Portland Trip

Spirit's flagbearers carry flags of Alberta, Magrath, the United States and Canada before Saturday's parade

Spirit performing at Bandfest.

A big Ahhhh went up in the crowd when Spirit brought out its massive Canadian flag while playing a fortissimo climax of Beethoven's 9th--Ode to Joy.

In the afternoon on Friday, the band went to Waterfront Park where they were having a carnival with midway rides, etc. They had several ships docked along the shore and Rob and I went about a Canadian destroyer, the HMCS Algonquin. This is me in the bridge.

This is Spirit performing at noon in front of the Standard insurance Center.

Rob and I travelled to Portland, Oregon with the Spirit of Alberta marching band from his school. The band played in front of a large office building at noon, played in Bandfest that evening along with several other bands, and marched in the Grand Floral Parade. All of the events were part of Portland's festival of roses. Spirit is smaller this year than last, but they are definitely playing better. They performed well and were very well-received. Everyone we encountered in Portland was friendly and hospitable. I had never been to the west coast at all or to the Oregon coast in particular. It is unbelievably green with dense forests where even dead trees have moss and all kinds of stuff growing on them. It is also fairly mountainous. The Columbia River goes through Portland, and there are several massive bridges that connect parts of the city. It was really something to see.