Hi Everyone! We are finally settled into our new place, and I’m beginning to feel like we both may just survive the move. Let me just say that moving in your mid-70’s is not for the faint of heart, but we are enjoying our one-level house immensely – while missing our Sunset Inlet beach walks and sweet neighbors. Our new neighborhood is beautiful, with lots of trees and walking/biking trails we have just begun to explore. More to come on all that in the weeks ahead as we move toward our summer on Mackinac. Yes – the plan is to be up there by July 1 and hopefully stay through the middle of October. Bodie is doing well, and as long as that continues, our plan is for the three of us to make the trip and be back on our favorite island by the time the temps hit the 100’s in Florida!
I was reading through some old blogs this morning and found this one from June of 2011. It’s not about anything in particular – just one of those typical “anything can happen” couple of days that have filled us with happiness for many, many years of summers on Mackinac. Hope you enjoy!
Nature Laughing – Originally posted June 26, 2011
After a week of dreary, cold, rainy days, we awoke Saturday morning to find sunlight flowing in around the shades that cover our windows. I couldn’t get out of bed and the shades all over the condo pulled up fast enough! In an Anne Bronte quote, she talks about “nature laughing in the sunshine”, and Saturday you could hear that laughter all over the island. It was a g-l-o-r-i-o-u-s day!
Ted left for work at 10, and Jill called around 10:30. Thank goodness for friends that will show up and hurry me up in the mornings. I’m really not a morning person, and I will poke around until lunch if left alone. With Jill pushing me forward, I finished a little housework and out the door we went. There was SO MUCH going on this weekend!
But, I’m getting ahead of myself. First, there was Friday.
Jill and I had hair appointments in St. Ignace at noon. But, since there was also an Antique Car Show over there this weekend, we planned to go over early and see if we could spot some of the “oldies” (cars, I mean) before things got officially started. We caught the 10 a.m. Shepler’s. Remember this is Friday – one day before nature started laughing in the sunshine! I snapped photos of the Grand and West Bluff as we passed in the heavy fog, never imagining the pics would turn out like they did . . .
We walked down to Doud’s St. Ignace Market when we got off the ferry, looking for some breakfast. Then, by the time we walked back through town, it was time to head to the hair salon. We did see some of the old cars as we passed through.
NOW . . . we get to Saturday and the sunshine! As I said, Jill got me out of the condo by 11, and we headed downtown. I wanted to go see the bats. Yes, you heard me right – Saturday was Bat Mania Day on Mackinac. The Mackinac Island Community Foundation brought the Organization for Bat Conservation to the island for an all-day program to teach people about the benefits of these creatures. The organization brought along both native Michigan and international species of bats.
If you’ve been to Mackinac and walked the streets at night, then you more than likely have encountered the island bats. Walking on any island street at dusk or later, you see bats swooping back and forth, and you just get used to them. There will occasionally be a lot of excitement when a bat flies into a store or restaurant during the day. Tourists generally go berserk, and shop owners calmly get down their bat net, catch the bat, and release it out the front door. It’s just part of Mackinac!
On Saturday different types of bats were displayed at four different locations – Windermere Point, Mission Point Resort, Lilac Tree Hotel Plaza, and the Island House Hotel. I wanted to go to Windermere Point because that is where the BIGGEST bat species in the world was going to be displayed. I was not disappointed!
We stopped to visit Ted at the Vistors Center, and he took us out on the deck to show us the huge ship at the Arnold Dock. We went down to check it out.
Also on the island this weekend were the Michigan Wheelmen, an organization that travels the country offering demonstrations and education on the bicyle from its beginning to the World War I era. They are an amazing group of enthusiasts, and seeing them on their bikes in period costume is always fun and exciting.
Here’s a few more photos from the weekend . . .
Sunday was another beautiful day. We went to church, had lunch with friends at the Gate House, took the dogs for a walk, then rode our bikes for about two hours on trails in the interior of the island. It was a wonderful, wonderful weekend.
Note: Title taken from quote by Anne Bronte: “A light wind swept over the corn, and all nature laughed in the sunshine.”
What a beautiful memory. Thank you for sharing. And congratulations on your successful move. As I approach the big 7-0 myself, I think ANYTHING accomplished deserves celebration!
I’m glad your move went well and you’re settling in. I love, and have missed, your blogs. We’re planning a family trip to the island the second or third of August this year. My sister and I visited as children (both now mid to late 60s) and I’ve been two other times since, but reading your blogs this last year has made me want to return. We’ll stay at the family’s farm outside Cheboygan and just spend the day on the island. Looking forward to our visit and seeing more blogs too!
Linda L Irvine
lirvine123@aol.com
Thanks so much for your comment, Linda. It’s been such a busy winter for us, but now I’m looking forward to being back in “writer mode”, and my excitement to get back to the island is beginning to grow! How great that you’ve got a place nearby where you can stay. A family farm sounds like a super place to visit too! Enjoy!
A big AMEN to that, Wendy!
I so look forward to reading your blogs! I still haven’t gone back to reading yours from the start, which I wanted to start doing last year. It is still on my radar! This throwback is fascinating, and your capture of The Grand……….wowza – so amazing and unique. It had to be thrilling when you opened that pic on a bigger screen! This is the first I had heard of Bat Mania. Do you know if Mackinac has had such an event since 2011? And the vintage bikes are something we’ve run into once on The Island. It took us by surprise, and was thrilling to watch the bicyclist command control of the unique bicycle! Glad you are, indeed, traveling to Mackinac this Summer. I trek up in mid-September, and maybe we will tag up! 🙂
Oh I hope to at least be able to see you for a quick hi while y’all are there! My old brain is telling me there was at least one more year that group came with the bats – maybe more.
What a great Throwback Thursday and that pic of the Grand is, well, Grand! Your posts never disappoint, even the repeats! Well done on the move – it’s not only hard work but also a bit daunting making a big change late in life. I’m resisting for just as long as I can! I look forward to hearing more about your new home and perhaps seeing you and Ted on the Island later this year when I make my first solo trip after losing my dear Scott. We had many, many happy memories on the Island and I don’t intend to stop visiting! Hoping you have a Blessed Happy Easter!
Bree where are you? Hope y’all are doing okay!!
We are fine! We moved about 1/2 mile inland into a one story house in Palm Coast.
Love reading your blog. Go to Mackinac every summer over the 4th of July. My favorite time of year. The one time of year the family & I can just relax & checkout.
Wish I could hitch a ride on a plane to Mackinac from Louisville, KY!! So many great memories from past trips there, waking up to horse hooves outside the Bay View B&B, eating ice cream while strolling down Main St, riding bikes around the island, eating whitefish planks at the Seabiscuit Cafe, eating the California burrito at Horn’s Bar, watching July 4 fireworks, walking around in perfect weather after the last ferry leaves, sigh….if I ever become a ghost I will definitely try to haunt the island!