We left Drummond Island on Sunday, Sept. 11 and had an uneventful crossing of northern Lake Huron. We arrived on Mackinac on a sunny, warm afternoon and tied up at the marina right in the center of town. With no automobiles on the island, Mackinac is like a perfectly preserved village from the 1800's. Horses & carriages are everywhere as well as cyclists. The downtown is bustling with tourists and many shops painted in bright, vibrant colours. Stately homes line the residential streets - all sporting large American flags. The quaintness of this island is lovely (and expensive), and the sights are breathtaking.
On Monday, we took a 6-mile bike ride around the island to explore. We found it very reminiscent of Stanley Park in Vancouver - lots of wilderness and hiking / biking trails throughout. The stately Grand Hotel is perhaps the biggest attraction on the island, where guests must be in formal attire in the evenings and a 5-course dinner is $80 per person. We have not eaten out here, preferring our own cooking and sticking to our 'one night out a week' rule.
This has been a very pleasant stop for us, kind of like a vacation of sorts. Day after day of cruising is tiring, believe it or not. The concentration required and the constant referencing of charts is a bit mind numbing after a few days. So, this break has been most welcome. Tomorrow is Wednesday and the weather is looking good. We'll start our run down the coast of Lake Michigan towards Chicago. So glad that we made this a stop on our journey!
SMLXL
