We made the big move over from Holland to Grand Rapids – about 40 miles. I guess that when you are conserving diesel due to the outrageous cost you make smaller trips and stay longer at each location. The problem is that because of the pandemic too many people purchased RVs and the campgrounds are full and they have raised prices considerably as well. Life on the road in 2022!
We stayed at the Woodchip Campground which is south of the city center. A nice family-owned campground.
We got a bonus upon arrival as (the only site they had when Katrina booked it didn’t have sewer) they had just installed a sewer line to our site! Now the six days planned there would be much easier. We got a nice spot along the front, near the entrance but far away from the dog park.
Since we arrived so early we had time to make a run to Camping World where we picked up some supplies. Afterwards we made some steaks on the grill and then headed out to the theater – an actual movie theater! We hadn’t been to the movies on the big screen in years. We saw Top Gun Maverick which was a good pick. I recommend seeing it at a theater due to the sound. Back home we made a fire in the Solo Stove and made s’mores.
The following day Katrina played pickleball as she wanted practice before the tournament that she signed up for the next weekend. Check out these courts that she found at Belknap Park:
Back at the coach I watched some WWII movies because it was Memorial Day Weekend and that is my tradition.
Woodchip campground is very family oriented and over the holiday weekend they had a lot of activities planned like hayrides, food trucks, games, blowups and a foam machine.
Katrina and I ate lunch from the Patty Matters food truck and watched the kids play:
The next day was much of the some but instead of movies we watched the Indy 500. I smoked some ribs for the traditional cookout item and we spent the rest of the day relaxing.
The new day had us starting to pack up as we had taken so much out over the weekend. Then we went to visit Sean and Amy Cooper at their summer place called Sandy Pines that surrounds Monterey Lake.
What a fantastic place! It’s a summer resort area where people own park models or RVs that offers a lake with fishing, boating and beaches along with all sorts of pools, courts and other activities. Sean took us for a tour of the 2,200 sites and amenities. What a place! We chitchatted until dark and then headed back to the Busse Bus.
The next day we took a bike ride in a local nature preserve and then found a path that led us by the Railtown Brewing Co. where we grabbed some snacks and tried their beer.
We made it back to the Busse Bus in time to let Bear out and shower before heading downtown for dinner and a concert. We went to a tapas bar called San Chez and ate dinner.
We have really started to like tapas! Since we had some time before the concert we asked Ariana (since she lived in Grand Rapids for two years whilst attending grad school) where we should go. She suggested Stella’s, so off we went.
What an interesting place! Arcade games, a classic art deco bar, and allegedly great burgers. We met a nice couple who were also going to the concert. Since we were going to see Loverboy, Styx and REO Speedwagon we joked about it being over early so the old people (us) could get home and in bed by 10:30. We walked over to the Van Andel Arena together and then split up going through the turnstiles. While we were in line we saw something that we didn’t expect to see:
Katrina got us some pretty good seats at the last minute. We attended the concert for my birthday which was on the next day. Loverboy was ok as I only remembered a few songs that they played at the end of their set.
One big difference between hearing them in their heyday and now is that we are no longer Working for the Weekend!
We were really impressed with Styx. Although there are only two members remaining and touring, it was still get to hear them and they had a lot of energy.
I had forgotten that they did some of the songs that they performed and it was great hearing them. The keyboard on a swivel was unique and they even did an encore where they played Mr. Roboto. Arigato!
The headliner was REO which I was excited to hear again in concert as I had seen them multiple times before. REO got their start in Champaign, IL home of the University of Illinois: ILL – INI!
I gotta say that we were disappointed with their play set and their performance. It probably was due to the original band members and their age. I mean that Kevin Cronin is 70!
After the shows – it was 11pm – we headed home.
We had a slow go the next morning as we didn’t need to leave until noon as we couldn’t get into our next place, 30 miles away, until 2pm. Slow, short ride.
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