Fremont Parade 2010

[Klondike]

The word concerning the upcoming Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday is ominous on several fronts, and I expect that his will impact pic taking as well as the overall enjoyment of the event. First (and a perrennial concern) is the weather which at this point is still forecast to be dry, but is deteriorating by the hour and may end up cold and soggy, at least for a good part of the day. Second is that the painting party is expected to be more closed off than last year although it will be held in the same location. This should curtail photography somewhat.

And then thirdly and most depressing is the news I got today from Crispus that the Seattle Police Department has stated that they will issue tickets for nudity in Gasworks Park if riders do not dress immediately after the ride is over. No more hanging around naked and posing, etc. So what would the Fremont Parade be like without Gasworks Park? What would a wedding be like without a wedding cake? I mean, I am trying to picture this and also picture what a thread here would be like without pics of nudes on that grassy hill, and, well, maybe it doesn't mean as much to you as it does to me, but still it basically SUCKS! The alternative for me at any rate is to wade back into the hoards along the parade route and become just another sidewalk snapper, spewing out yet another gallery of nudes on bikes as they wiz by me in the blink of an eye. Am I looking forward to this? Well, it still beats sitting at home, I guess, so I would do it, but do it under protest maybe. Should I wear a T-shirt saying "Save the Gaswork Park Nudes" or something like that then? Anyway, so thats the outlook for Saturday as it stands now, and maybe the Seattle cops will stop taking lessons from Los Angeles cops next year and give us back the parade we all know and love. Because if they don't, Fremonts glory years may be behind us.

At any rate, lets put pics here, and hope things work out better than it sounds at this point in time. Really though, my greatest fear would be the "Los Angelesification" of Seattle politically, which is a very real possibility and is often what happens when wealth and a sense that those without it are having too much fun occur together. Heaven forbid anyone should have more fun than the ones with all the money! The good news in all this though is that the will of the nudes is still very strong here, and that last years record turnout may have prompted a lot of this. So we will see where this goes and if it has any impact on other events here in the NW. Its a bit soon to be sounding the death knoll.....

KLondike

[KarlMalone]

Ugh. Here's for hoping the police back off.

[Klondike]

Could this be the last of the Gasworks Park naked pics at Fremont? take a long look at the pic below (My fav pic from 2009) taken at the top of the hill, and also take a look at Michael Holden's Flickr set here:

hxxp://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelholden/sets/72157620054839385/?page=4

this is what the "beef" is about, and who knows maybe too many Seattle cops have been found spending work hours surfing flickr photostreams like these over the past year.

KLondike

[Fango]

Just so there's no undue consternation later, I'd just like to say that the posts deleted in this thread were deleted because the girl in question is 17, and not for any other reason.

Fango

[lonemeat]

Hi there, I'm a long-time lurker here but I've been a regular rider in the Solstice Parade and I'm connected with the people who organize it so I can shed a little light on some of this. What most people don't realize is that the painted cyclists are not an official part of the Solstice Parade. However, they can still cause problems for the parade organizers, who are the ones who have to deal with the city, get permits, pay for the extra cops, etc. The parade is a big family event, and the concern is that over the past few years there have been more and more random creeps - Mr Smiles types - who aren't associated with the parade or the cyclists and just walk around naked and show off an erection to women, whether they want to see it or not. Basically, everyone is fine with the painted cyclists but the parade organizers and the city don't want it to turn into another Folsom Street Fair, so unpainted nudity and any sexual behavior is being strongly discouraged. As far as Gas Works park, my understanding is that they want people to be covered up by the time the *official* parade arrives but there will still be time for photography. That's one of the favorite spots for riders to take pictures of each other, since you're too busy at the painting party and during the ride, well, you're riding! Frankly, I think the weather will probably be a bigger issue this year. Unfortunately, I won't be able to ride this year but it's the most fun you'll ever have -- everyone should do it at least once!

[Klondike]

Thanks, lonemeat -

That's encouraging news. Crispus's note to me stated that the cops were concerned with the "nudity" and I guess maybe that was a reference not to the cyclists themselves but to these other elements you mentioned. Apparently, the organizers have a lot to contend with and too many photogs isn't the only issue (naked ones maybe...). Which brings up a point which has been raised recently regarding the WNBR - is it advisable for photogs to get naked themselves and does that make them more acceptable? Not sure now....

BTW - just bought an iPad and am typing on it now. It's a bit tedious and so I think I will quit for now

Klondike

[Klondike]

and also - as I sort of expected, the weather forecast now for Saturday is not good. Showers and low sixties for a high temp (not 68 as was in the forecast just this morning). This is not looking good at all because that means it will be downright cold and damp before noon. Looks like the same thing might happen to Fremont that happened to Bay to Breakers this year....

Klondike

[bjcojak]

Rain or shine, or at the very least just overcast. I plan on being on station to shoot the parade again this year. The countdown begins!

[Klondike]

The Fremont Parade is over and I'm happy to say that only one of my three fears was realized - the weather.
Otherwise it was super and maybe my best year for pics yet! I'm on the road now and can't post, but the ride was awesome again this year despite the rain and small crowds. Again this year, women riders FAR OUTNUMBERED THE MEN!!! It was unbelievable! At the painting party it seemed like practically THREE OUT OF FOUR attendees were YOUNG women! My pics should bear that out. So no rain or cold could dampen the spirits of these bikers. And Gasworks Park was also good despite the presence of the men in blue. I'll have pics up within 24 hrs. Cheers,

Klondike

[pennywiseguy2]

Originally Posted by Klondike

The Fremont Parade is over and I'm happy to say that only one of my three fears was realized - the weather.
Otherwise it was super and maybe my best year for pics yet! I'm on the road now and can't post, but the ride was awesome again this year despite the rain and small crowds. Again this year, women riders FAR OUTNUMBERED THE MEN!!! It was unbelievable! At the painting party it seemed like practically THREE OUT OF FOUR attendees were YOUNG women! My pics should bear that out. So no rain or cold could dampen the spirits of these bikers. And Gasworks Park was also good despite the presence of the men in blue. I'll have pics up within 24 hrs. Cheers,

Klondike

Phew. You had me worried for a while.

pennywiseguy2