We really enjoyed our time in Grand Haven, like many or perhaps I should say most of the towns along the Michigan shoreline it in approached through a canal that is marked by a lighthouse. In this case the canal leads right into the Grand River and carries quite a lot of traffic, some of it commercial boat traffic.
The city marina is right along the canal wall and beyond the wall is a park and "main street". It proved to be a great spot to meet the local folks as well as the local boaters. Jim from "Blue Angel", a Grand Haven native, came by and introduced himself and offered to take us to the grocery store.
You might wonder if he just spends all his time walking the docks and introducing himself but that is not how it happens. Being "cruisers" themselves the Angels know that in August cruising boats will start making our way down the Lake. We belong to an organization of boaters cruising the Loop" (the AGLCA, America's Great Loop Cruisers Association) and being a member of the AGLCA entitles us to fly a little flag known as a burgee. Other boaters recognize the burgee and that is an easy way to meet others having a similar plan or interest, generally conversation flows easily from there. Boaters are generally always willing to lend a hand to others and cruisers, especially, know what you really need which is usually a way to get fresh provisions.
Here you see the Grand Haven Canal with the lighthouse in the background
Grand Haven is known as Coast Guard City USA. This stems from the time of the arrival of the Coast Guard Cutter "Escanaba" which was home ported in Grand Haven from 1932 until it was called to duty in WWII, and subsequently sunk by a German U Boat. The citizens of Grand haven organized a war bond campaign and raised over a million dollars in only three months to pay for a second Escanaba. Every August Grand Haven hosts the Coast Guard Festival. 
I believe I mentioned that there is some commercial traffic on the Grand River. Here you see an ore freighter backing down the river! No tug boat is hidden on the other side guiding or pushing, he is operating under his own power. This shot is not cropped up, and those small boats you see are really quite close to the freighter. This is late on a Sunday morning and there is a lot of small boat activity.
Notice the green buoys in the background, he is turning a corner as he heads from the river to the canal. We actually saw the freighter arrive the previous evening just before dark. He is so large that he is unable to turn around in the river and must exit back to the Lake by backing down the river! 
The little piece of stainless steel hand rail and the rope that you see in the left foreground is the stern of "Lauren Grace"