Living in a Fish Bowl

Living in a Fish Bowl

After leaving Pentwater, we spent a night on White Lake – just inside the channel from Lake Michigan – to visit the Great Lakes Maritime museum housed in the White Lake lighthouse. This little museum was packed with nautical treasures like the linens and china embossed with the lighthouse service symbol and a light ring recovered from the Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy. Our visit also included a climb to the top for a view of Lake Michigan.

 

Our next stop was Grand Haven where we arrived at the same time as the predicted afternoon rain storm. After the storm blew through we enjoyed two days on the free wall provided by this city. The second day here was a bonus gifted us by the high winds that made travelling on the lake undesirable.  It was no hardship to have the extra time in Grand Haven where we enjoyed two free museums, a free concert in Central Park, caught the historic trolley tour, a farmer’s market , and two evening shows of their famous musical fountain.  This amazing feature has recently been refitted with new lights and mega speakers.  The show can be enjoyed along a stretch of the river front where bleachers are provided and numerous park benches, but we had front row seats from our bow. The twenty minute shows are produced by local volunteers and coordinate music with the fountain and lights. This attraction brought out big crowds on our first night since the weather had cleared and the winds died down.  There were fewer folks hardy enough to venture out the next night with brisk winds and temps in the low 60s, but still there were more crazies than you might imagine. Google a YouTube (Grand Haven Musical Fountain – Jack Sparrow) to get a taste of this treat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our stay on the wall was entertaining for us as well as for those walking, jogging, biking, skating, and strolling along the water front. We have been in many of these Michigan resort towns, but this one must be the most dedicated to fitness.  At all hours folks were enjoying the outdoors and exercising on the path beside our boat. We could hear them exclaim about our Florida hometown, admire our herb garden and cats, and peek in our windows to say hello. Many of these Michiganders know the panhandle of FL since they are clever enough to spend the winters down south and the summers up here.  In spite of the constant traffic and cheerful questions, we never felt invaded only observed – kind of like a pet gold fish.  Truly, we cannot say enough about the friendly and helpful people we have met here in MI – back at White Lake, where we were anchored in front of some old houses, a man came out in his motor boat to check if we needed anything, offered information and the loan of a vehicle. Now how can you not love a place with people like that!