Day 8 – Friday, September 6, 2013

Ludington – Holland

Buttons at the Park Dairy

Right before bed the night before I’d checked the weather and knew the wind was going to be straight out of the south for the next few days.  But, I didn’t really know what that meant until opening the door Friday morning and feeling the rush of cold air off the lake.  Dad, Karna and I went to a small restaurant up the road for breakfast and Dad told us how he used to go there when he was a kid when the location was an ice cream shop called the Park Dairy.  He and his brothers and sister would beg my grandpa to buy them a Sunday so they could get a free button that said “I Was A Pig at the Park Dairy.”  Unbelievably when we got to the restaurant we found that it was actually attached to an ice cream shop.  Dad went and asked the owner about the location and amazingly it was the SAME shop owners that had been there when he was a kid and they still had the buttons!  Dad had to buy one but I teased him saying that he had to eat the ice cream to earn it.  My ravenous appetite didn’t fail me at breakfast and after a relaxing hour or so we all walked leisurely back to the hotel.

Getting ready to leave on day 8

Dad and I at the start of day 8 just after breakfast

Starting the day with a beautiful view of the lake

I got ready being careful of my fresh sunburn and headed out to start the day.  The wind was coming straight at me and I was struggling to make any sort of time against it.  The previous day’s effort was also taking its toll and my right ankle started to hurt on the backside by the achilles tendon.  I was trying not to push it but it seemed to get worse when I got up out of the saddle to climb.  I tried to take it easy on the climbs by staying seated and pedaling at a higher cadence to relieve the pressure.  It seemed to work for the time being.

Small lake created by the Lake Michigan dunes

The road eventually gave way to a trail that started in Whitehall.  This was the town where Norman and June Ullman were from and I thought of our previous meeting at Mackinac Bridge with a smile when I went through town.  Eventually I picked up a nice trail that went straight down to Muskegon.  It was an old rail line and with no climbs and a little shelter from the wind so I made good time.

Power plant entering Muskegon.  Trail on right goes right through it

I wanted to follow the trail into town to see the remains of the other old car ferry that used to cross Lake Michigan along with the Badger.  But when I got downtown the trail ended and I got off course and lost.  I realized that when I’d planned the day my computer had re-routed me onto highway 31 without me realizing it.  Highway 31 is incredibly busy and dangerous and I knew there was another road that went to Grand Haven.  Since, I knew the general direction of where I was supposed to go so I tried to strike out on my own, but after making a hundred twists and turns I had no choice but to get back on the course and follow this busy highway down to Grand Haven.

Stopping for lunch in Grand Haven

It was incredibly frustrating because I knew there was a back road that was really scenic but I just couldn’t find it.  The highway was a disaster and cars were whizzing by.  It was hotter than blazes and the road had so many potholes it was impossible to avoid them all.  Combined with the wind I was frustrated and irritated for the last 40 minutes into Grand Haven. 

When I finally arrived in Grand Haven I met up with Dad and Karna for a little lunch on the Grand Haven Pier.  They had brought me a sandwich for lunch and a chocolate milk which I was more than happy to devour.  We didn’t rest long because I was anxious to get the day over with and get to Holland where I knew all my relatives were meeting for a BBQ dinner. 

 

Dad and I getting ready to leave Grand Haven

Beautiful view of the pier in Grand Haven

To boost my spirits dad decided to ride the last hour down to Holland with me so as he geared up I took some pictures of the pier and hung out.  It was a totally different state of mind having dad there.  We talked and laughed and rode along at a good pace.  We stopped by my grandpa’s old house which we would visit as kids.  I have great memories of that house and of Grand Haven in general from when I was a kid visiting there.  We took it easy the rest of the afternoon and enjoyed the ride. 

Grandpa Bosman's house in Grand Haven

Riding with dad down to Holland

When we finally made it to Terry and Fred’s in Holland we were both tired and ready to be done with the day.  After changing and showering we walked over to the lake which was just across the street and enjoyed a nice walk on the beach.  It was hot and dad and I both wanted to go swimming.  The report said the water temperature was in the 70s but it felt like 50.  We both timidly walked out until finally we both had no choice but to just jump in.  We swam for about 30 seconds than ran out.  We enjoyed walking on the beach in the afternoon before returning back the house to visit and eat dinner.  My dad’s Aunt Christie and Uncle Jay came over and my cousin Stephanie and her family also came up to visit.  They all brought food and we enjoyed a fantastic meal around the big table.  Even my dad’s Uncle Jim and Barb came over which was a real treat.  We all told lots of funny stories and laughed the night away.

 

Swimming at the beach in Holland

On the bluffs looking over the lake after swimming

Can you say tan lines

At the end of the day as I lay in bed I calculated the miles.  I’d gone 822 so far… Knowing that there were only 2 days left I calculated that if I followed the route exactly I would be at 994 miles for the trip.  Just shy of 1,000.  I really wanted those last 6 miles.