Today was a special day as we rode through our home area in West Michigan. I was proud (in a good way!) to be able to have the other riders that had never been here to see our beautiful area. Everything is so green and lush.
Our route from South Haven took us along the lakeshore for the most part. It was a beautiful clear crisp morning and Lake Michigan was the prettiest blue again. We did not bike through downtown Saugatuck as I wished we would have. We entered Holland on 60th street and stopped at Graafschaap CR Church for a great welcome and complete, delicous lunch. We also toured their great Heritage Museum in the church basement. We were so surprised to be greeted by our granddaughter, Kristin, and Jack and Joyce Koeman at the church. Graffschaap Hardware just down the street also had pork bar-b-q for us.
I stopped to say hello to my son Brett who was working at Pine Ridge Chr. School that is also just down the street. It was so good to see him. I told him I was thinking of going to Meijer's to replace my missing sunglasses and maybe swing by the company I work for, Lodeso, to say hello. Brett told me to stay on the posted route and not deviate. Hmm, what was that about?
Well, I stayed on the route, except for a detour around Hope College street construction. I went right by Holland Cycle Trek store and stopped to have my pedals greased and bought my sunglasses there. Then I stopped in downtown Holland to day hello to Brett VanderKamp at New Holland Brewery, but he was out of town. I ran into my daughter-in-law, Megs, on the street and her friend Heidi. It was a surprise to see them. Trav and Megs are in town from Chicago for the annual Shawny Summer Classic golf tournament that he hosts to get friends together. It is not a benefit tournament, but an opportunity is given to designate funds for a scholarship fund in Shawn's name at Holland Chr. High School. I was sorry to have to miss it this year, with the bike tour happening at the same time. Well, anyway, I was delayed a little in by leaving Holland for Grand Haven.
When I neared the corner of Butternut and I think Quincy, I saw a bunch of people ahead waving and holding "Lodeso Loves Pete" and other signs. It was about 12 people that I work with. They really surprised me and gave me a great welcome home (for now). It is so great to have them and my company support my trip and cause. That explained why Brett told me to stay on the route....he was a spy!! He had called ahead when I left him, the only problem is I stayed in Holland a bit too long and the Lodeso gang was waiting for me a long time.
It was then on to the Chr. Ref. Conference Grounds south of Grand Haven for our camp for the night. It is a great facility. I showered and took a soak in the hot tub. The cyclists and immediate family guests were treated to a delicious meal by Home Missions. When my 3 youngest grandkids arrived they came running to my arms to welcome me. What a great welcome and treat. Chad, Brett and family, and Trav and Megs came for the dinner. What a great time we had to see each other again and to also celebrate communion with them and the others cyclists and guests. My grandson, Tyler, stayed with us in our tent to ride with me the next day to Grand Rapids.
Love to all, P & J.
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