a photo from after the parade when the Nereids 'performed' rather spontaneously at the Pavilion.

It's Sylvester, but where's Tweety? I loved Tweety Bird!

Beads, beads and more beads. Doncha love it!

A coupla stray cats, just wandering down the sidewalk.

Krewe of de Feet - a krewe of walkers and runners - was founded in 1989 by Glenn Windham, whom you may have seen jogging around the island.

And what a clever way for the Krewe of de Feet to decorate/accessorize their float -- adding all those discarded running shoes, spray painted in Mardi Gras colors!

So sad...I realized I'm either too old or too cold to have any reaction to this sculpted young warrior other than to wish I had a coat or blanket to protect him from that cold north wind.

I've discovered Tweedledum and Tweedledee!

Ooooh, Elvis! "A little less conversation, a little more action, please!"

Two flamingos and a Rastafarian...I think.

"Here we come, walkin' down the street.

We get the funniest looks from everybody we meet..."

Our sweet Beverly found Miss Piggy!

Lining up on Via de Luna.

It's a bunch of Silver Slippers!

It's amazing how many parrotheads we had today, but birds aside, I'd really like her sunglasses

Oh dear, this poor ship's officer seems to have missed his mate and I've missed my photo op! Darn! Jim and Lila Cox are a couple of the new Ship's Officers for the Krewe of Wrecks.

Pensacola Beach Mardi Gras Parade - II

The Hilton set up a tent where Mardi Gras revelers could sample a bit of cajun cuisine...


a box top of crawfish!

Another flamingo!

This looks like a Mardi Gras version of Uncle Sam...on stilts.

Hey, Miss Carleen! I see you're wearing your Krewe of Wrecks beads.

Another Parrothead!

Can you believe it! King Tut, the "boy king" showed up for our Mardi Gras parade. What a cutie!

Now this is just wrong! How can you eat an icee in weather like this! Look at those little pink cheeks.

And here we have the reviewing stand with the Krewe of Wrecks' carefully chosen, unbiased parade judges.

Mardi Gras mama! Everyone is having fun today!

And the parade begins. Do you see anyone you know on this float? Allen Strum, WEAR-TV's chief meteorologist, was one of the "stowaways" this year.

The Krewe of Brew show lotsa love, not war on their Love Train.

One of the great floats -- and great throws -- from the Krewe of Seville.

Another Krewe of Seville float.

Wow, how many girls her age do you see that still have their tonsils?

So this is where all those Parrotheads were heading! They have their own float.

The Dreamland Skate float. That's one brave mascot up there.

Kimberly Blair from the Pensacola News Journal and Allen Strum, this year's stowaways, show off a major 'throw' caught during the parade. So there's my Tweety Bird!

This float was amazing. Pirates of Lost Treasure was this year's first place winner in the Krewe of Wrecks Mardi Gras Parade. Great job.

The Krewe of Warriors, herding a host of stray cats, won the second place ribbon!

What a great parade again this year.
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Krewe of Wrecks - Red Beans & Rice

Now that I'm back home and settled in, I have to catch up my blog viewers on some of the Mardi Gras events on the island.


The Krewe of Wrecks offer a free lunch of red beans and rice on the Monday following their big Pensacola Beach Parade. It's a popular tradition for the beach and hundreds show up. Tommy Grice, the new King of Wrecks, stirs the pot...doesn't he always!


Smaller pots of rice simmering away...


as the line grows longer.


Folks on the island really know how to dress for the occasion!


And the serving line opens! Ladies from the Pensacola Beach Women's Club serve red beans and rice until the food runs out...and that's a long time.


Looks like Ms. Bobbi (standing) is supervising the drink line. She's the sweetest lady!


A steaming hot bowl of red beans and rice


Some take a bit of hot sauce...


Others are treated to a little bit of sugar! Ohhhh...Miss Carleen!!!


Oh look! It's Blondy Larsen, one of our annual snowbirds. They love Pensacola Beach and we love them.


And here is Blondy's wife, lovely Rosemary (on the right), with one of her friends.


Whoa! Dogs don't eat red beans and rice, do they? Hide, li'l pup, 'fore they make you a hot dog!


Red Beans and Rice day is special, but even more so for Janet & Allen Penniman. It's their 52nd wedding anniversary.


This little girl just wanted to dance the Mardi Gras Mambo


Why can't I come up with something artsy like this for my Mardi Gras collection! Do you think it's dishwasher safe? ;-)


Recognize this bike from the Mardi Gras parade? Ride in style, baby!


Ahhhh...a baby Mardi Gras dinosaur. Thankfully they are a protected species on the island.


"Hey, neighbor!" This is one of my neighbors, Maria Weisnicht. Now she knows how to throw a Mardi Gras party.


Just wait, another year and I'll find a hat like this!


It's the new King of Junkanoo, Don Stevens! Love your crown, King Don

Roseate Spoonbill

Last night I returned home from a trip to the east coast of Central Florida. During my time there I visited Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore, two very special places. Along Black Point Wildlife Drive, I was able to photograph the unusual-looking bird I was most hoping to catch a glimpse of...the Roseate Spoonbill.


Hunted for their beautiful feathers in the 1800's, the Roseate Spoonbills nearly became extinct by the early 1900's. You can easily see how this bird with a built-in eating utensil got its name.


Interesting fact I discovered: a group of spoonbills are known as a "bowl".

Coming in for a landing.

Critters

Ah ha! Evidence of night visitors along the shoreline.