OLUSTEE BATTLEFIELD FESTIVAL - PARADE

The Civil War Olustee Battlefield Reenactment was beyond expectations.  First, Friday  when we arrived in Lake City, I went to town to print some documents at the library and get Shopcat's cat food. There were blocks of booths with white tent tops and musicians performing on the stage.  I looked till they closed at 6 cuz it 's a place Mike avoids like the plague  ( except for the food - I took home dinner).  Our neighbors, Tom & Sharon, at Oaks & Pine RV Park are going to the Daytona 500.  Their son-in-law is #9 and won the Indianapolis 500 in 2006 or 8.

Miss Olustee pageant winners

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The Confederate Ironclad

Saturday, Valentines Day, we went downtown to the same place to watch the parade.  Mike was impressed with the food booths around the stage square.  The dignitaries sit on bleachers in front of city hall.  Just like home, the city police and fire trucks lead the parade.  Then followed the union and confederate soldiers, the parade grand marshal, city and county and state elected officials from judges to legislators, descendants of the Olustee battle. Then came the Miss Olustee Pageant winners from 3 years to the beauty who will vie for Miss Florida.  Miss Southside Idol was in a convertible - this beauty  in heels and red tight pants and a white sleeveless pedlum top belted out songs later on the stage.  I assume she is vying to be on American Idol.  The gymnastics class did flips all along the route followed by the mechanized calvary on motorcycles with the logo on their backs. 

Kudos to the lady in charge and all the committees. They offered bus rides to the battlefield 15 miles from the airport for $2 but we wanted vehicle control.  We all had to park along the highway on both sides.  We walked at least a mile to the battlefield  That day we made 16,435 steps (10,000 is my goal and I don't make that half the time).

www.battleofolustee.org

www.youtube.com /watchbattleofolustee