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[the Earl of Whirl]

Well, this response may be one year late but......yes, that is Dawn in the center on a high wheel bike.  This shot is from a couple years ago but it showed up on the parade website and was in the paper twice this past week!!!  How nice to be a part of the pre-parade publicity.

Thanks so much for this thread which chronicles my last few rides in this big parade.  I made it through 24 and now will start training for number 25.  I hope I can make it as I will be 66.

By the way, hope everyone had a great Labor Day 2018.

[the Earl of Whirl]

I made it.  Number 25.  I am now celebrating and resting at home with tired legs from a busy but fruitful Labor Day in Kettering.  There were giant crowds I hear, although I did not see them very well.  I was watching the road very closely for little dips and cracks that could cause a fall.  I was waving confidently and almost done in a local parade in May and was humbled by a hidden dip in the road.  I did my best not to allow that to happen today and I safely made it through the entire route without a fall.  The last thing I ever thought I would say is that I made it through the Holiday at Home parade on my six foot unicycle at the age of 66.  That may be about it for me.  I am starting to get nervous about doing this at 67.  I was a little dizzy at the end even though it was not particularly hot out.

And, of course, happy Labor Day!!!

[the Earl of Whirl]

COVID-19 made the decision for me about participation in this Labor Day parade.  I still hope to get a unicycle out and ride a bit this weekend.  I am nervous about riding too much as my hips start hurting after a while.  A local marching band is doing a series of neighborhood parades each weekend to entertain local elementary schools.  Maybe I should try to join in with them?

Anyways, hope you all have a good Labor Day!!!

[Kirk]

It's a shame covid killed your long run at the parade.  How many years did you do this?

[the Earl of Whirl]

Thanks for asking.  25 years of riding on my six foot unicycle through the streets of Kettering!!!

[the Earl of Whirl]

Hope everyone is having a good Labor Day.  We had a number of people excited about the big Kettering Holiday at Home parade this year so we ended up with a good sized group (for us).  These are a lot of the new children and parents interested in tops and battling so I think we are in good shape for the future of both of these activities!!!  I have walked like crazy this past year and have done lots of flights of stairs to try to keep ready for this parade (and softball - we were league champs).  Still, I seriously considered just riding a three foot unicycle until we saw the local paper with a full size picture of our group to help promote the parade.  I decided to spend some time with mounting practice and give it a go.  I am thrilled to report that this 68 year old man made it through his 26th parade on the giraffe unicycle.....and I did it without a fall!  Many thanks to ta0 and everyone else for this forum and this thread which gives me the joy of looking back over the years.  I don't know what to say about next year so I will just keep on trying to keep on trying.  See you in 2022 (and hopefully with less of this virus).

[Jeremy McCreary]

The only thing better than a good Labor Day parade is one with no broken bones.

[ta0]

You are amazing, Mike! 

And I believe your giraffe is a 6-footer, not a mere 5-footer 

PS: Is there a Guinness Book Record for most parades on a giraffe unicycle?

[the Earl of Whirl]

Another Labor Day and, thankfully, another parade.  I felt like there were some hints that this should be the year to not ride the six footer.  So after 26 years in this fine parade, I left it at home.  People still seemed interested in the juggling, though, and I am thankful for that.  I was able to walk a few times and  that was enough to allow me to safely make it through the route.  We had two young ones ride unicycles and others are talking about doing it for next year so there is hope for the future.

[ta0]

Congratulations Mike!
No shame in leaving the 6-footer giraffe at home. It's still impressive to ride an unicycle while juggling. Better safe than sorry. Yesterday I almost busted my left wrist doing something stupid (it still hurts but it's getting better).

[the Earl of Whirl]

Thanks for saying that.  It is a bit of a weird day with a tinge of sadness, although I knew it was coming sometime.  Hope your left wrist heals quickly and hope everyone had a good Labor Day 2022!!!

[the Earl of Whirl]

Another Labor Day and another Labor Day parade in Kettering, Ohio where it is known as the Holiday at Home parade.  It started out pretty nice with no rain but it kept getting hotter and hotter.  I made it through on my 3 foot unicycle and people seemed to appreciate the juggling, especially since it was done by “an old man” who is doing “pretty good for his age” and they “can’t believe I am still able to do that.”  And actually, that is all true.  It has been fun to read through this thread again and relive some of the memories.  It helps me to remember that this is my 28th ride in this parade (with 26 of them on the six footer).  It is almost time for bed and my legs are doing fine.  We will see how they feel tomorrow!!!

[ta0]

You remind me the Energizer Bunny: you keep going and going and going!

Congratulations!

[the Earl of Whirl]

Out of the blue, I finished the 2024 parade on my 3 foot unicycle without a fall.  The weather was a little cooler and about halfway through I realized I had not fallen.  I felt good so I pushed it to see if I could make it all the way.  This 71 year old body is pretty happy!!!  Thanks for this forum and this thread to relive some of the previous Labor Days.  I totally forgot about Nimbus and our hour together of spinning!

[ta0]

You are incredible, Mike! You remind me the Energizer bunny: you keep going, going and going!