Fremont Parade 2011
 

HI guys - by starting this thread I know from experience it will create some confusion. :) That is because the Fremont Parade hasn't happened yet, and when it does, someone will INVARIABLY start their own thread not knowing that this one is already on the board.

So.....but despite this, I want to throw out some pre-ride info and maybe get some feedback. First, the weather: The weather forecast is mixed at best, disappointing at worst. It won't be as bad as last year, though. But it does sound like a small front will be moving in Friday night into Saturday morning with the typical overcasts, cool and drizzly skies. High temps will get into the sixties eventually, though, which is good. At 11AM when the riders hit the road, it will probably by 56-60. This does not concern me considering last years high turnout in rain!

Next - the painting party and related info. Just yesterday, they announced the painting party location. It is not Hale's Ales again. I will not post the location in this thread - join the yahoo group solcycles to find out or maybe pm me but I can't guarantee a reply as i will be traveling. The ride organizers are as photographer concience as they have ever been, but I don't think that affected the late decision on announcing the location. Suffice it to say, photographers need a special pass to enter the indoor painting party, but outdoors, its still "be discrete, courteous, ask first, respect eveyone's wishes etc". BTW - word is that >600 will ride (last years count) but not all will be at the painting party. Basically the buzz is at Solcycles that many people want to talk about photography and how to have it the way they want it at all times (i.e. totally wanting to be able to call the shots - "yes, I want my picture taken, but only when I am good and prepared"). The reply is "we will do the best we can but, to be honest, if you are overly squeemish about being photographed, maybe you shouldn't be riding in the parade". Nuff said, but still follow the rules and be respectful!

Then there is this rumor about a leaflet announcing a special photoshoot a la Spencer Tunick where they are wanting to get 99 riders to pose. That would be awesome. anyone know any more about this?

Riders should be all painted up by 10:30AM and out the door. Assembly and group photos will be from 10:30AM to 11:00AM. The ride out of Ballard then begins at 11AM with 12PM still being the "Official" start of the ride.

PLease put pics here, but I can't control everything. Here are a few pics from last year that I took but have not posted at OCC before...

EDIT: ah, Crispus - you must live at OCC :) I mean, thanking my post before I've even finished editing it :) cheers!

Klondike

[ellipsis and emphases added]

Yeah, how sad is that! As if to prove your point, furthermore, don't know if you remembered (but you must at one point have known, 'cos you thanked it!) that Pedro already started one: https://forum.oneclickchicks.com/show...004#post932004 . I mention this not (or not only) to tease you, but to update part of what he said there:

"There is a film being made this year and the crew will follow four ride 'virgins' as they get naked for the first time. The film requires backers, if you have $2,500 you can be fully involved in the film and get a credit as an executive producer! They have made a video..... hxxp://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1778849889/beyond-nakeda-documentary-film "

...and to that I add this from the auteur:

"Hi everyone,
Thanks to support from many of you, we were able to reach our fundraising goal. I'm thrilled to be able to make the film I've dreamed of making. In addition to the special equipment we've been able to secure, we've also been granted unprecedented access by parade organizers to film along the parade route. We'll have a crew of about 25 people working on the day of the parade, and they will be clearly identified with Beyond Naked badges and their photos. We'll be doing a few things that you can optionally participate in:

At the painting party, we'll have a photo station (look for the blue background) where anyone who wants to be sure to be included in the film can have their picture taken, which will later be turned into a stop-motion animation of as many riders as possible.

At the painting party, if you arrive early you'll have a chance to be an extra getting painted in the background near where the film's four characters are being painted film.

At the beginning and end of the parade, we will be flying an RC helicopter with a camera attached to it. This camera will capture sweeping aerial shots of the ride and the crowd, footage that has never been made before. I'll be sending out a message for the list later this week with some instructions for those of you who want to be part of the film's parade finish at Kite Hill in Gas Works Park.

We'll have film postcards with info about the production on hand, and model releases for you to sign as needed. You can learn more at http://www.beyondnakedfilm.com. "


**One final edit to what K said: It should be noted that noon is the official start of the PARADE (though Fremont is pretty much always on hippie time); the RIDERS are required to be out of the pathway NO LATER THAN NOON ; didn't want anybody to get there late!!

