Ferries and Freeways . . . 10/24/2010

Ted did such a good planning job to make sure we made it to the ferry on time Sunday morning. 

He called and reserved a taxi – two days in advance – knowing the Somewhere in Time folks were leaving the island the same morning we were, and taxis were going to be few and far between.  No problem – we were assured the taxi would be there at 8:30 for our 9 a.m. departure.  Ted had already conceded that trying to catch the 8 a.m. ferry would really be a push (knowing what a morning person I am), but we had to be on the 9 o’clock so we could make it to Richmond, Kentucky our first night on the road.  The next ferry didn’t leave until 11 a.m., so he didn’t even consider that one an option.

All went well Sunday morning.  We were both up at 6 o’clock, and by 8:15 our bags were sitting at the end of the boardwalk.  We walked over to say goodbye to Duck and stood at his fence chatting while we waited.

 

One of my favorite Mackinac Island "characters" - Chief Don (Duck) Andress, our across the street neighbor. If Duck doesn't know if it happened on Mackinac Island, it DIDN'T happen on Mackinac Island.

At 8:35, Ted made a call to the taxi dispatcher – just to check – and found out that the taxi was at the airport – not good.   At 8:45, still no taxi in sight.  Ted made another phone call and emphasized we had a 9 a.m. ferry to catch.  And that is when the dispatcher said, “Oh no!  I didn’t get that part of the message!”  Not good.

 

Can you see the slightly worried look on Ted's face?

At 8:50 our taxi pulled up, and Ted said, “Can we make the 9 o’clock ferry?”  The taxi driver laughed.  Not good.

Ted loaded the taxi in 30 seconds flat while I hauled Maddie and Bear up on the seats.  We started down the hill and immediately fell in line behind George, hauling a wagon load of empty barrels.  Now anyone who knows George knows that George does not hurry – for anyone.  By this time Ted had told the driver – once again – that we really, really, really needed to make this ferry.  I got on the phone and called Jill, who I knew was at the dock, and asked her if she would talk to someone about holding the ferry.  She almost choked laughing and said, “Hold the ferry!  Are you nuts!  They don’t hold the ferry!”  I knew that, but I thought I’d ask anyway.

We passed George at the lightning speed of 1.5 mph and approached the Grand Hotel, where a worker was standing in the middle of the street.  Worker said to taxi driver, “Can you tow down a luggage cart for us?”  Taxi driver said, “Sure,” and worker ran to get cart.  The taxi driver immediately called “Giddy up” to the horses and said to us, “Just told him that so he’d get out of the way and not argue with me.”  By now it’s 9:59, and we have called Sheplers to see if they have a boat between 9 and 11, which they do.  We had already decided to just go on to Shepler’s when the radio dispatcher came on and said to our taxi driver, “Get here as fast as possible, we are h-o-l-d-i-n-g the ferry!”  Oh my gosh!!!

In the next instant, my cell phone rang, and it was Jill.  “They are h-o-l-d-i-n-g the ferry for ya’ll!  They just got a call from dispatch, and two dock porters will be waiting for you with a luggage cart!”  Oh my gosh!!!

We turned the corner off Market Street, sped up to 2 mph coming down the little hill between Market and Main, then flew around that corner like those two horses had sprouted wings.  We practically slid onto the ferry dock, where – just as Jill had promised – two dock porters were waiting with a cart.  They had our luggage off the taxi and onto the cart in 10 seconds, and I had those 10 seconds to notice that not only Jill, but also Frankie and Mary had come down to the dock to see us off.  And yep, that’s when the tears started.  And you know those little pieces of my heart I wrote about a few days ago?  Right there is where I left them – on that dock with those precious friends.

One last look at the island . . .

Quick hugs all around, and we were on the ferry.  I stood at the window and waved Ted’s white handkerchief at my three friends on the dock (when I wasn’t using it to wipe my eyes).  I know everyone on that ferry must have thought we were all pretty silly, but I’m way too old to worry about that. 

One last glimpse of friends . . .

Jill had slipped Ted a bag full of goodies during all the craziness, and we opened it going across.  Cookies for me and brownies for Ted – all from Martha’s Sweet Shop.  Also tucked inside was a sweet note and a little feminine hankie (sorry Jill, I needed Ted’s great big white one for that trip across).  We had the car packed and were on the road by 10. 

I didn’t snap many pics on the two-day trip, but here are a few I thought you might like:

There must have been a hot air balloon show somewhere close to Cincinnatti because as we approached the city, we could see about 15 of them on the horizon. This is the only one we got close enough to for a photo.

 

Crossing the Ohio River in Cincinnatti . . .

 

. . . and entering Kentucky.

 

Sunday night in a great Holiday Inn Express in Richmond, KY that is dog friendly. Maddie to Bear, "Where are we going now?"

 

Up and on the road early enough Monday morning to catch the sunrise.

 

Soon we were into Tennessee . . .

 

. . . and the Great Smoky Mountains. Some color in the northern part of Tennessee - not so much as we went further south.

 

Bear's favorite traveling spot - with his head on the arm rest between Ted and I. Maddie rode the entire 1,100+ miles on my lap.

 

We're in Georgia . . .

. . . just entering Atlanta.

 

Two hours later . . . country road, take me home . . .

 

A cotton pickin' cotton picker.

Someone asked a few days ago if I thought Maddie and Bear knew where they were going when we left Michigan – like the horses seem to know they’re going to Pickford for the winter.  I really think when we piled them in the car at the ferry dock, they just thought they were going for another ride.  BUT – as soon as we turned onto our street and went over the railroad track, they were both up and staring out the window – all excited.  So even if they didn’t realize it at first, when we made that “oh so familiar turn and hit those bumps”, they knew exactly where they were!  By the time we turned into our driveway, they were both going nuts!

Waking up this morning to the sun rising over the ri’vah was wonderful.  I curled up on the sunporch couch with my coffee and smiled.  Do I miss the island – oh yes, I really, really do.  But I missed our sweet little lake house in Georgia just as much. 

It’s good to be home.

Sunrise over the ri'vah Tuesday morning. Home sweet home.

I’ll probably post a little something for Friday morning, then we’ll be off to Savannah.  I plan to close down this site the first part of next week and officially open Bree’s Lake Blackshear Blog for the winter.  More on that when we return from Savannah . . .

Personal Note:  Please remember Blake this morning (Wednesday) in your prayers.  He is in Nashville for his 4th interview with a church there.  The interview begins at 10 a.m.  Thank you!