Aug 14 to 16 South Haven/Grand Haven Conference Grounds/GR

This is Larry writing. Wow, we are passing through our West MI home area already. Nice being in a familiar place. It is really good to see family, cousins, and many friends. Thursday Mark hustled into South Haven from Indiana State Dunes State Park on Thursday, leaving about 6 am to meet friends at the north beach in SH. He got there about 1 pm. Eric and I pushed hard after doing the morning sweep duties (breakfast, clean up camp, and loading the gear truck)to get to cousins in St Joe for an early afternoon lunch - the VanderPloegs. A beautiful ride along the southern portion of Lake Michigan with blue sky, with some NW head wind. We did about 52 miles with no stops, like Mark, to get to our cousins in St Joe, trying to make up for an hour time change. Mark had visited mid morning on his way through. We were suprised to find my wife Sherry, and younger sons Joel and John there waiting for us as well. They looked at me a bit goofy because I had a grey beard! John says I look better without it. Probably should have asked Dave VP to sail me north, but instead we biked. Joel biked with us about 30 miles from St Joe to SH. We got to SH about 5pm, and we were greeted by many more friends (Dawn Brown and kids, her mom, and Kalamazoo kids and more friends). Sherry got 4 Little Ceasers pizzas so they could eat with us in camp, and see how well we eat. Sherry got a VanBuren State Park camp site and will tag along a few days by camping with Joel and John.

Friday we enjoyed another sunny biking day along the Lake. Eric went off ahead with friends. Joel joined Mark and I biking from Graafschaap CRC lunch stop (a great feast, and blue berries too) for about 20 miles to the conference grounds by GH. Larry stopped by P&N Holland while Mark, Joel, Sherry and John got a nutty paddle pop at the Peanut Store. Then we regrouped by Holland State Park and a visit with the Drooger's at their trailer. We encouraged many cyclist to visit HSP, to bad we have to head east so soon. To our surprise my parents and Uncle Ken greeted us as we arrived at the conference grounds about 4:30. Like us, many friends and family are visiting cyclist. It was a beautiful sunny day, but a cool breeze came off the lake in the evening during the steak dinner. The whole family enjoyed that, and John ate two steaks!

Saturday was an easy bike ride to Calvin in GR. Many cyclist left normal times, and the one day riders came between 7:30 and 9:00 to do the ride. Mr Jeltema, Mr. LeMaire, Mr. Scripture to name a familiar to us. Eric had to scurry out to get to Calvin, but he is social and visited a bit getting there. We moved slower so we got to have the pancake breakfast in the Conference Grounds before Larry and Joel, and Mark and Jared set out about 10 am. M&J took the scenic way via GH State Park, Larry and Joel visited Larry's parents in Spring Lake, and then Bill and Barb in Lamont. Sad to say, we missed the Lamont food stop being later in the day but the Eastmanville folks treated us well! Joel wished mom picked him up in Lamont as planned but John was enjoying the GH skate park and Sherry the sidewalk sales. So Joel got rescued after about 35 miles on the west side of GR. Larry and family arrived at Calvin about 3. Having missed the fan fare and snacks, we headed to Big Bob's for a Braizzo pizza feast and Junction Station for ice cream. Eric stayed to camp. Mark and I, with family, returned home for bed rest and laundary tasks. We slept well in real beds, until about 9 am.

Sunday we finished some home chores (soccer emails, pool cleaning, minor repairs, mail) and headed up to GR for the afternoon celebration service. Again, greeted by many friends from Kalamazoo and church. Shane Clayborne spoke, and we were awed by Kyle's song! Mr. Steak feed us a lot, the shakes were great. Eric went off with a Calvin friend Rachel, so they missed out but I hear the ice cream stop of Saturday was in their route. Tonight Sherry and the young boys are off to Sleepy Hollow State Park camping two nights with my favorite broither-in-law Dave and family. We bike there on Monday. It will be great to see them. Maybe they will bike out to meet us 10, 20, 30 miles?

I love this trip (and home and work someday again). And take note - it is our 30th wedding anniversary the 19th. Love you Sherry and I thank God for all the joy and happiness we continue to share, and four great boys!

Hope we can post some prior days and pictures soon. God Bless. Larry