Travel Tips

The Novato Presbytarian Church sponsored a big pancake breakfast in the parking lot of the former Pini's Hardware store, just around the corner from our house. In fact, that parking lot is behind our back fence. So we were awoken at 7am to the sounds of their PA system playing bad neo-country music. We should have asked for a discount on our breakfast fee. ;-)

Okay, so in a moment of madness, Mark accepted a piece of ham with his pancakes and eggs. Unfortunately, he doesn't like ham. But he seemed to enjoy the rest.

This year's theme was "Home Town Heros," and started with convertible cars parading about fire fighters, police officers and military veterans. I'll admit to getting teary eyed from time to time.

But still quite rural. Novato's the most populated, and largest town in Novato, but it's so spread out, you might not realize it. Also, it's one of the towns that have rural enough areas that there are plenty of horse stables and corrals. Here we see some horsemen and horsewomen on parade

Firefighters -- some of my favorite of the public service folks. Anyone who risks their life to save other's lives and posessions is a-okay in my book.

Local businesses, of course, were included in the parade. Chicken-man was representin' for one of our favorite places to grab a bite - California Grill and Rottisserie.

When you hear the irish pipes a-callin'....

Okay, one of the best parts of the parade were the basset hounds. Who knew there were so many? At least 100 bassets trotted, meandered or were wheeled down the parade route at one point. It was delightfully ridiculous! The old and gray ones being pulled in carts brought a tear to my eye in their sweetness.