Day 68: Touring Mackinac Island

Day 68: September 24: Despite a rough start to our visit to Mackinaw Island, the sunrise didn't disappoint. As they say, the sun will come out....tomorrow! And it did. 

David texted us around 6:30 a.m. to let us know he would be ready to help us get into a slip. We didn't waste any time as the wind had decreased enough for us to make the move. Additionally, no ferries were running so early in the morning so the time was right. We let the mooring ball go and headed into the dock and successfully tied up with a little help from our friends. 

We've been looking forward to visiting the island, home to historic Fort Mackinac, Fort Holmes, several state parks, lovely scenery, quaint houses, geological formations and fudge! Car free for more than a century, the island's only mode of transportation is by bicycle or horse drawn carriage, adding to the appeal of the island. The main street is busy with bikes, pedestrians and horses. Without the roar of car engines or honking horns you can tune in to other sounds such as the hum of the wind or the hear gentle clip-clop of horses' hooves. 

The Anishinaabe people who lived in the Straits of Mackinac region felt the island was shaped like a turtle so they named it "Mitchimakinak" which means "Big Turtle". When the last of the glaciers melted about 11,000 years ago ancient Lake Algonquin filled to a depth of about 220 feet higher than Lake Huron, hiding all the of the island except its highest point which was 1/2 mile long and about 1/4 mile wide. Native Americans thought it resembled a giant turtle. 

Once docked, a hot cup of coffee and a bite of breakfast hit the spot! John and I took a quick walk to the edge of the corner where the "down town" starts right up from the marina. Just above the marina is Fort Mackinac which towers over Mackinac Island's Marquette Park. We stopped to admire Lady Liberty, gifted to the island in 1950 from the Boy Scouts of America in celebration of its 40th anniversary with the theme of "Strengthen the Arm of Liberty". She received a much needed restoration in 2012 due in part to the fundraising efforts of the Mackinac Island American Legion Post 299. 

Mile marker 0 is located right at the park; it begins the 8.2 mile route along highway M-185 (also known as Lake Shore Boulevard) that circles the outer rim of the island. Highway M-185 is the only highway in the nation where vehicles are prohibited; it takes you through picturesque landscape views of the lake, geological formations, heavily wooded areas and historical sites. Being the first time on the much talked about Mackinac Island, we didn't waste any time getting the bikes out. Our trip began with a ride through the main downtown area. We were surprised by the amount of people walking, riding bikes or touring in the horse drawn carriages since it is pretty late in the season. I can not imagine the congestion on this main street during the summer months as it was very busy even in the end of September. How on earth do hundreds of bicycles pass along amidst the horses and carriages? 

Once we got out passed the main drag the route became less busy, but there were still a number of people of all ages riding around enjoying the day.  We passed many interesting sites as well as glorious scenery. Heading into the wind, we had to pedal a bit harder to tackle the steeper portions of the route; It's no wonder so many folks were traveling against us. 😉

Sites along the way included, among others landmarks, Arch Rock, British Landing and Devils Kitchen. We stopped at various lookout points to admire Lake Huron from a different view. The calm waters on the lee side of the island were so much more inviting than the rougher water we had experienced on the south side. 

Towering 146 feet (equal to about 15 stories) above the water, the fifty foot wide Arch Rock is one of the most famous of the rock formations on the island. A natural limestone formation, it was formed during the Nipissing post-glacial period, about 7500 years ago. Native Americans believed Arch Rock has spiritual powers which provide a bridge to another realm where a soul can find eternal rest. We checked out the formation from the road and then climbed the 207 steps to the top which brought us to a magnificent view. Huffing and puffing, we were glad we got to the top; the climb was well worth it. 

We came upon Devils Kitchen, a small cave on the southwestern shore of the island. As were many of the geological formations on the island, Devils Kitchen was carved out during the Nipissing post-glacial period by the never ceasing waves of Lake Huron. Legend has it that the cave was used by evil spirits' cooking fires, resulting in the cave being blackened with soot; thus the name Devils Kitchen. 

We stopped often along the way to take in the breathtaking views, each one different from the last. 

After the ride we grabbed some lunch on the boat and then headed back to walk around the shops and check out the visitors' center. John and I really enjoyed sitting on one of the corner benches, just watching the world go by. The best part was listening to the horses clip-clop along the road; taxis, tour carriages, grocery and UPS deliveries. 

We strolled along the streets, taking it all in. I loved the beautiful homes, some small and cottage like, others more stately homes. Hotels and inns were inviting with their stunning landscapes and large porches where people were sitting looking out at the lake. 

Here are some of the pictures I snapped during our walk. They include St. Anne's Church, founded in 1670 on the island, moved to Saint Ignace in 1671, abandoned in 1706 and re-established at Fort Michilimackinac around 1715. During 1780-1781, the British troops moved the church across the ice back to Mackinac Island. St, Anne's is the nation's oldest church dedicated to Saint Anne. 

The Mission Church, one of Michigan's oldest Protestant churches, was built in 1829-1830. The mission closed its doors in the late 1830's as fur trade declined. About 1838 private owners bought the building and used it for secular and religious functions such as festivals, theater productions and various organizations' meeting place. By the 1890's the church was in disrepair until restoration began. The church was then transferred to the state in 1955 and continues to serve as a public museum. It is described as Michigan's best example of the New England Colonial church style. 

Sandra, David, John and I stopped at the Green Turtle Distillery and Brewery for a drink in the afternoon. Always on the lookout for a good local craft beer, I tried M-43 IPA. Brewed by the Old Nation Brewing Company, it was a great choice. The combination of several hops with tropical hints of pineapple, mango and grapefruit was perfect! This was followed by an early dinner at the well known Pink Pony.