Trip North July 27 - 28 2016

Another day's travel going highway routes from Coloma to Bryon Center, arriving around 2 on Wednesday afternoon at the Wood Chips campground, less than 2 miles from my brother Joe & SIL Bev's house.  The drive was once again through farmlands.  Much of  Byron Center is still rural, but "progress" is slowing encroaching.  After setting up camp, we went to Joe & Bev's where later our niece, Michelle, her husband, Nathan, and their newly turned 15 year old son, Connor, joined us for dinner and a fun card game of "Hide the Ace" aka "Screw Your Neighbor".   The next day, Joe and Bev took us on a tour of the area.  We were going to go to Meijer Gardens, but it was so crowded, we decided to travel to Grand Haven to see Lake Michigan, then we drove down the coast into Holland for dinner, and continued back to their home.  It was a full day, so we said good night around 7:30 and went back to Wood Chips.

 

In addition to corn and soy fields, we saw wildflowers and apple orchards along MI 131 on our way to Byron Center

We have not been here since 2010

We've stayed at Wood Chips before.  This time the park was crowded with "stay-cationers" and folks who had come for Byron Center Days.  The park caters to families,  offering many fun activities for the kids, who always seem to have a ball being there.

Niece, Michelle, grand nephew, Connor, and nephew in law, Nathan.  Connor is both scholar and athlete, and almost 6 feet tall already.

Taken from back of driveway of Joe & Bev's home overlooking golf course.  Michelle & Nathan's home is across the fairway.  Bev had planted the hydrangea bush over 15 years ago, and it never bloomed until this year when she threatened to pull it out. 

Joe mentioned in passing that he wanted to get rid of their 35 year old pop-up camper, but would need to replace  the tires first. So, Bob offered to take them off.  Neither Joe nor Bev wanted Bob spending our vacation time that way.  I had a hard time convincing them that this  would probably be the highlight of the trip for Bob.

On our way to Meijer Gardens crossing over The Grand River in

Grand Rapids.  Salmon migrate up the river during spawning time.

Outside Meijer Gardens.  Meijer is the founder of the  super-stores in the area.  Watch out Wal-Mart!

Bev, Joe, & Bob along the causeway out to the lighthouse at Grand Haven.  The Grand River is at the left just before it meets with Lake Michigan.

 

Lake Michigan; a jetty; and the northern coast line.  I thought it looked like the Oregon coast. 

Bob and Joe on the causeway to the light house.  The red flag indicates dangerous swimming conditions, but that did not deter the folks at the beach or the foolhardy folks diving off the jetty into the lake.

Grand Haven lighthouse and catwalk overlooking Lake Michigan

 

 After leaving Grand Haven and continuing south and east throughout this and that little street (if you knew my brother Joe, you'd understand...he would have been Lewis, Clark, or Marco Polo in another life), we arrived in the lovely town of Holland.  They treated us to dinner at the Alpen House, and after leaving the restaurant, Joe and I walked up the block to enjoy this jazz street band for a few songs before heading back to Byron Center.  We will see each other again on Saturday at their son, Jeff and his wife, Kate's home in Troy near Detroit on the other side of the state.