Saturday, June 11, 2016

On the First Day of June, Wilbo Visits Pere Marquette Beach and the Lake Muskegon Channel, Contemplating Submarines and the Submarine Races.

Jun 01, 2016 10:05 PM

Waited twice in line to pay at the pump at Wesco in Lakeside. Pumps were malfunctioning and registers too. We all waited patiently with Wesco popcorn and big sodas in our hand. Because it's Wesco in Lakeside. One man explained to me, "That's my sister on the phone, talking to Wesco IT to get the register working". It's community as close as family at Wesco in Lakeside. The store has to expand and modernize, the Wesco on the exit that leads to Hoffmaster State Park a high ceilinged example of the new Wesco design. Drove out to the channel and saw our Coast Guard Helicopter practicing maneuvers, running up the channel and going out to sea, running up to the station and going back out to sea. I asked a woman once, "In a man, do you prefer always loyal, Semper Fidelis, or prefer always ready?"


June 1 at 10:45 PM ·

I asked a woman once, "In a man, do you prefer always loyal, Semper Fidelis, or prefer always ready, Semper Paratus"? Ready always wins over loyal, wish I knew why. I walked around the Silversides Sub and the McClain, and I remarked upon the unearthly music made when the wind slipped through the wires of the Silversides lighting, an almost human moaning. I am heartened that the 236 came back from patrol and guards the Great Lakes now with help of the Cobia in Manitowoc. The sub mostly onboarding boy scouts who sleep inside under the waterline and build campfires outside in the ring nearby. Silversides delivers the message that if we ever have to defend this rock again, we'll have the best ships for personnel. It's a big duty for the Silversides, which can't leave port.


June 1 at 11:00 PM

It's a big duty for the Silversides, which can't leave port. I drove over to Pere Marquette Beach near the refuge between the breakwaters. A sign declares, "Park is closed between 11 PM and 5 AM". That sign isn't very well lit. A full wind blows off-shore and I decided it was too cold to skinny dip. Not going to say that the only reason kids aren't called Marquette or Pere is it makes for an unusual first name. Nor will I suggest that Muskegon's shelter clients save their two-month invites for January and February. I will say I saw a foursome and a dog resting tonight outside El Tapatio, charging a cell from a plug meant for outdoor Cantina lights. Looked up the dates for Electric Forest, three weeks from now, 23rd the kickoff. Setup crews are making 10 a hour through Manpower. Beaching it?

Photo by Lt. Scott McIlnay. US Navy photo # 000603-N-8321M-002,

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