Mackinaw Island;ahhh the smell of fudge, horse sh** and Lilacs

Mackinaw Bridge w/ Freighter

Woke @ 7:00 AM to a clear beautiful sunny day. They had called for possible fog, but it didn't materialize today. We still are feeling those Northern cool temperatures;  air 59 degrees, water 57, we are in shallower water between the islands, that’s why the water temp is higher than it's been.  Left Cheboygan @ 8:00 AM, not because of a long ride but we are headed to Mackinaw Island & we would like a full day to play there.  Arrived @ 10:30 AM,  waves were under 1 foot and blue sky all the way.  We passed between the lower peninsula of Michigan & a big island, Bois Blanc which we were unable to find much about.  It's quite big & a car ferry runs there from Cheboygan.  We asked a gal working in the local marina & all she could tell us was that there is a fire & police station on the island, but she's never been.  She said I've been to Boblo Island down near Detroit when it was an amusement park and she was sorry it had closed (how many years ago did Boblo amusement park close?) 

 Fort Mackinaw

The Grand Hotel

Round Island Light

We passed many ferries headed to & away from Mackinaw Island; some are like the jet express that goes to PIB.  We arrived @ Mackinaw Island State Harbor @ 10:30 AM. Traveling a mere 15 miles for a cum of 332 miles, at this pace the miles aren't accruing very rapidly.   The Lilac Festival is happening on the island beginning today through the weekend.  That is how far behind they are.  The lilacs, tulips & daffodils are all in bloom.  It's beautiful.  

Devil's Kitchen

We got our bikes out & began to circumnavigate the island; planning to get back in time to do a little shopping.  It's 8 miles around the island if you don't take any side roads & there are some hills, believe it or not.  There are some high bluffs along the east shore, where nothing is built.  Of course, we had to go by the Grand Hotel where Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeves & Jane Seymour was filmed.  We stopped for a refreshment break there, it costs $10.00 to walk on the porch, but if you go across the street to the Grand Hotel golf pub, the only cost is whatever your drinks run.  

We really did the tourist things today, even getting ice cream @ one of the Fudge shops, but we didn't buy any fudge.  We dined @ Mission Pointe which is a lodge & resort, which was beautiful & would be great fun in the winter while cross country skiing.  It's all big wooden beams & fireplaces.  We were serenaded by a pianist playing a grand piano & a guy on Base.  Very nice atmosphere. 

We took lots of pictures & it was hard to choose what to post. Mackinaw Island National Park is the second oldest National Park, only to Yellowstone.  Had no idea!!

 

We shopped @ the oldest Grocery store in the country

The Marina, water keeps getting better & better

 

Elton's got our duck!!

Beautiful flowers everywhere