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From: RC peter Robertson
Date: 12/13/2005
Time: 4:17:30 PM
Remote Name: 64.174.7.191
12/13/2005 AAAAAARRGH! to be warm! Every once and awhile things go your way. For me it was the goal of being warm after the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade at the traditional Post Parade Pot-Luck. Every year we’ve come back and had a terrific Pot-Luck on the docks at Miller. Our friends at SYC had a similar chilly gala on their docks as well. The common thread? We all froze our collective keisters off doing it. This year, thanks to efforts by Commodores Mike Gouweloos CCYC and Doug McPherson SYC, we were able to put everyone inside. This included all the parade participants, their guests and those who came by land yacht as well. We were all warm and the holiday atmosphere was heartwarming to say the least. The 23 boat long parade, led by our standout CCYC Fleet-Captain Carl Cook with his “Champagne Lady”, wife Norlene, made the trip upriver to Riverview Marina and back unscathed. They did have to dodge a few Abe Lincoln sized logs in the river. The folks in Old Town said it was quite a sight to see. About a dozen decorated boats that don’t normally dock at SYC kept going south and moored at the SYC guest docks. Assistant Port Captain, John Hardin’s skilled eye kept the paint and gel-coat intact as the boats maneuvered around the workbarge. Port Captain Chuck Lenert had space and power for all of them. It was a beautiful sight to see indeed. A friend called me on Monday and commented how nice it was to see all the decorated boats from I-5, bet it was. Boaters opened up their galleys and tailgates to pile the tables high with tasty pot-luck dishes to share at the SYC Clubhouse. This generosity augmented the staple meal of ham, green beans and scalloped potatoes provided by both CCYC and SYC. Side dishes ran the gamut from baked beans, a cauldron of “Killer” clam chowder, salads, appetizers of all cusines and a dessert table that would satisfy any sweet tooth or chocoholic for miles! The anticipated group of 80 souls that swelled to well over 200 waited patiently in the buffet line. Everyone was seated thanks to the action of SYC VC Tom Schmidt who quickly Shanghaied some help and set up more tables on the dance floor and veranda. Generous boaters also brought a stockpile of food donations destined for the Food Drive of The City West Sacramento. Wink Thixton and wife Sherry had camera duty and raffle duty respectively, looking forward to some pix on the websites. Margie Gonzales also strong-armed the wallets for the raffle of “A Dinner for Six” hosted by chefs Sandy Bender and yours truly aboard Miss Kitty Rodden’s “Blond Ambition”. The winners were Mike & Bobbie Palmer who left their winning ticket in the hands of Martha Lowder, gonna share ?? Mixologist extroidinaire', Josey Depew, had a fast and steady hand of the taps of the “LIGHT 49 BAR” keeping everyone in the spirits of the day. Doug says it was a banner night, guess there must have been a chill in the air that needed a nip to warm us up. Tegan and Danielle worked their magic with the dishwasher and kept up with the never-ending silverware and plate demand with out a hitch, thanks Ladies!! Many hands made light work of the night’s set-up, special thanks to Bob and Berty Crittenden, Sherry Thixton and all the others who came early and pitched in to help. “The Two Commodores”, that would make a good movie title, Doug and Mike, manned the carving stations with skill that would have made a Chicago meatpacker proud. As all this was going on PC Bob Pugh and PC Mike Manley had the piano and voices going strong. Diners stopped eating and joined in to sing Christmas Carols that filled the room with the spirit and warmth of the season. After dinner the prizes were awarded for the two categories of The Holiday Lighted Boat Parade entrants: boats under 30 feet and boats over 30 feet. We can’t forget James & Emily Roth, who braved the cold and were part of the judging team along the banks of the mighty Sacramento River. Tough work for sure as all the boats looked really spectacular this year. The winners are: MEG-A-WATT >30’ “FOREVER YOUNG” Joe & Sharon Mayes MEG-A-WATT < 30’ “Patina” Larry & Martha Lowder with partners Ron Keefer & Tami Sullivan BEST DECORATED >30 “About Time” Oops .. lost their name! BEST DECORATED <30 “E-C DUZIT” Dan & Doris Walters BEST DRESSED CREW “Anchor Management” Jan Lucas BEST OVERALL “30 Something” Joe & Nina Donnel Prizes were provided by: Brett Burrows Boat Washes Capital City YC Montgomery Marble Xpressions Wear The Robertson Group THANK YOU ALL!