We arrived at the boat on Wednesday afternoon and spent Thursday cleaning the cabin and prepping for the weekend. We wanted to get that all done before the forecast rain moved in. The rain came and the evening rainbow over the marina promised improving weather for our trek to Mackinac Island.
After an early morning shower on Friday, the skies parted and we left Mackinaw City for the island.
A 7 mile cruise, and we were entering the harbor at Mackinac Island.
We were assigned a slip and set up shop. Slip #67 along the west shore.
The view off the transom was of the east end of Marquette Park and the fort.
After getting the boat all situated in the slip, meeting up with friends on the island and a lunch, we took an evening lap of the island.
Day 2 started off with another lap around the island and then a lunch with the group at the marina. A cool NE wind off the lake made the outing a little brisk, but the lunch was a success.
We spent a little rocking chair time down on the Lakeview Hotel porch "fudgie" watching.
Then took a walk up to the west bluff...
...and into the Grand Hotel for a beverage in the cupola bar, then down to the lawn for some games.
I learned something this weekend...these horse shaped bushes have names. Meet "Peat" and "Moss".
Day 3 began with more "liquid sunshine" but the real thing appeared in time for another marina lunch. All involved contributed to the menu and we had plenty. It was a bit more comfortable today.
After lunch and some mid day shopping, we went up to a 3rd floor balcony in the Lakeview Hotel to watch the Lilac Day parade.
The parade is lead by the Michigan State Police with their lights flashing. (never knew the cop's bikes actually had warning lights).
The parade was predictably populated by horses...
bikes...
and bands.
After enduring a brisk breeze on the balcony, we needed a little exercise to warm up so mounted up the bikes and headed inland to ride past the island cottages and see if I could find Sunset Rock.
Found it!
It's one of the best views on the island and is relatively unknown by tourists. I hadn't visited the site since I worked there in 1973. I was a bit surprised that I actually found it.
The site is now owned by the state but access is still through private property (The Inn at Stone Cliff).
We decided to cross back to Mackinaw City Sunday night, but Kathy needed nourishment. Well, after dinner we walked out to see the island again shrouded in fog.
So we decided to wait overnight for better conditions, but...
It was worse. Reported visibility was a couple tenths of a mile at 8:00 am.
We waited a while until it cleared enough that we felt safe to see far enough to avoid any collision. With the GPS and radar we were equipped to make the crossing. We were in contact with the passenger ferry boats and arrived in Mackinaw City without incident.
I met one of Shepler's boats near the harbor and he suggested we pass on "two whistles". I suggested we could pass "port to port" and his response was "OK, one whistle". Learned something. The signal for passing on the right (like cars meeting on a two lane road) is one horn blast and on the left (like driving in England), is two. I knew there were signals but had never learned them.
Upon arrival at home this afternoon, I found 1.5 inches of rain from the past few days so I don't think I missed much here.
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