NATCHEZ — Brooke Allen described her performance in London’s New Year’s Day Parade as “miserable but fun.”

Allen, a junior cheerleader at Adams County Christian School, was joined by senior Lauren King as the two participated in the parade as cheerleaders. The two earned the chance at the trip after making All-America at a Universal Cheerleaders Association in Gulf Shores last summer.

“We did a dance about 10 times, and then we’d stop and run the rest of the way to catch up with everyone,” Allen said, describing the “fun” part of the parade.

What wasn’t so fun was the cold temperatures and the rain that began to fall toward the end. King, however, said the rain was a welcome addition for her personally.

“It actually felt good, because it was hot after all the dances,” King said.

The two arrived in London Dec. 27, and Allen said she enjoyed seeing all the sights while she was overseas.

“I had never been to a city that big,” Allen said. “There were a bunch of people there, I guess because it was New Year’s.”

Seeing the Crowned Jewels of the United Kingdom and riding the London Eye — the city’s giant Ferris wheel — were highlights of the trip for Allen.

“I would go back,” Allen said. “If I get All-American this year, I definitely will.”

King said she also enjoyed the London Eye, and her favorite part was touring the Queen of England’s Windsor Castle.

“It was huge,” King said. “It’s kind of a little town, because you get to shop around and stuff.”

Allen said she wouldn’t have made the trip without King and enjoyed bonding with her fellow cheerleader.

“We definitely got close on the trip,” Allen said. “It was good to have someone to be confused with in the parade.”

King laughed at that assessment, saying none of them were good with directions.

“We were both getting lost together,” King said.

“It was fun. We had hung out before but not for a whole week’s time, so we got to know each other better.”

Though she’ll be a cheerleader for her senior year, Allen said she’ll miss not having King, the cheer captain.

“She’s a really good captain, and I’ll be sad when she graduates,” Allen said.

King said with basketball season coming to a close in the near future, she’s looking at that and the trip as her last experiences as a cheerleader.

“It’s fun, but kind of sad at the same time,” King said. “I’m just glad I got to experience that, because not many people get to.”

Allen is the daughter of William and Kelly Pugh, and King is the daughter of David and Stephanie King.