The summer after meeting Will, back in 2004, I was introduced to my first Greatest Fourth in the North, care of the Spurgeons, the Crissmans and a little town near Cadillac called Lake City.
The ditty goes a lil' somethin' like this... Night before - put chairs in truck bed, usually about 15 of them. Morning of - coffee, light breakfast and drive downtown for the 5 or 10 K. After the race - gather at the 15 chairs, carefully placed by soon-to-be-named Grandpa Bill, rendevous with the non-racers, enjoy some Baked Beans coffee and a breakfast sandwich, and get down for some serious parade watchin'.
In years past, those of you on Facebook may have perused my fabulous Lake City Greatest Fourth in the North parade photos. I must say that this year was slightly less dramatic. Only one band. No Roscoe. And no Jenny Nathan. But yes - they did toss beef jerky. And yes, there was a woman driving around megaphoning at the kids to "GET BEHIND THE WHITE LINE, FOLKS!" It was still a super time.
The spectators from my camp . . .
...including sunscreen safety officer G. Bill:
Other notable spectators included the pasty and the tan - the former clearly a follower of Officer G. Bill:
Who knew bathing suit parade watching was such a thing?
For those that can't decide? Just wear jeans AND a bathing suit. Brilliant! (Sidebar - it was about 85 degrees out.)
And then there was my favorite spectator, affectionately nicknamed Chugger.
Takin' names and kickin' ass. Her 18 wheeler was parked out back.
This year's theme, "It's Round-Up Time," showcased some seriously couture Old West-inspired Northern Michigan attire, modeled by the effervesant teens of Lake City.
(There was even some vintage wear - the white boots, which I think I coveted back in 1991.)
This guy totally showed up Kip and Owen.
And what about the double-glove crew? MJ times two?
We were positioned at the end of the parade route (atypical placement for the Spurgeon crew).
By the time they got to us, parade participants were pretty tuckered out... I was tuckered too.
But lucky me scored a coupon for a free Big Boy coffee.
And it wouldn't be a Lake City parade with a message from above.
Even delivered in the Round Up theme...
Oh what a time it was...
