Our “escape route,” as I call it…. took us to St. Ignance, MI and while we were there we figured, “what the heck” we need to go see Mackinac Island. Don’t be fooled by the spelling…. Mackinac and Mackinaw are pronounced the very same way here. Here’s a little explanation….
Today Mackinaw City retains the “aw” spelling while the bridge, straits and island steadfastly cling to the “ac” spelling. No matter how it is spelled, however, it is always pronounced Mackinaw!
Mackinac History – Mackinaw
As I travel the USA I find local folks to be the best and campers to be the best of the best. You learn so much from the locals and learn of such cool spots to stay by the campers (who are sometimes locals themselves). It’s a strange combo.
Anyway, Trapper found a boat/ferry ride across to Mackinac Island that included a Carriage Ride around the island. It was $49/each but what a great way to see the island. I soon realized that if we caught the noon boat…. we’d go under the Mackinac Bridge!!!!!
We talked to a Star Line employee at the dock who said his girlfriend was a carriage driver on the island. She was on carriage 4 and her name was Linda. His name was easy…. David. He told us a lot of history of the island and then other people started joining in the conversation.
We choose the upper deck although it was a bit chilly and drizzly. These boats scream across the water and throw a 35′ Rooster Tail off the back. The Great Lake was pretty calm and the only waves were wakes from another boat. Pretty easy crossing that took about 30 minutes.
And my favorite part was going under the Mackinac Bridge!!! It was very windy and at one point I could see the suspension part in action as it was swaying back and forth. I wasn’t looking forward to our crossing it tomorrow, at this point!
I’ve been studying the Bridge Authority website and trying to understand various conditions of the bridge and the weather… and their restrictions (more on that in the next blog post).
Arriving at our Port and entering a world of no cars and no trucks of any kind. Their not allowed on the Island. I’ve never seen so many bikes and horses in one place, in my life!
It’s quite the “touristy” place. Lots of restaurants and gift shops, no doubt. We found Linda and I explained we’d talked to her boyfriend David at port and she promptly placed us upfront with a “great view!” She said, “Give me you’re camera…. these are the most photographed hind-ends ever….
I had to laugh as I handed her my phone. Then she said, “No really…. there are postcards with their butts on them!” I guess on the island you either get a bike view or a butt view.
The island is interesting and yes very touristy, but it is what you make of it.
Here are a few interesting things: They cart all their supplies via water to the Island and use horses and carts to disperse, they have “commuters” that come across on the ferries daily to do things like construction, UPS deliveries, painting, etc. They haul all their trash off the Island daily via boat. The logistics this little 8 acre Island manages is amazing!!
And I’ll leave you with some other pictures….
The Carriage Tour was well worth it as the scripted verses through the State Forest were really a lot of fun. Our tour guide was well educated or memorized of the area and it was great!
I’m glad we made this stop…. tomorrow we cross the Mackinac Bridge… oh gracious – the bridge I witnessed swinging today! I can’t say I’m looking forward.