![]() 04/06/2020 at 08:18 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
Saugatuck in spring at better times (this was around the same year my wife and I got married there).
Took both cars out for a Sunday drive yesterday. We figured it was a good time to stretch their legs while doing the contactless grocery pick-up and getting them washed and the tanks topped off for sitting another week or two.
We went for a drive down to Saugatuck (one town over) with each of them and found it to be completely deserted on a nice sunny Sunday in April. It was surreal. I expected it to be at least a little busy with people going for walks, but no. It was a stark reminder of the impact the coronavirus pandemic has on a big part of the West Michigan economy.
I remember well the two articles from
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from last year:
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and
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I am in the lucky position to work for a great family-owned company in a field of business that, despite having cycles like any business, is pretty much recession-proof and actually doing well right now. It is still scary to see the impact on the local economy and what that means for Holland/Saugatuck for the next few years.
Our staple annual festival has been
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with a huge economic impact and serious
threat to the future of the event, since it is self-financed and keeps running for each year from the income from the previous year.
![]() 04/06/2020 at 09:37 |
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Saugatuck really is a special little place. I recommend visiting Macatawa too.
I’m hopefully pulling the rear tire off my bike today so I can go up for a ride into the manistee forest soon, but Holland/Macatawa might happen first.
![]() 04/06/2020 at 09:42 |
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I miss Michigan.
![]() 04/06/2020 at 09:49 |
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We live in the Manistee forest. Yesterday every trail I went on had people on it. Lots of smiles and waves. I ve never seen so many people outside of deer season.
![]() 04/06/2020 at 10:22 |
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M-37 is one of the best state roads in the country and I will fight anyone who disagrees. Beautiful main road with plenty of trails and side roads to get lost on that shoot off from it.
![]() 04/06/2020 at 10:25 |
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Just be glad your on the west side.
Thats a sweet place to live, congrats.
![]() 04/06/2020 at 10:44 |
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... waitaminute. its not even the best one in lower west Michigan.
![]() 04/06/2020 at 11:10 |
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I am glad. It’s a beautiful place. Thank you.
![]() 04/06/2020 at 11:31 |
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Well obviously tunnel of trees is #1, but 37 is a great dual sporting road since there are so many trails you can access off of it.
![]() 04/06/2020 at 12:04 |
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The mccct trail starts here outside of town. Someday I will ride start to finish. So far I have done most of the trail in sections. Michigan has great bike trails.
![]() 04/06/2020 at 12:04 |
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https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/ORV-Map-ofLP_Legal_2_331706_7.pdf