GRAND HAVEN to HOLLAND / Monday, August 22 to Wednesday, August 24 (Days 214-216)

Admiral's Log:     8:20 am, Mon. 8/22/16
                          Air Temp:   60     Water Temp:   71
                         Winds:   2 mph
                         Speed:   10 knots

We returned the rental car and headed to Holland so we could get anchored before the winds picked up. We dropped anchor at 11 and had a lazy day of reading and relaxing. We passed several cool houses and grilled steaks for dinner.

Hollan Pier Light, called "Big Red".

We just loved the huge Weeping Willow Trees

Check out the windmill feature on this house.

This guy has what look like channel markers for his chimney's.

Tuesday, we had planned on taking the dingy to town, but the winds were whipping pretty good so we pulled anchor at noon and headed to a marina. We knew it was going to be windy the next couple of days so we planned on staying at a marina in Holland anyway. We had heard gusts of 35 mph and wave heights up to 9 feet!

We tried to rent a car but none were available, so we had to take a taxi to town but had to wait 3 hours, they were so busy and there are only 2 taxi services. Oh well, we have no schedule so we had lunch on the boat and waited until the driver called.

We had the taxi take us to town and we walked to Windmill Gardens. This is the only working windmill in the country. It was brought to the city of Holland from the country of Holland in 1964. The miller is the only woman in the world to be certified in this type of milling. It was a very interesting tour. They still make flour and grits here and are sold in their store and to the local restaurants. I wish we could see the gardens in the spring when all the tulips are in bloom. There is a very strong Dutch influence in many of these western Michigan towns.

The tour guides dress in costume. The blue flag hung out side means the mill is open.

Watching the blades turn.

Then grinding stones.

The only woman Dutch Certified Miller in the world.

 Mike found his size!  

We walked back to town and had pizza at Franconi's. I was really good, but very limited menu. It only came in 12 inch and very thin crust (but that's what we like).

When we got back to the boat we heard someone yell Rowe Boat! It was John on Silver Fox! We met him on the Erie Canal back in June. We had locked through with him one full day. He was not on the loop. He was bringing his father in law's boat up here from Del Ray, Florida. He lives in Grand Rapids but keeps his boat at this marina and has a condo across the street. Another small world moment.

 He told us the Van Andles' and DeVos' (more Dutch influence), of Amway fame had huge houses on Lake Wacatawa. We also learned that Tiara boats are built near here, no wonder we kept seeing so many!

One of the Amway Family homes.

The Tiara "training center"

Wednesday, John's wife, Marsha, brought her car over for me to use! She was so nice and had highlighted things on a local map she thought I would like to see and do. I went to a great Farmer's Market and the grocery store.  

Very nice Farmer's Market!

Bought these at the market, we don't get Sunflowers in Florida, go figure.

Once I got back from the grocery, we caught up on laundry and cleaning. Had drinks at the marina restaurant with John and Marsha. We hope they will look us up when they go down this winter to visit family on the east coast. Katy and Daniel arrived around midnight for a long weekend.