Um......gulp:eek: Yes, I totally forgot about Pedro's thread......:)

They need to stay bumped until the day arrives. I have a VERY short memory....

hopefully we can keep this one bumped. And thanks for incorporating Pedro's info into this one - that way we can keep the pics here and have all the pre-ride info also.

thanks, Crispus!

Klondike

..and I do apologize, Pedro.....:) Seems I had you pegged as being so into your WNBR's over there right now that you wouldn't even have time to look up and stare at your map of the US!

Klondike

No need to apologise klondike, this is 'your' hometown event and one I hope is as good as last year! :D:D

Here's hoping the good people of Fremont are a hardy breed! The parade has got Brighton WNBR syndrome, a crap day surrounded by sunny days!

hxxp://www.wunderground.com/US/OR/Portland.html

Today is in the mid-70's but tomorrow is cool and wet!:mad::mad::mad: It did not dampen things too much last year, but it may put off a few (like it did me, last week) stripping off. Paint is not a good insulator, specially when it runs:D

Good luck to any OCC member hoping to record the best NIP event in the US of A;)

Yes, it does not look good for tomorrow, but the KOMO weather station here in Seattle (which has always been my first choice for weather up here) has for a high 64, not 61 (wunderground). Those three degrees can make quite a difference. Also, when wunderground says 80% chance of precipitation, that sounds a lot worse than "rain at times" (KOMO). I think we will eek this one out, and it should be a bit better than last year which really was RAIN!
In reality, this is a pretty typical forecast for these parts on Fremont day - just a bit off...

KLondike

.....and Pedro, A rider wrote over at Solcycles that he is "stoked" that the temp will only be 60 tomorrow (with some rain). Cycling gets you warm, he says. Another wrote back and said she skipped out last year because of the weather, but not this year!!

so......I think there will be a few pics...

KLondike

Best of luck old chum, I have a day off from work (well the beach, anyway) on Sunday (in Europe) and will be looking forward to the first photos popping up. I just wish I was there, I really fancy riding the parade myself one day!

Yes - - - but Klondike ..... starting a thread that reads : ' Fremont is two Days away ' will inevitably confuse some / a few people ( such as myself ) ... who will read the Title ( today / Saturday ) , and think : " Ah ! Everything is good ! I've got until Monday yet ! Time to relax ! " :)

thanks - I will ask the mods to rename it!

KLondike

Today is THE DAY ... XD

Live report from the painting party! It was pouring early this morning, or at least it was where I live further north, but it had tapered to a warm drizzle when I arrived. Great turnout, lots of photogenic college age females. Look forward to a bumper crop of pics. :-)

OOOH, I am getting really excited. The weather says 13C and drizzle falling (it's 32C and sunny here) but I so wish I was there:(:(:( I think a new box of tissues may be needed:eek::eek::D:D

I wonder what a bit of light, steady rain will do to those paint jobs?

First in: it looks to have been pretty damp but seems also to have "come off" successfully! Klondike, we know you have a long commute back (and maybe a little night music down Stumptown way) before we see anything, but now I for one am really ready...

Well done crispus, this one is of the damp parade itself (note folks dressed up for winter) taken about an hour ago, hopefully the paint might just have washed off off at the end of the ride:D:D:D

Fremont 2011 report -can't upload yet!
 

Hi Guys - I'm already back from the parade (At a hotel in Seattle). This one was not like any I can remember. The weather sucked - worse than the reports with a steady drizzle that never let up. When I left Gasworks Park, my thermometer read 58. How's that compared to last years wash out?? Not really any better....

So, but on to the news and photos. The painting party was a bit cramped and photography was more difficult than in past years. They are continuing to "work" on the photographer issue, meaning try to find ways to minimize it. Today, most of the photogs were all crowded into one little area outside the semi-enclosed parking lot, meaning all of our pics are going to look a like. I was disappointed with the conditions early on and found most of the women to be topless only. PLus, we were all standing under trees which were dripping constantly on our cameras!!

But then things started to improve and once the ride got underway, many new women turned up and quite a few were fully nude. I still feel though that fully nude riders might be down a bit this year. Anyway, I got lots of good photographs of girls on bikes at this point. The ride was underway, and I had actually left early after a false start, then had to race back when I realized only a fraction of the riders had departed.

