DaBull’s Grenadier Journey
“THE CHASE” Part 2 of 2
2-14-2024 Valentines Day
Update on DaBull’s Grenadier
If you have read DaBull’s
“THE CHASE” Part 1 of 2 above, which I recommend you do first),
DaBull had completely given up on trying to catch a glimpse of his Shale Blue Grenadier being off loaded at the port of Port Hueneme from the car-carrying vessel the Don Quijote on 2-14-2024, Valentines Day.
After buying not 1 but 2 dozen red roses, See’s Candy and 2 Valentine Cards for my wife, (read Post #1 above to know why 2 dozen roses), I found a half hour break late in the day to run back over to the port. As I was driving over to the port I was hoping against hope that perhaps the Grenadiers would be the last of 5000-8000 vehicles being offload and that I would after all catch a glimpse of mine coming down the ramp.
Since I am not allowed on the port, as it is a secured naval base, I parked this time where I would not get a ticket again and ran out across the same field from the port where I was earlier in the day. I scaled the dirt mound to get a better view of the ship and it’s off-loading ramp. No sooner then I reached the top, I saw a Grenadier being driven off the ramp. It was either a Donny Grey or Inky Black one. I was overjoyed thinking maybe mine would be next or would soon appear.
In the corner of my eye I watched the Donny Grey or Inky Black Grenadier head over to the beach side port storage area where I was first earlier in the day and got the parking ticket. The thought crossed my mind that they were now storing some of the Grenadiers there instead of where others were stored elsewhere at the port. My attention immediately turned back to the ramp to make sure I would not miss any Grenadiers coming off the ramp. To my disappointment, only white Ford Transit Vans were now being off loaded. After watching 40+ roll off and no more Grenadiers except the one I saw, I gave up and decided to head home. It was staring to get late.
I got back in my Defender and was going to head back home and remembered where that Donny Grey or Inky Black Grenadier had headed towards. I decided to venture out towards the beach fenced off storage area to see if I could see any Grenadiers in the storage lot.
I made sure to park this time so Ticket Lady would not bushwhack me again. Note: I found out from some friends she is well known to be on the prowl and relentless and has no mercy.
I jumped up on a 3’ high round post to get a better look over all the stored vehicles and after my eyes adjusted to the dimming light, I could see way off in the distance past 25 rows of vehicles a single row of approximately 14 Grenadier. All I could see were their roofs. I began to scan from left to right and noticed one and only one with a Shale Blue Roof. Could it possibly be my Grenadier? After waiting almost a year, was it here, was it mine. I had this feeling that it was, however how could I prove it. What good was a photograph without hard evidence it was mine.
It reminded me of the time when I photographed a bright UFO over the ocean with a 500mm lens on the Hollister Ranch late at night after a surf trip. It was moving so fast horizontally and vertically it was hard to keep the lens centered on it. I had the film developed and sent the UFO negatives and photos to the Nuclear Physicist, Stanton T. Friedman, who at the time was the preeminent specialist on UFO’s. He did a deep investigation and a month later I received a letter back. He proclaimed it was in fact a UFO, which was incredible news, until the letter continued on and said, UFO simply stands for an unidentified flying object. Proof, that’s not proof.
I am known for being persistent when in pursuit of something and naming my Grenadier DaBull gives you a sense of my tenacity. I was also born a Taurus.
I had to find a way to prove it was my Grenadier. I started pondering what my next move would be, break onto the navy base late at night, which of course was a foolish and fleeting thought. Then I remembered passing by a Harbormaster Building that was just outside the port gates. Would it be open, would anyone be there this late. I pulled in, parked and walked around to the side of the building and tugged on the entry door and it opened. The lobby was very small and bare except for perhaps one or two chairs. I saw two men in uniforms standing behind a 2” thick Lexan bulletproof window. They looked perplexed why I was there and after seeing my wind blown hair, (from standing in the wind on that dirt mound earlier), they were likely thinking to themselves, this is why we have 2” thick Lexan Bulletproof windows.
There was a small covered opening to try and speak through. I explained about the ship I had been tracking, (perhaps not the best thing to lead with), and was speaking for no more than 15 seconds when one of them said sternly, “I’ve heard enough. Sir, do you have any ID. At this point I was wondering what I had done wrong and perhaps the ticket I received in the morning was just the beginning of my troubles. What he said next blew me away, Can you please meet me outside, I am going to grab my security vehicle and we are going to see if that is your Grenadier. He pulls his vehicle around and I jump inside and in less than 1 minute, we are parked in front of the Shale Blue Grenadier. I jump out and start heading for it and he says,
“How are you going to know it’s yours?” I responded right back, I memorized the VIN number.
I walk up and look straight down at the lower left windshield where the VIN# should be. I am nervous like when reading a lotto ticket that you think might be a winner. I carefully look at each letter and number and silently repeated all 17 of them to myself and started to get excited as I got to the end. It’s my VIN#, It’s was My Grenadier. VIN# SC6GM1CA8RF011465.
Upon hearing the news, the harbormaster, who by the way has the cool name of Brian Master Harbormaster, is completely blown away and as overjoyed as I am that we found my Grenadier. He could not believe it and either could I, although I had this mysterious profound feeling all along it was mine. He commented, I love the Grenadier and that blue color looks great. I asked him to take a picture of me with my Grenadier and asked if I could take a picture with him next to my Grenadier. I can’t thank Brian Master enough and his partner who stayed back at the Harbor Master Building so we could find my Grenadier. It was the perfect end to the day, especially after my encounter with Ticket Lady, although I will have to say, it was the best $53
I ever spent on my Grenadier. Thank You Ticket Lady. Thank all of you for joining me on my Grenadier Journey, which is not over. It’s been an honor to be a part of all your journeys too. So let’s keep posting and letting all of us know about your Grenadier Journeys.
Now if I could just check the VIN on that UFO.
DaBull
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, well they still do linger around.
