UF Homecoming

Apparently, 'Homecoming day' is quite a big thing in America. The best explanation I've had from a slightly cynical crop modeller, who didn't seem at all interested in the whole proceeding, is that the university alumni descend on the place and generally celebrate 'coming back'. Anyway, there's a big parade, and all the university fraternities and some clubs and societies, as well as other social groups in Gainesville (and surrounds), build floats and parade down University Avenue. It was cool! There were thousands of people, and the weather was really nice too! Of course, I now have one sunburnt arm, in the true farmer style, and my trip home was an adventure in itself... I took one wrong turn, while frantically trying to catch the bus in time (I had 4 minutes I think), and went from sprawling strip malls and 'condos' to a dirt road in the middle of a forest, just like that! It was as though I had cycled through a wormhole and ended up in, um, somewhere flat and foresty... After about 10 minutes of cycling I started noticing crumbly houses and trailers parked here and there, and the occasional person with a hint of a tail or walking with a limp, and then I knew I was back in Gainesville... And I arrived MUCH further away from the bus stop.

The funny thing is, the bus was actually there! It was full (I was the only white person on it, again - some things never change), except for the driver's seat, which was empty. While I sweated it out between two slightly large people, amidst the wails of small children and shopping bags (I'm there might have been some chickens and one or two goats as well, but perhaps I imagined those), the driver eventually arrived, promptly stalled the bus, and declared it broken down. His promise of 'a replacement bus will arrive in 10 minutes' sounded ever so slightly optimistic, so I wearily unhitched my bike and cycled home. Never a dull afternoon in Gainesville!

Anyway, here are some pictures from the parade:

This is looking West, towards the source of the parade.

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I think the university fraternities exist primarily to teach students at least 3 Greek symbols - oh, hang on, this one has 5! They must be science students!

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Andrew, this is for you - the 'Guiltless Gator Girls salute you!'

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This is an actual beauty queen! Well almost - Miss Teen USA or something. There was also a 'Miss Newberry Watermelon' (dead serious - I have a photo), not to mention 'Miss Alachua Cattle Grower's Association' and the entertaining 'Miss Ugly Stepsister'.