I tend to be a libertarian. One aspect is I am against government telling me what to do. I like it here in Grand Haven where they have not decided to hand out $500 fines for swimming in a rip tide, or walking out on the pier with waves shooting over the top. It is just common sense, right? Government, at any level taking away our freedoms is wrong, right? Just give them plenty of warning signs and red flags. They won’t be idiots.
We were out at the lake again today enjoying the show. Beautiful waves. Taking some photos with my 30x optical zoom travel camera. Oh look, see the surfer in the picture below? He is plenty safe. Knows what he is doing and is attached to the board in case he is swept out from shore.
Then we watched some people wandering out to the pier. As they walked past three warning signs and a red flag flapping in the breeze.
Hmm, nice upclose photo you are taking. But maybe get a zoom? You just got a little wet capturing this photo. At least you hadn’t taken a few more steps forward and gone down on the lower pier level.
And then comes three of Grand Haven’s smartest. Or maybe tourists. Oh to be young and indestructible. “Hey, there is a surfer dude behind us, so it must be safe?”
“Yep, looks safe! Only knee deep in fast moving water. Hey, where did the surfer dude go?”
No boats foolish enough to be out in this wave action. No one to save you if you are swept in. Unless someone calls the Coast Guard to rescue you.
But then we looked at another small group of people. Not too far out on the pier. And not down on the lower level. Then I saw the stroller! I wonder if they have ever googled “sneaker waves on the Great Lakes”, or “rogue waves on Lake Michigan”?
My “keep government out of our lives” beliefs were tested today.