Horses and Fudge

We took the 10:30 ferry this morning over to Mackinac Island and once a day the ferry detours and goes under the Mackinac bridge for a quick tour. This bridge is 6 miles long and connects the upper peninsula with the lower state. The captain of the ferry boat explained that this bridge can sway up to 15 feet in one direction - which was engineered this way because of the winds through the strait. On one side of the bridge we were on Lake Michigan and as soon as we passed back on the side we came, we were on Lake Huron. On this trip we have now seen 4 of the 5 Great Lakes (started at Lake Erie - home, then Lake Huron coming up the east side of Michigan, then saw Lake Superior at the Shipwreck Museum and Whitefish Point yesterday, then today - Lake Michigan. Life style on this island reminded me of Jekyl Island in Georgia, or Camden Maine, or Key West Florida - alot of money, people wanting to escape so they go to a fancy hotel and pay big bucks for a hamburger, and rent bikes. The difference is - no cars or motorized anything allowed on the island. To see horses pulling a UPS guy and all his packages - gave quite a chuckle. People going to the Grand Hotel - their luggage is either put on a horse drawn cart or porters pile up luggage on their bikes and haul it up. I will never forget the smell of horse poop and fudge mingling together. And tourist trap - oh my goodness. If you like fudge, buying t-shirts, eating and drinking, or renting a bike and touring on bike - this is the island for you.

We toured Fort Mackinac quite extensively - Dave took some great pictures and I'll send them on when he's done editing them.

We didn't go to the famous Grand Hotel - you have to pay just to walk in the door. We were happy with just a picture. This picture shows the Grand Hotel on the left and the long building to the right is Fort Mackinac. It was abandoned in 1897 and then restored after WWII as a Federal Park but then was given back to Michigan as a State park. Too many people for us and we were glad to get back 'home' and relax. Tomorrow we head more up north to Munising where we will be and see Picture Rocks National Park.