May 9, 2024 More Holland, MI

 Thursday, May 9

50 degrees this morning and a little misty.  We have a leisurely breakfast of sausage kolaches from home, oranges and coffee.  There is a parade this afternoon, so this morning we decide to explore the coastal area.  

First stop is Holland State Park where we get a map and information from a ranger.  We decide to buy a Michigan State Pass for state parks for $40 since we suspect we'll be visiting more than a few. Looks like their campgrounds are full at $40 a night (or $50 for the one by the beach).

We head to the beach to check out Holland Harbor Lighthouse, known locally as "Big Red".   Bundle up against the wind. The first lighthouse was erected in 1870 and replaced with this one in 1907.  It was automated in 1932.

Another smaller light marks the other side of the channel which leads to Holland's harbor.  This is a pattern we will see frequently.

The sky almost looks like a beach with waves.

The channel is lined with houses, resorts and marinas. And we see this person sailboarding. Even with a wetsuit, it seems a chilly venture with air temp at 55.

  

Next stop is Tunnel Park, with picnic tables and a playground, and stairs that lead to the top of the dunes for a nice view of Lake Michigan and then stairs down to the beach which is reportedly popular in the Summer months. (Apparently there is a tunnel to the beach too, but we missed it.)

We still have some time before events in town, so stop at Stu Visser Trails for a walk among wetland.  Saw a muskrat, a hearty snake, and some interesting birds.  The trails were surprisingly busy for such a cold, wet day. 

A quick stop at Walmart for a few supplies (first self-check only store we've seen), then we go back to downtown.  Our parking place from yesterday is closed off, but Greg finds a good spot at a nearby park.  It is lightly raining, so we don rain gear and carry a big umbrella to the parade route a few blocks away.

Lots of people line the streets to watch some Dutch Dancing featuring a group of young kids - 8-12 maybe? - and a group of older teens.  Everyone is in costume, complete with wooden shoes, while some are wearing clear ponchos over their outfits.  The sporadic light rain doesn't seem to have dampened spirits!

There are loudspeakers playing music along the long block and  groups of dancers at intervals.  

Then comes the parade.  First there is a man with a bell, announcing the start of the parade. 

"But first", he says, "we need to check the condition of the street."  A group of people behind him don white gloves and check the street - and find it dirty.

So a large group of folks of all ages appear next with pales and brooms to clean the street!

Then the parade officially begins with this military color guard.

The parade features several marching bands with baton and flag twirlers, various elementary school groups, decorated vehicles,  marshall arts group, retirement home cars, floats, and more.  Noted lots of private schools and one public school group which had signs thanking people for their support.  Suspect there are some issues there.  The private school bands had fancy uniforms, the public schools had matching t-shirts.  Lots of ethnicities all around.

Each school group had a "theme" - the one above was carrying paper mache pigs in blankets (flannel).

This was a car full of book club people.

 Grabbed a turtle covered pretzel - caramel, chocolate, nuts, from a local chain chocolate and ice cream  shop called Kilwin's - YUM. We watched for over an hour and there was still more to come (probably the scouts and fire trucks).  We made our way back to the Trek, wondering how there were so many spectators when it seemed the entire town population was in the parade!

We went back to the campground and ran the furnace for a while to dry out.  High today was 57!  Had a Stouffer's Lasagne for dinner and tried a new microwave popcorn popper later on.  Nice to have electricity!