Mackinac Island

Originally posted at www.svsweetescape.com

We left Charlevoix on Sunday morning under blue skies and a moderate southwest wind.  Lake Michigan waves were in the one to three foot range and as we were headed north they were on our stern, making for a pleasant ride.

We motored north and transited Grey’s Reef Passage, a narrow passage at the very north end of Lake Michigan through - you guessed it, Grey’s Reef.  Once through the reef we turned to the east and headed for the Straits of Mackinaw, the Mackinac Bridge and Mackinac Island beyond.

The bridge is visible for many miles away.  It connects lower Michigan to the Upper Peninsula.  The straits themselves separate Lakes Michigan and Huron and they are notoriously rough as there is a great deal of turmoil in the water where the two lakes meet.  We found this to be the case as the seas kicked up and seemed confused as we approached.

We approached the bridge and went under in the very center.  There is a point where there is an optical illusion that makes you question your navigational charts and wonder if you will in fact clear - but you do.

Once through the bridge we headed for the Mackinac Island State Harbor where we had a reservation for two nights.  We were on a mission.  We had run out of Diet Coke on Saturday due to the unplanned two night stay at Oyster Bay and we needed caffeine.

The State Harbor at Mackinac Island, in addition to hosting a large marina is also the location of the docks where the big ferry boats that run people  between the Island and several locations on the mainland tie up.  There are three or four ferry boat companies on the Island and ferry boats operating everywhere.  When we arrived at the harbor we shared the entrance with two of these boats.

The marina is just steps from the downtown area and once docked we headed out in search of the badly needed Diet Coke and some food since neither one of us had eaten anything that day.  We found both at a pizzaria that serves very good pizza and equally fine Diet Coke.

That need satisfied, we decided to have a look around.  It was after 6:00 PM on a Sunday evening so the ferry docks were very busy with tourists headed home for the week.

Mackinac Island has to be the fudge capital of the world.  There are no less than eight stores making and selling fudge in a space of about two city blocks.  When you walk down the street and the smell of fudge cooking combines with the fragrance of fresh horse manure, you know you’ve arrived on Mackinac Island.  Which brings me to the Island’s other claim to fame, it’s ban on motorized vehicles.  Bicycles and horses are the order of the day here.  If you choose to walk, just be careful where you step.

There is a small but well stocked grocery store just up the street from where Sweet Escape was docked.  We stopped there on the way back to the boat and purchased two, yes two, twelve packs of Diet Coke.

On Monday morning we were awakened by the firing of a cannon and a rousing rendition of Reveille from Fort Mackinac which is perched on a hill overlooking the harbor.

We walked back uptown and rented two bikes which we rode all over the Island.  We found the Island to be beautifully kept and very lush with landscaping everywhere.  Once you leave the main street and it’s fudge shops, and take a look at the homes and other buildings, the word that comes to mind is “gingerbread”.

We toured the Fort and watched a cannon firing demonstration.  This is done several times each day.  We recorded this on video and the YouTube link is at right.  Afterwards, we walked around uptown and then we returned to the boat and picked up our bag of laundry and headed to a small laundromat located on the second floor of a downtown building.  Once there, Judy did the wash while Brian supervised.

We returned to the boat with the clean clothes and then went back to the grocery store and did some provisioning.

Tuesday morning following a run to the bakery and a pump out at the marina, we left Mackinac Island and headed south on Lake Huron.   We will put additional photos from our Island visit on our albums page.