Day 3: Bandfest and Pizza Night

Our view of the stadium from the press box

This morning our programme was amended slightly - we were to get up an hour earlier for a treat. A tour of the world-famous Rose Bowl stadium. It is hard to say just how privileged we were, as it is nearly impossible to get into the Rose Bowl, especially at this time of year surrounding the Rose Bowl game. Even for those not interested in the sport, it was amazing to see how important the game and stadium are culturally and what a complex feat staging it is.

We were shown the press box (with a great view of the pitch), a picture of the original stadium (which showed how more primitive building methods meant a less straight top of the stadium), the media interview/conference area and were told stories about the running of the game (such as how the first games had no artificial lighting either inside or out, so both watching the action and finding one's car afterwards was difficult!).

Ross Mercer posing for his picture

After this, we went outside for photos (individually and as a group) then proceeded to the float building area. Each Tournament of the Roses Parade uses hundreds of floats which are worked on throughout the year, and we saw the effort and techniques used to do so. In fact, four companies exist which create floats solely for this parade all year, and many others are involved.

Following this, we travelled to Bandfest. This is an event showcasing all of the bands involved in the Rose Parade to an audience of thousands. For lunch, we were catered for by In'n'Out. Most performers received one burger, but we were given two because this Christian company liked the Salvation Army. In the event, Craig Bates had a couple that people didn't want, and eventually devoured four.

Dr Cobb receiving the band drum

After a round of SYB singing heartily in the car park (including a rendition of the English national anthem), it was time to perform. It was a little nerve-wracking watching the excellent US university marching band before us, having only begun marching together the day before, but we took our place on the field and marching across it to the running track. We then played our pieces - Blessing and Honour, Dance Like David and Wonderful Day - to a great crowd. Afterwards, our bandmaster was presented with our first gift, a Rose Parade drum, giving rise to a tour catchphrase: 'Doctor Cobb!' (said, of course, in an American accent). We marched off to loud cheers, got changed, and travelled to San Diego.

However, we didn't go straight there - first we went out for our evening meal at John's Incredible Pizza Company. Here, we could have as much pizza as we like (Craig managed, honestly, at least ten slices of pizza on top of his earlier burgers), and then received credit to use the rides and games. I personally went straight on the large spinny one, and then the bumper cars, and wasn't even sick.

Worryingly, the credit given to us could be used on the penny pushers; the Salvation Army was paying for us to gamble! By using the arcade machines like this, one could collect tickets spewed out by them at the end and use them to buy prizes. I won over 1,000 and used them to buy a Lakers ball, a toddler's drinking cup, a crayon which was actually an eraser and a green plastic frog which was supposed to jump when you pushed its rear end. In all honesty I panicked after the Lakers ball as I didn't want to appear indecisive.

After this, we returned once more to the coach and headed to a new camp for the night (as it would have been ridiculous to drive the couple of hours to Mount Crags). Some of the accommodation was wonderful - some of it was not so good. More of this tomorrow.