July 23 Straits State Park, St Ignacius, MI
What a wonderful day we have had, after a very wet night, and grey and drizzly this morning. Out of the camp by 9.30, parked at the ferry terminal in Mackinaw and caught the 10.30 ferry to Mackinac Island. We sat up on the top deck in the fresh air, needed coats as quite chilly, but a great trip which took under 20 minutes.
We unloaded along with about 5 other ferry boats, there are a number of companies doing the run to the island, so people and bikes everywhere. Quite a few people take there bikes with them on the ferry or you can rent them on the island.
The Grand Hotel has the longest verandah in the world, and one needs to be dressed “proper” to go in…jacket and tie for men, and dresses for ladies…we didn’t really want to go in anyway!
Yesterday, the 100th Chicago to Mackinac Island yacht raced had finished, there were yachties everywhere, and they were having a prize giving function in marquees on the hotel lawns. With 400 yachts in the race, averaging 10 to a boat, and a lot of wives as well….there were people everywhere.
It was getting onto 3 by the time we got back to the shore, the weather had really turned nice, and we were hot. So found an eating place on the water, ordered a beer and a chicken salad, good to have a rest.
Back on the mainland we drove over the Mackinac Bridge, 5 miles long and the biggest suspension bridge in the world ( I think). Trucks can only travel at 20mph, and they have to be 50 feet apart. So we tucked in behind one, and dawdled over.
What a wonderful day we have had, after a very wet night, and grey and drizzly this morning. Out of the camp by 9.30, parked at the ferry terminal in Mackinaw and caught the 10.30 ferry to Mackinac Island. We sat up on the top deck in the fresh air, needed coats as quite chilly, but a great trip which took under 20 minutes.
We unloaded along with about 5 other ferry boats, there are a number of companies doing the run to the island, so people and bikes everywhere. Quite a few people take there bikes with them on the ferry or you can rent them on the island.
There were many tours around the sights on the island by horse drawn carts with guides, but we opted for a walk, which we both needed anyway!
Went up to the highest point and the lookout, and meandered along bush tracks, past the cemetery and ended up at the stables. Asked if we could have a look around, explaining where we were from, and our background with a “Tack” shop, and they were most helpful, especially the farrier. There are 500 horses on the island, heavy breed, bought from the Amish, and there are either 2 or 3 in a team, pulling the carts. They work half a day, then have the next day off to rest. All their hay is bought over by the ferries, and then shifted up to the stables on carts. The winters are very harsh and in fact the water between the island and St Ignacius freezes over. At the end of summer the horses are all barged back to the mainland and put on a farm to winter over.
The Grand Hotel has the longest verandah in the world, and one needs to be dressed “proper” to go in…jacket and tie for men, and dresses for ladies…we didn’t really want to go in anyway!
Yesterday, the 100th Chicago to Mackinac Island yacht raced had finished, there were yachties everywhere, and they were having a prize giving function in marquees on the hotel lawns. With 400 yachts in the race, averaging 10 to a boat, and a lot of wives as well….there were people everywhere.
It was getting onto 3 by the time we got back to the shore, the weather had really turned nice, and we were hot. So found an eating place on the water, ordered a beer and a chicken salad, good to have a rest.
Back on the mainland we drove over the Mackinac Bridge, 5 miles long and the biggest suspension bridge in the world ( I think). Trucks can only travel at 20mph, and they have to be 50 feet apart. So we tucked in behind one, and dawdled over.
Booked into a state park just over the bridge, and after tea I was off with my camera and tripod to catch the sun setting on the bridge, then the reflections of the evening lights on the water. As we are traveling north, the days are getting longer, and suddenly you look at your watch, just after dark, and its 10.30!
Comments