On to Gasworks Park. I was not even going to go to Gasworks this year, but because the painting party was a bit disappointing, I decided to go ahead and go down there. I sure am glad I did!! WOw - so many great girls, close ups and photo ops. You will see in time. THe area was crawling with photogs more than ever, and I do sense a slight increase in tension this year between riders, organizers and us guys. Hopefully, this can be worked out.

I think numbers were very strong today, but two years in a row of rain and small crowds has dampened my spirit so to speak. It just isn't the same festive atmosphere. But I did get lots of pics which you will start to see shortly as i don't think I am going to make it back to Portland for the nightime WNBR.

EDIT: I CANNOT UPLOAD ANY PICS! I'm on a slow hotel wireless connection and the uploads (even one pic) is timing out! I'll work on it...

KLondike



KLondike

OK, well I'm doing my best to put pics up. This one uploaded, but is sideways. anyone want to right it and repost it?

I'll keep at it but may have to wait until I get back to Portland tomorrow.

KLondike

here's another. I think these girls may have ridden topless, then got naked only for the photo! Love the girl on the left!

uploading one at a time and they will probably all be sideways...EDIT: OK, loading into iphoto first, then saving makes them display right..

KLondike

one at a time, just to keep ahead of Pedro on the thanks total..:) (no, not really -crappy connection)

My camera got fogged up a bit and some of these pics look a little rain dampened with a soft focus and all. Sorry about that, but remember, this is RAINFOREST country and don't you think that lends sort of a mystical, enchanting look to all these pics??

KLondike

lets try two this time..

Klondike

OK, two it is..KLondike

oh what fun! KLondike

twosies..

Klondike

a bunch of parade pics
 

hxxp://www.flickr.com/photos/manleyaudio/sets/72157626992465884/with/5846921550/

hats off to this girl - the only completely unpainted, fully nude rider (don't quote me on that.......)

Klondike

i've got riders too...

Klondike

This sequence that I've already posted two pics from is my favorite of all my pics pretty much. Just love them and I have more too.

Klondike

not ready to stop yet.

Klondike

just another saturday in the Fremont district.

Klondike

haven't posted very many pics from the painting party. Most of these are from gaswork park. Here are two from the painting party.

Klondike

I know you said not to quote you, ;), but there was at least one guy, plus two streakers. (Also, if you got a view of her from behind, you'd see she had sort of a denim pocket painted on her butt. I have no idea what she was going for, but more power to her.)

I dreadfully apologize to anyone who feels I overhyped the weather/event/turnout/etc. At the time, it honestly seemed like the weather was getting ready to warm up and dry out. Which it did, precisely around the time the parade ended, of course. Also, I should qualify anything I have said or will say with the fact that this was my first time riding in the parade, and my first time witnessing it since approximately '05.

That being said, I stand by my comment regarding the turnout, which imho was large -- especially once we reached the parade and were joined by those who painted separately -- and gorgeous. I will however agree with Klondike that there were plenty of girls I'd liked to have seen drop their final garment, but I think plenty did so.

I went down as a rider, not as a photographer, and the only camera I had with me (and I believe the only camera I own) was my cell phone. Nevertheless, I will happily share these seven admittedly poorly-shot pics I took from the painting party.

onwards. Not going to make it back to Portland tonight..

KLondike

this first girl is turning out to be a real fav. Hope to see a lot more pics of her.

and thanks for those painting party pics! I don't want to go it alone here, and I certainly want to see those indoor shots!

Klondike

You're quite welcome. Unfortunately, that's all I have (except for one with just a guy, and two that are more or less identical to what I posted). I'm disappointed (in myself, not overall obviously) that you say Gasworks was the place to be. Most of the riders I seemed to be around (including myself) were so cold and wet and miserable that, while we made it to the end (unlike a couple I noticed), we pulled off to the side on Northlake Way and dressed immediately. I falsely assumed that the post-ride would be the most rained out portion of the event. :mad:

I'll gladly partake in anything/everything you have though. :D

Next year, should the weather be better, I'll try my darnedest to provide both pre- and post-ride pics. (Not so much in the middle though, leave that to the experts.)

more. KLondike

Klondike!!
 

Thanks Klondike for all the hard work and effort you put into this and every day. We appreciate it.

dinner time..might need to take a break..

KLondike

the first pic I posted earlier but it was sideways and got pulled.

Klondike