Van Buren State Park, South Haven, Michigan
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1: 10
Good morning!
(to be honest, I took this yesterday after we arrived. Good thing, since it was so dark this morning)
It was heavily overcast and thundering until mid-morning. Blaine checked radar and there was a severe storm over Holland, but not here. And yet, we must have gotten the tail-end of it, because it continued to get darker and darker, then started raining, then raining harder, then harder. It was wonderful!!
And Blaine says, “It’s a great day for a nap!” Ha!
I should’ve known better. After all, I’ve lived with the man for forty years.He never naps.
Because we weren’t planning on leaving, we had a small, healthy lunch since we’d polished off those cinnamon rolls for breakfast. It consisted of water, an apple and a couple tablespoons of peanut butter. It’s important that you know this.
But then the rain stopped and the sun made an appearance just after we ate, and off we went. Not looking good for a nap today.
Downtown South Haven is really nice. They have lots of busy shops in the old buildings, and of course, a lighthouse. This one still has its catwalk. They also have a walking trail, called the Harborwalk, which includes the lighthouse and signal tower point.
“Thirty minutes”, Blaine says. “One way.” He says.
That’s an hour. That’s fine. I may still get my nap in after all!
I’m not so sure that lends to a feeling of being welcomed . . .
For the beauty of the Earth . . .
The critters by the water seem to be pretty tame.
I think this one’s a bit sun bleached. He’s not quite as dark as the one’s we saw in town. : )
The light keeper’s house
Strange that it’s so far from the lighthouse.
“The Lightkeeper’s family gathers on the West lawn.
Captain James Donahue, South haven’s lightkeeper from 1874-1909 poses by the Keeper’s house with his family”
“The Keeper’s home at the turn of the century.
This is one of the earliest known photographs of the lightkeeper’s dwelling. Built in 1872, the house is one of the oldest historic structures located along South haven’s waterfront.”
“Strategic Location
Taken from the lightkeeper’s dwelling, this photo demonstrates the excellent view that the lightkeeper had of the lighthouse and the harbor entrance. The lightkeeper needed quick access to the lighthouse.”
Ya know . . Blaine and I walked this. It’s not what I would call ‘quick’. Not even if you run!
“Fruit Buyers and Growers gather
Buyers from fruit companies bought produce from growers at South Haven’s railroad station.”
“Shipping the apple harvest
Growers and pickers pose with the barrels and crates used to ship fruit from South Haven orchards
“This is the prettiest bridge in all of Michigan” ~ Blaine Peck
(quoted like he’d read it somewhere. He didn’t. He just made it up. haha!)
We opted to skip this museum, but it seemed to be pretty large with several outdoor buildings as well.
This house was massive!
Views of the river where we’re standing, views of Lake Michigan on the other.
I thought this was pretty cool!
The roller coaster is by the large tent.
Can you make it out?
We had to look hard. : )
Why is the boat here?
I think someone dropped it off in the wrong place . . . .
The river’s on the other side of the wall . . . .
Blaine liked the house and landscaping, . . .
…but I was intrigued that someone would put a stained-glass window above their garage.
Most definitely a contemporary style, and kinda out of place around here.
Here’s another view of the lightkeeper’s house from the other side of the river.
The woman of the house obviously has a thing for flamingos.
She even named the house “The Three Flamingos”. (I’m pretty sure it’s a take on the Three Amigos movie)
All these nice homes along the Harborwalk, and then – this.
It’s a rental. Could use some upkeep. . .
And this one has stupendous views and is the last one on the block.
But it also has a stupendous amount of traffic right at their front door, and around the side, as that’s a public beach.
Same picture, just in black and white.
Doesn’t look much different, does it? : )
Tame seagull + a phone with a double lens = great picture!
That’s my seagull picture.
A young’un who’s not so tame, and a single lens camera on my phone.
That’s lavender
This marker, placed sporadically in the sidewalk, is how you know you’re on the right path.
A Hebrew Temple
Downtown
This was a great mural!
Loved the window dressing!
Two hours later . . . .
I’m parched (we didn’t take water for an hour easy walk), I’m partially dehydrated, it’s exceedingly warm (it was in the upper 80’s today, and me without my ‘stinkin hot shirt’), and I’m hungry. And I think I was hallucinating – something about our son coming to get me after Blaine had a terrible accident . . . .
(And this is yet another reason why I love my husband so much – – he doesn’t usually mind my over-dramatizations about what happened. I call it ‘creative license’. He shakes his head.)
But I really was hot, thirsty and hungry by the time we returned to the Jeep, and life saving water. Then we headed home. And I’m tired, because I didn’t get my nap today. 😊
Tonight was a new sunset, in a new place. Actually, it’s the same beach area, but we discovered a large dune to climb and fueled with a substantial intake of food and water, we made the climb.
Here we are. At the bottom of this immense dune we discovered.
I told Blaine to run ahead.
What?
His legs are longer . . .
Yeah, that’s it . . . : )
He found the moon before he reached the top.
Cool picture!
I’m getting there, one small step at a time.
I think this one’s higher and steeper than the one at Sleeping Bear.
This time though, we’re barefoot. : )
How’s he DO that???
Another of his many talents . . .
What a great spot!
We even have a great seat for the show!
M
The end . . .
What a great sunset!