Adventures on Slàinte Mhath

Day 69: September 25: Up early as usual, we enjoyed another lovely sunrise. Fort Mackinac was on our agenda so we headed up the hill and waited for the gate to open at 9:30.  We visited the fort for several hours, enjoying a walking tour, historical videos, a discussion about the evolution of the rifles used by the soldiers stationed at the fort and a cannon firing demonstration. The following is a brief synopsis of the fort's history.  In 1780 the British moved the fort (originally called Fort Michillimackinac) from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island because they thought the island provided more protection. The Americans took control in 1796 only to lose the fort to the British in 1812 during the first land engagement of the War of 1812 in the U.S. After the war, the fort was returned to the U.S and remained active until 1895. During this time the island shifted from a fur trading hub to a summer vacation destination. Today Fort Mackinac is open to the public as a living museum...

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 horn...