When originally planning the drive home, Jay wanted to stop in Columbus, Ohio and visit his cousins over Labor Day weekend. Getting from north Michigan to Columbus through completely unfamiliar territory and figuring out where to spend the night was an exercise like Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Neither Chris nor Jay knew anything about the area, so Chris just picked a State Park that seemed about half-way between the two locations where they could spend a few days. Holland became their next destination and what an interesting and beautiful place it turned out to be!
Holland sits on the west coast of Michigan almost due west of Detroit. It was settled in the mid-1800s by Dutch immigrants escaping from religious persecution and is now a thriving community and home to the H. J. Heinz Company pickle factory. It was listed as one of the top five places to retire by CNN Money in 2006 and in 2010 was ranked the 2nd healthiest/happiest town in the U. S. by the Well-being index (whatever that is). But its claim to fame is really its tulips. When the over six million tulips that are planted throughout the town bloom in mid-May they hold a tulip festival which draws over a million visitors. With the three local tulip growers, their theme park-like Dutch villages, and De Zwaan, an authentic 17th century Dutch windmill, Chris questioned why anyone would spend the time and money to go to Amsterdam when they could enjoy much of the same experiences right here in the good ol’ USA!! She decided that it was worth a trip back to the area for the festival.
This unusual fountain was in the main park and surrounded by beds of petunias.
The main part of town is immaculately kept and includes a number of interesting bronze statues scattered throughout and a beautiful park with mature trees, water features and colorful flower beds. Chris spent an afternoon in the Holland Museum learning about the past and present industries that keep the economy humming. She was the only one there and the elderly gentleman, who was the volunteer docent that day, guided her through the entire exhibit spilling all he knew about the items on display. Trunks brought to the area by some of the early immigrants brimmed with wooden shoes, tools and household items of the 19th century lifestyle the settlers used. A collection of bibles accompanied a display of the progression of different churches that were founded upon the owner’s arrival and continued to the present day. The second floor housed Dutch style furniture in pristine condition including the most intricately carved, almost black, stained chifforobe Chris had ever seen. The walls were covered with the museum’s highly prized collection of Dutch paintings and a stand displayed a collection of intricately designed, silver filigree snuff and pill boxes. At every turn there were interesting and unusual items that she’d never seen before.
One of the many statues scattered about town.
Jay took a day and drove back north for a visit with Murray Pulver and Eric Harsch, who took a year off from their college studies in the 90s and cruised the Caribbean. Jay taught them how to scuba dive and they’ve kept in touch ever since. They reminisced over lunch at a waterfront café then dragged Jay to a local bar for some live bluegrass music provided by a band that Eric used to play with. The afternoon became nighttime more quickly than Jay realized and on the lonely drive home he realized how much he missed his “nagivator”, Chris.
Jay with one of his heroes – Ben Franklin.
The RV was parked at the Holland State Park which borders Lake Michigan and is a popular beach destination for the locals and visitors. So popular that upon seeing the density of humanity on the sand, from a hiking trail viewing platform, Chris and Jay decided to avoid it at all costs. Jay did meander down for a peek at the Big Red lighthouse while Chris continued on the wooded trail. She heard the sudden crunching of dry leaves and following the sound saw two small, spotted fawns dashing away to what they considered a safe distance atop a small hill about 75 feet away. Both she and they stopped and stared at one another; they curious as to what she was going to do, and she just admiring their beauty while softly cooing comforting sounds so as not to frighten them. No mama appeared. They eventually sauntered away and Chris continued on her trek grinning with peaceful satisfaction.
Holland turned out to be another one of those places that they wished they’d planned to stay at longer but the affairs of the house needed attending and Jay’s cousins were expecting them. On September 3rd they pulled out of the Park for the long day’s drive to Columbus.
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