We left Grand Haven and realized for the first time on our Loop Adventure we would be heading to somewhere, where we previously had gone. What a great feeling and confidence booster. Although we had boated to Macatawa Bay previously in our Flying Colors 1, we had never stayed at the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club which was really a treat. The yacht club has many impressive racing sailboats several of which we learned were in the top 10 at the Chicago to Mackinac race which happens every July.
We had our friends, Tom and Stacy who live there and were great Harbor Hosts. They loaned us a car, treated us to a home-cooked meal in their home, took us to church, and laughed and reminisced with us about all the family trips we took together when our kids were young.
We had the added bonus of having the Browns, our Looper friends from the boat, Our Plan, staying right in the marina next door with their plan to store their boat in the area and finish their Loop next year.
We spent a week here and then headed for our loved and very familiar port of New Buffalo, where our kids, Brad, and Lisa met up with us to relive some of the memories we made there as a family on Flying Colors 1.
Weds. night beer can regatta at MBYCDinner with the BrownsPool at MBYCOur friends Tom and Stacy and their boat Cana at Eldeans Eldeans is located right next to the Macatawa Bay YCEldean’s shipyard holds a special memory for Ron, not only did he boat here with his dad, Ernie on our previous Flying Colors, but this was where Ernie and the boys found their second family boat Comaraderie II. Ron remembered the office where his dad signed the papers taking ownership of that Chris Craft Houseboat and then driving it back to MN. Interestingly, that houseboat can still be found in bristol condition cruising on the St. Croix River.An acrtual yellow brick roadThe Holland OZ exhibit in honor of the author, L. Frank Baum, who wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Frank spent many summers here as a young boy. The book pictured above can be found on the yellow brick road and is considered a living mosaic and is covered with 6000 living plants. During the winter the book is housed in a greenhouse and returned in the Spring. Across the street from the park, six bronze sculptures invite you to step inside the adventure. The sculptures depict the characters from the book rather than the movie. Holland Farmers MarketBig Red LighthouseHolland is home to Tiara YachtsReal working Windmill in Holland, MIWe were very impressed with the town of Holland, and the rich Dutch heritage and culture of the founders of Holland can be seen all over the town. These were just some of the landmarks and experiences we took delight in. Their farmers market was the best on the Loop and we stocked up. Every Spring, the city manages the millions of tulips planted along the streets and in the public parks. In May, the city hosts an 8-day tulip festival.We had hoped to boat to Saugatuck, MI again, located on the Kalamazoo River, it had always been a favorite destination of ours. However, the weather on Lake Michigan wouldn’t allow it, so we drove over and saw the town which was as we remembered. Saugatuck and its neighboring community Douglas is not only a popular tourist attraction with its restaurants and shops but is also has become known as a popular arts and crafts colony. We spent three summers with our boat in New Buffalo, MI, but staying at the Transient Marina in the heart of town was a first for us. This was a very busy marina, although the Loopers stay just a night and then make the cross into Chicago, many Chicago boaters come for the weekend. The marina is very well maintained and managed by Audrey, a great dockmaster.Dinner courtesy of Barneys, the best darn grocery store on the Loop.More looper friends, Roger, Chrissy and dog, Millie who we first met on the Trent Severen Canal.These are the beautiful Lake Buffalo Sunsets we know and love.We connected with Ron’s former business associate in Naples, now we got the chance to see him at his New Buffalo home.Lisa arrived from Chicago by Amtrak, train station one block from the marina.Paul was a neighbor on D Dock at the Moorings, where we docked Flying Colors I, stopped by to see us.Brad arrived by Amtrak from ChicagoHeaded out to our favorite restaurant in New Buffalo, Stray Dog.Explored the Galleon River in our dinghyWe never tire of New Buffalo Beach.Our family favorite, Oinks ice cream, although they no longer feature Sherman’s Ice Cream, the line they carry now owns many of Sherman’s original flavors and recipes and it was as good as we remembered. We did a cruise on Lake Michigan, hoping to drop anchor and have brunch. Hard to tell from the photo, but we had 2-3 foot swells and had brunch on the dock instead. A family tradition of pancakes on the boat, had brunch at the dock. Another beautiful ending to our time in New Buffalo, weather looks good for a cross into Chicago tomorrow.
Reimanns 'round the loop in 2022 
when are you getting back home?
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