The Big Red light house is on Holland Channel south shore and it's hard to get to. Each dune lake on the West Michigan shore has a channel. Each side of that channel is a different world because it's a long drive from channel side to channel side. The north side of the Holland Channel is the state park easily accessed by the public. The south side of the holland channel is a land of dune hills mostly controlled by the property owners. I am not exactly sure where to park my car in order to take the public walk way out to the Big Red lighthouse. The tourist is not quite made welcome. I parked by the Piper Restaurant, although it was closed for Sunday and will be closed again on Monday. Last night at the Piper Restaurant Until Love is Equal gathered for a soiree to raise funds. I respect the rights of private property; however I am sad that the south end of the Holland Channel is not a more public area. North and south of the Grand River channel belongs to the public, and the public enjoys walking out to both piers without difficulty. The south side of the Holland Channel once had a city and a steamship port. I could find no traces of the city or the steamship port, although I found a post office and a First Street. It's no big matter that I could not find a way to walk out to the Big Red Lighthouse of Holland. I promised to save a visit to the lighthouse for the next time my daughter came out to see me. Maybe I'm missing something about access to the Big Red lighthouse. If so, please let me know.
I believe I took 66th Street south out of the Macatawa area of Holland, heading towards Saugatuck. It's a beautiful road that passes to the east of the dunes and to the west of swamps. Most of the wooded land is marked with do not trespass signs. I had to jog east twice to I believe 64th street before I finally got through to Saugatuck. I am right now composing this message to you in the parking lot of the Burger King at the Saugatuck Exit. I had some idea of writing in the coffee house in downtown Douglas, but I wonder if I'll get enough time to write before the coffee house closes. It is half after Six, but I already feel the crush of the dark and the evening approaching. Five and a half hours until Midnight and I already feel Sunday is over. I took a long walk around Holland's retail district and even enjoyed beer at New Holland Brewing Company. I drink a Poet Oatmeal Stout, a delicious beer, eight dollars the growler. New Holland Brewing Company had run out of clean growlers, and I didn't have my own. I saw a couple drinking straight from their growler: well, pouring it into their jam jar glasses, that is. I think the high point of my visit to Holland was visiting Shaker Messenger, a beautiful store with wonderful michigan food. I visited the Holland Museum, but only the atrium. The docent neglected to tell me that Sundays are free at the Holland Museum during the Van Raalte Bicentennial Celebration, an observance of his birth in Holland, 1811. I believe Van Raalte arrived in Holland Michigan for his 35th birthday and led his congregation for another 30 years. The Pillar Church, once led by Van Raalte, held a celebration of this important birthday today at 3 pm. I watched the congregation gather from the deck of Lemonjellos. I am not a historian so some of my facts about this founder might be incorrect.
In time, I will visit both sides of the channel where Michigan citizens have placed a lighthouse. It will be easier to accomplish this feat by taking a boat. I look forward to reporting my progress to you.
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