On Saturday, 21 May, 2005, approximately 20 boats from various water safety organizations gathered at the 14th Street Causeway and Lake Santa Barbara for a Boat Parade in celebration of the beginning of safe boating week.

Represented were:  Coral Ridge Sail & Power Squadron, Pompano Beach Power Squadron (event sponsor), Ft. Lauderdale Power Squadron, plus the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) and the Coast Guard. 

All boats were in full dress, with signage indicating the local availability of safe boating courses.   The parade officially ended at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club, but many boats continued on to Port Everglades, under the leadership of the BSO representative.

  I was to be aboard "Stormy Weather" and arrived to find her ready for the parade, as Jimmy Buffett could be heard over the sound system.

Friends meet for coffee and munchies before the parade.  Eunice as always, is the perfect hostess.

As we pull away from our slip we see Kokomo, ready to follow us out..

Eunice checks to see if anything is needed, while monitoring the bridge tender from below on the second radio.

  The boats coming from the south (Ft. Lauderdale), head up to 14th street to meet up with the other boats.

The day was perfect for a parade and we have some old friends and some new, including Rich in the blue shirt and shades, and Sharon #1 with the orange top. (Coral Ridge has TWO new "Sharon" members on board today!).

Kokomo begins to overtake us.

Dean doesn't mind.

On board Kokomo, we find P/C's Ramey (at the wheel), Blade and Imhof as well as Lt/C Dengle.

Other boats are arriving for the beginning of the parade to Ft. Lauderdale.

So much for no wakes..
(that is not one of our boats!!!)

The BSO lead boat arrives..

Life jackets are important, especially for a Safe Boating Parade.  Andy is enjoying himself in the breeze. 

No one is excluded!! 
Well, Dean's Parrot gets a free ride with no vest...

Some folks find the vests hot (SOSpenders, here we come!).  Barb spent yesterday preparing our lunch and drove down from Lake Worth... seems the heat and rocking boat was just a bit too much.... (we love ya Barb... and we know you can take this teasing ....)
pssst... if you don't see more than one image of Barb above, hit reload/refresh....

We are underway!

  Just south of Atlantic Blvd. we come upon a Vietnam Veteran's recognition ceremony. 

And who is at the ceremony, our captain's son Barkley Jackson (he is second from left).  It's a small world !!

Back at the boat slip at Coral Ridge Yacht Club and off come the jackets!!!   And then comes the wonderful lunch prepared by Barb and Eunice.. with others making contributions.

  Later, a trip to Kokomo, docked two slips to the east,  for visiting with more friends.

  Tomorrow, we will gather again at Coral Ridge Yacht Club, and off to "Shooter's" just south of the Oakland Park Bridge for our annual Sunday Brunch...