Mackinac Island trip continued...

There are two spellings for Mackinac but only one pronunciation. I was confused by this so thought I would pass on the info. Mackinaw is the English spelling and Mackinac is the French spelling but they are both pronounced Mackinaw.
We continued our way around the easy 8 mile ride around the island, I would say back to civilization but there was an abundance of people the entire way. Way too many for my taste but it is in the height of the tourist season. It is a beautiful place but having to be careful not to run over someone or get run over detracts from the experience. Since I am blessed with a vivid imagination I could envision a landscape without people often enough to make it worthwhile.

Chicory and rock

Coastline blow the Arch

Fort Mackinac

After returning to the midst of the port area we found a place to eat. Mary's Bistro. Wanda and I had Chicken Pot pies and the guys had burgers. What else?! It was a tasty meal. We decided a restaurant would be forced to be good there or they would not be in business long if they could not put out an excellent meal. After our meal we had to find fudge. Not hard to do as every other shop sells it. Butch bought a slice of maple pecan fudge. He did share but most of it ended up in Butch. Good thing too because that stuff does a number on my system. Too, too rich! 

After riding around the island on bikes we decided to splurge on a carriage ride that would take us to the steeper parts of the interior of the island. 

The famous Grand Hotel

The horses from the Grand Hotel getting a drink and a break from their duties. The drivers of these rigs are dressed very formally including top hat.

The pavement is hard on the horses feet so this shoe made of hard rubber was invented on Mackinac island for their horses. It saves money in many ways and I am sure the horses are grateful for the help.

This young man was giving us a preliminary explanation about the fort. The admission to it was $10.50 each so we declined. Butch wanted more fudge.

The governor's mansion for Michigan is on Mackinac island. The view from here is magnificent.

Horse powered street sweeper. They export 5000 pounds of manure a week besides what they keep for their own use as fertilizer.

The weather was beginning to get chillier and spit rain as we headed back to the mainland. We were fortunate that it waited till late in the day.

On our way back to Thuder Bay Resort we stopped for a quick look at CLEAR Lake and it indeed lives up to its name. Absolutely beautiful and very very clear. Understand that the picture was taken under heavy cloud cover. I understand that on a sunny day it has a turquoise color like the waters of the Caribbean .

 

We all four had a great time on our Michigan excursion.

Mackinac Island

We went to Mackinac Island in northern Michigan yesterday with fellow workampers Wanda and Tom Burnell. We took a catamaran with www.arnoldline.com to get to the island. By buying our tickets online we saved $3 per ticket. We all took our bicycles so we could ride the 8 mile trail around the island. Rentals are $5 an hour and you never know what you will get with a rental. I like my bike.

This is like the catamaran that took us to the island.

After we arrived on the island we gathered ourselves together with sort of a plan. So off we went on our bikes making frequent stops for picture taking opportunities. 

Tom studies the map.

This is a garbage collection and package delivering carriage. No cars are allowed on the island so horses get a work out doing the work that cars and trucks do in other locations.

This is an old hotel no longer in use. It was a fine structure in its glory days. The stairway is made of twigs cut to size.

The next stop was the Arch Rock. Leaving our bikes at the bottom we took a gazillion steps up to the Arch Rock. It was a huffing and puffing experience. Yes, that is Butch threatening to climb onto the Arch.

I like this photo but it is not typical. There were more often dozens of bikers on the trail, not two!

Tom and Wanda in the Devil's Kitchen.

You can barely see the lighthouse through the rooster tail spray.

To be continued...

The Boys Day off

Free photo slideshow created with Smilebox

Horses and such

Butch and went to visit the big horses that pull the carriages for the elk viewing. They live in the country but commute to Hillman to work when needed. It was a fun trip. Alan coaxed them out with some oats because when it is hot they like to stay in the barn in the shade. I will post a Smilebox of all the photos I took when I finish with this post.

After visiting the big boys we went further down the road to check out a restaurant that Joy who works in the pro shop had told us about. The Depot. And since it was mid-morning we opted for a cinnamon roll as a bit of a test to see what we thought of the place. The cinnamon roll was huge and inexpensive and also loaded with frosting. Very good as well.  I scraped mine off and gave the excess to Butch. The coffee cup was large and never-ending so we give the place a thumbs up. The Depot is located 8 miles east on M-32 and 8 miles south of Hillman on HWY 65-right side of the road.

After we returned to Thunder Bay Resort we caught up on some chores around the resort. Butch put in some hours on electrical work while I cleaned decks around the villas. After I worked up a sweat with that I came home and worked on the computer making a flyer and posting to some blogs.

Gotta keep up with these blogs or I might get flogged! 

Golf Course Pictures

Butch rangered on Saturday afternoon so I rode around with him for a bit and took pictures on the golf course. There are always gulls around toddling their funny little selves all over the place.

This is one of my favorite trees on the course. It is old and seems to be spreading its graceful arms in welcome.

One of the twistier paths on the course.

Yes, hitting the ball over the water is required on this hole.

This is hole number 17 considered the "Signature hole" And yes, you are required to hit the ball over the water and the rocks! I can do it if I can get close enough to the water first...probably taking several shots.

Undulating green. Have to see to appreciate.

Yes, you do need to hit the ball over the cattails and marsh to get on the green. And that completes this tour of the course.