September 19, 2007
Wednesday
We arose early and drove 45 miles south to St Ignace to catch a morning ferry to Mackinac Island. The ferryman checked our luggage and directed us to a secure parking space and we boarded the 9:00 catamaran.
The boat took about ten minutes to cross the narrow neck of Lake Huron and we disembarked at the island’s main port with just a few other people who looked as if they were regular ferry commuters.
The local horse carriage concession persuaded the island government many years ago to ban automobiles on Mackinac so, instead of the noise and stench of gasoline engines, we were greeted by the sweet scent of horses and all of the things that one associates with horses.
The fire station was closed but a sign on the door directed us to Patrick Sinclair’s Irish Pub where three of the fire fighters work. Alas, they were out of patches to trade but did offer to sell us a $15 T shirt, "to benefit the department."
We took the island carriage tour and learned many things about Mackinac Island. Five hundred full-time residents live here. The largest employer is the Grand Hotel, open from May through October with 700 seasonal employees from all over the world. The Hotel owns 50-some buildings on the island that it uses for employee housing.
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The Grand Hotel was built in 1887. Ground was broken April 1st of that year and the hotel opened for business July 10th.
We left the tour at noon and had lunch in the Tea Room of Fort Mackinac. The Tea Room is noted as having the best restaurant view in Michigan, looking down on the harbor and the hotel golf course.
From the fort we walked to the hotel and toured the stable, which houses a historic collection of carriages and buggies.
We checked in early and went to the verandah and sat for most of the afternoon writing post cards and reading the newspaper and observing Mackinac Strait.
After a while we walked down a stairway to the lawn and garden and to the Esther Williams pool. We chatted with a young lady sitting on the edge of the pool with legs dangling in the water. She was shivering and told us that they turn off the heat after Labor Day and the water temperature was 64 degrees.
After preparing for dinner, we went upstairs to the Cupola Bar, the highest point in the hotel, and had cocktails until it was time to eat. That could actually be any time. No reservations are required and there is no waiting. The dining room is easily large enough to accommodate all the guests at one time.
Our dinner was nice. We had five courses and did not finish our desserts, a fudge-covered pecan ice cream ball..JPG)
Afterward we took a demitasse of coffee onto the verandah and watched the half-moon play on the water with lights reflecting from the Mackinac Bridge. One of our dinner companions told us that water flows through the lakes at 5-6 knots headed for the St Lawrence River. We could see the current move in the moonlight.
Thursday
We called for luggage service at 7:15 and went to breakfast, crossing our fingers that our bags would be delivered to the correct ferry service at the right time and to the proper destination. A lot to hope for.
The breakfast menu was thorough. We ordered sparkling raspberry cider, melon berry Martinis, creamy white grits with maple butter, bacon and cheese omelet, a three-cheese quiche, smoked dill salmon, corned beef hash and sausage links.
After a brief sit on the verandah to enjoy sunlight sparkling on the strait, we walked into the village and toured a few more fudge shops before boarding the Arnold ferry. Our luggage was not on the luggage cart and the stevedore told us that it probably went over on the preceding ferry. We wanted to hear that.
We docked at 10:15 in St Ignace and found our luggage waiting. By 10:50 we were on our way.JPG)
back to Canada. The U.S. Customs line was backed way up halfway across the International Bridge but we waited only a few minutes to pass through Canadian Customs.
The trees in Ontario looked like glowing flames. It was hard to believe that we were still driving through Ontario after four days. It’s like driving from El Paso to Texarkana only prettier.
We finally arrived in Pembroke at 7:30 and showered and went to bed without supper.
Wednesday
We arose early and drove 45 miles south to St Ignace to catch a morning ferry to Mackinac Island. The ferryman checked our luggage and directed us to a secure parking space and we boarded the 9:00 catamaran.
The boat took about ten minutes to cross the narrow neck of Lake Huron and we disembarked at the island’s main port with just a few other people who looked as if they were regular ferry commuters.
The local horse carriage concession persuaded the island government many years ago to ban automobiles on Mackinac so, instead of the noise and stench of gasoline engines, we were greeted by the sweet scent of horses and all of the things that one associates with horses.
The fire station was closed but a sign on the door directed us to Patrick Sinclair’s Irish Pub where three of the fire fighters work. Alas, they were out of patches to trade but did offer to sell us a $15 T shirt, "to benefit the department."
We took the island carriage tour and learned many things about Mackinac Island. Five hundred full-time residents live here. The largest employer is the Grand Hotel, open from May through October with 700 seasonal employees from all over the world. The Hotel owns 50-some buildings on the island that it uses for employee housing.
.JPG)
The Grand Hotel was built in 1887. Ground was broken April 1st of that year and the hotel opened for business July 10th.We left the tour at noon and had lunch in the Tea Room of Fort Mackinac. The Tea Room is noted as having the best restaurant view in Michigan, looking down on the harbor and the hotel golf course.
From the fort we walked to the hotel and toured the stable, which houses a historic collection of carriages and buggies.
We checked in early and went to the verandah and sat for most of the afternoon writing post cards and reading the newspaper and observing Mackinac Strait.
After a while we walked down a stairway to the lawn and garden and to the Esther Williams pool. We chatted with a young lady sitting on the edge of the pool with legs dangling in the water. She was shivering and told us that they turn off the heat after Labor Day and the water temperature was 64 degrees.
After preparing for dinner, we went upstairs to the Cupola Bar, the highest point in the hotel, and had cocktails until it was time to eat. That could actually be any time. No reservations are required and there is no waiting. The dining room is easily large enough to accommodate all the guests at one time.
Our dinner was nice. We had five courses and did not finish our desserts, a fudge-covered pecan ice cream ball.
.JPG)
Afterward we took a demitasse of coffee onto the verandah and watched the half-moon play on the water with lights reflecting from the Mackinac Bridge. One of our dinner companions told us that water flows through the lakes at 5-6 knots headed for the St Lawrence River. We could see the current move in the moonlight.
Thursday
We called for luggage service at 7:15 and went to breakfast, crossing our fingers that our bags would be delivered to the correct ferry service at the right time and to the proper destination. A lot to hope for.
The breakfast menu was thorough. We ordered sparkling raspberry cider, melon berry Martinis, creamy white grits with maple butter, bacon and cheese omelet, a three-cheese quiche, smoked dill salmon, corned beef hash and sausage links.
After a brief sit on the verandah to enjoy sunlight sparkling on the strait, we walked into the village and toured a few more fudge shops before boarding the Arnold ferry. Our luggage was not on the luggage cart and the stevedore told us that it probably went over on the preceding ferry. We wanted to hear that.
We docked at 10:15 in St Ignace and found our luggage waiting. By 10:50 we were on our way
.JPG)
back to Canada. The U.S. Customs line was backed way up halfway across the International Bridge but we waited only a few minutes to pass through Canadian Customs.The trees in Ontario looked like glowing flames. It was hard to believe that we were still driving through Ontario after four days. It’s like driving from El Paso to Texarkana only prettier.
We finally arrived in Pembroke at 7:30 and showered and went to bed without supper.
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