Tuesday-Wednesday - July 28-29

 Tuesday - Cloudy and cool.    We walked to The Coffee Factory; back to Catrina and Allie and Owen picked us up at 10:30 and we were off for a big day!!!

First stop was Ryke's Bakery which has been here since 1937 - they also have locations in Grand Haven and Holland.    What a wonderful selection (CT friend Linda had brought us some thin butter cookies which were delicious)!!!    Allie and I stocked up on muffins, apple fritter, cookies, etc.    Oink!

Then downtown Muskegon to see the tiny businesses "Western Market" - unfortunately, they are not open till Thursday-Sunday, but we could at least see these cute little shops and the beautiful flowers.     Drove around Lakeside and the beautiful Muskegon beach which is wide and long.    

Lots of tiny shops (Western Market) downtown Muskegon

Here come the twins

Beautiful flowers in these watering troughs

Pat, Allie and gorgeous "snowballs"

Lunch was a big hit at BoDocks - great food with Lucy, our very attentive waitress.

Allie and Owen at BoDocks

Back on the road to Grand Haven.    The 100th anniversary of the US Coast Guard is happening all week long here - we knew it would be busy and took a bit to find a parking spot (Allie is a very good chauffeur).   It was very windy and 76.   Large carnival was set up for the kiddos (not for us).    The guys found a good spot to sit, visit, people watch, etc.    Allie and I browsed the shops on Washington Avenue.

A treat for Mark at Patricia's Chocolate

The plan was to stay until 10 when the water fountain show would begin (since 1962 a big-time tradition here) so we had hours to go....stays light up here much longer.    We went to "Tip-a-Few", recommended by Pat and Ron.    Sat outside and had drinks - so pleasant and watching all the people and goings on as we were across the street from the carnival food vendors.    Outside they just have drinks and a food truck, so Mark put our name in for an inside table - 50 minute wait.    Outside seating is large, but small inside - quite the place and we all had Mexican (per Pat's recommendation)!    All very good.    Walked to the car to get Mark's seat with a back as we would be sitting on concrete steps.   

Bundled up before the show

Our view for the fountain show - all lit up at night changing colors, but pics didn't turn out very good.

We found a bench along the water - a concert was going on with 80s music, so as soon as that was over, we were able to go in for the water show which lasted about 25 minutes - wish they had played some patriotic music....but still a good show.   Mark and I saw it many years ago, 1st time for Allie and Owen.    And then back home - what a long but fun day.....crawled into bed at 11:30 and enjoyed a good nights sleep!

 Wednesday - Owen and Allie picked us up at 9:30 and off to The Coffee Factory - we wanted to show them this funky place - we enjoyed our coffees and breakfast.   Then to the Laketon cemetery in North Muskegon where Owen has family buried.    He is big into family ancestry and they frequently visit cemeteries in their travels.    Mark found Owen's great uncle's gravesite, so success !

Allie and I dropped the guys off at the US393 (LST - Landing Ship Tank).    It did 30 trips across the English Channel hauling troops and tanks for D-Day.  It is 328' by 50' and there are only 2 of these ships remaining out of 1,052 that were constructed during WWII  - the other one is in Evansville, IN which Owen has toured.                          

 US393

       

They toured that while we gals shopped at Harding's for groceries. Took groceries back to Catrina and then picked up the guys, but they still had lots to see, so waited about 20 minutes.   They thoroughly enjoyed it all.

Off to lunch at Fatty Lumpkin's - Ron had told us about this place and it was a winner - very good sandwiches in a funky old building in a residential building.    They brought us back to Catrina and went to their hotel....naps for all coming up.

Fatty Lumpkin's

Allie and Owen came over around 5 for drinks and snacks.    We had planned to have dinner at Teddy Spaghetti's, but they were having a special buffet dinner tonight and very busy.    At 5, there was a 45-minute wait, so we stayed here at the marina and ate at the Muskegon Brewing Co.

The American Patriot (Great Lakes cruise) came into Muskegon this afternoon

One final pic of our very fun 3 days together

Mark, Pat, Allie, Owen

Allie and I went for a walk and watched the beautiful sunset on this perfectly clear night.

Lovely sunset

Bye bye to Adelaide Pointe Marina - been a very enjoyable stay here in Muskegon

Sad to say good bye to our dear friends, but they're coming to Port Clinton the end of August.    So many laughs and just tons of fun!    Tomorrow they are off to Frankenmuth to meet friends - can't wait to hear what they think of Bronner's Christmas shop!

We leave tomorrow to cross the lake....