Cruising Along on a Walking History Tour – 8/16/2022

By the end of the season Mackinac Island will have hosted 80 cruise ships into her harbor, and the Viking Octantis is the largest of the group. At 665-feet, the Octantis can carry 378 passengers, and when it moors just offshore, those passengers are offered a variety of shore tours – carriage, kayak, biking and walking.

With the Mackinac Island Public School in the foreground, the Octantis is a truly impressive ship.

As you might guess, 90% of the cruise passengers opt for the Carriage Tour as their excursion choice, but one day last week I showed up on the dock along with 20 cruisers to shadow Lisa Brisson’s walking history tour. And oh my gosh I’m so glad I decided to trail along!

Lisa Craig Brisson lives on Mackinac Island in the summer and in Cheboygan, Michigan during the winter – and shares her life with her husband (Steve, who is the Director of Mackinac State Historic Parks), three adult children, and a dog. She holds undergraduate degrees in history and social studies-secondary education and a master’s degree in history museum studies. Lisa has worked at historic sites all over the country, including Mackinac Island. Some of her favorite former projects include operating a historic walking tour business on Mackinac Island and helping update the Mackinac Island Carriage Tour experience. Lisa has served as the Executive Director for the Michigan Museums Association for ten years, which gives her the opportunity to work with museums throughout the state. Raised by a history-loving father and always liking social studies in high school, she choose history as her college major. But Lisa says, “I don’t think I knew that I really loved history until I got a summer job in Fort Snelling In St. Paul. Before that I don’t think I realized you could have a job “doing” history, not just teaching or studying it.”

So, as you can see, this tour group was more than fortunate to have chosen to be part of this group!

Because of its size the Octantis moors offshore, and passengers are brought to the island on its tender boat.

Each participant wears earphones and Lisa’s voice can be heard even if you happen to be in the back of the group. The tour began in Windermere Park, where Lisa talked about the importance of the Anishinaabe people, who were the first inhabitants of the island and whose descendants still reside on Mackinac.

From there we walked up French Lane and stopped on Market Street, where Lisa spoke about the Biddle House and other historic sites in the downtown area. These included the blacksmith shop and the Stuart House Museum, where John Jacob Astor once operated the American Fur Company.

On the way to Veterans Memorial Park we learned about the island’s car ban, and at the park Lisa discussed the island veterans whose memories the park celebrates.

From under the shade of a tree in Marquette Park, and standing in the shadow of Fort Mackinac, we learned about the fur trader Alexis St. Martin, who in 1822 was accidently shot in the stomach while conducting business within the American Fur Company. The treatment of that wound by Dr William Beaumont, who was stationed at Fort Mackinac, saved St. Martin’s life but left a permanent hole in his stomach that never completely healed. This left a pathway for Dr. Beaumont into the science of the digestive system.

The tour continued east along Main Street, and Lisa chatted about the building of Grand Hotel and the impact it made on the island’s rise in tourism. She explained the importance of all the island seasonal workers, both American and international, who work so hard all summer to keep island businesses running and island visitors happy. At Harbour View Inn she discussed the original owner of the home, Madame La Framboise, a half French, half Native American widow who went on to become one of Mackinac Island’s most successful entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

After a short rest break at Mission Point Resort, we learned about the resort’s history, including the Moral Re-Armament Movement, Mackinac College, and the production of the movie Somewhere in Time, much of which was filmed on the Mission Point sound stage.

After a hike up Mission Hill, the group took photos of their ship from the East Bluff and admired all the beautiful cottages – and their gardens!

The tour ended with a walk down the steps from the East Bluff to Marquette Park . . .

. . . where, after a few closing remarks, Lisa called for questions and then guided the group to a downtown intersection where there were fudge shops on each corner!

The 2-hour tour was a huge success with the group, and Lisa received many compliments on her knowledge and presentation of island history. Please know that I haven’t even covered 1/10th of what was shared today. What a great way to spend a couple of hours on our beautiful island!

A huge thank you to Lisa (pictured above) and Viking Cruises for letting me tag along on this tour. Lisa made the history of the island come alive for everyone!

Bringing Hershey Home 8/27/17

When my dear friend Frankie Thill lost her beloved chocolate lab Hershey in January, 2016, her plan was to bring Hershey’s ashes back to Mackinac that summer and sprinkle them in some of the favorite places they would visit together.  Because of some issues with her knees and some breathing difficulties, Frankie hadn’t been able to get back up here.  But yesterday . . . . Princess Hershey came home.

Hershey’s entourage – Frankie, her son David and granddaughter Emily, and friends Judy and Sue.  Because of Frankie’s knee issues, we decided the best way to get to all the places we needed to go would be by carriage.  Frankie directed our path, and David took care of most of the sprinkling.

Frankie’s husband Darryl is buried on Mackinac, and we stopped to sprinkle ashes on his gravestone. Frankie and Hershey visited this site frequently. We had to push aside beautiful blooming wild flowers that surrounded the marker, and we left knowing Hershey’s ashes would be added to the soil for the nourishment of next summer’s flowers.

Probably their favorite walk was down to Mission Point. They loved to sit on the steps of the gazebo and enjoy the flower gardens. David sprinkled ashes along all the flower beds, and even though they were setting up for a wedding, I clandestinely sprinkled some around the inside of the gazebo and on the steps.

Our final stop was at the bench across from Bistro on the Green, where Frankie and Hershey would people watch, and Hershey would meet and greet anyone who wanted to pet her – which was everyone!

Hershey’s bench – and her ashes coming back home.

As David was sprinkling ashes along the roadway a tourist stopped and watched him for a few seconds.  Then she said, “What is that you’re doing?  Are those grass seeds you’re planting?”

A fanciful scene entered my mind at that moment. I envisioned walking along this same pathway next summer, looking over in the grass and seeing Hershey Kisses sprinkled in with the luscious green grass. Silly, I know.  But I think I’ll walk down there next summer anyway – just to check it out.

One of my favorite photos of Hershey. She and Bear were intently watching Ted eat a sandwich – just knowing he had to drop at least one crumb.  I love to think about the two of them together, waiting at the Rainbow Bridge.

Rest in peace, sweet girl. You’re home.

Lilacs and Storms and Fun Galore! 6/15/17

So happy to be writing about Mackinac again!  I feel as though our two weeks in Alaska (and then two weeks spent writing about it) pulled me far away from the island, but our trip to Alaska is something I will remember and cherish forever. It was awesome, but now it’s time to switch back into my favorite gear and get caught up on what’s been happening up north!

The Mackinac Island Lilac Festival is in full swing!  As happens most years, the lilacs are blooming at exactly the right time, and thousands of visitors a day are walking off ferries into that enchanted “back in time”  land of lilacs, fudge, horses, beautiful homes and flower gardens.

This beautiful young lady is Amelia Balinski. I met her along with her mom (Theresa), dad, and brother Mike at Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor several years ago. The whole family had been reading Bree’s Blog for years, and it was a real treat to meet this wonderful group face to face. Amelia is spending her second (I think it’s her second) summer on Mackinac as a Dock Greeter for Mackinac State Historic Parks, and she also is a Ticket Agent and Tour Guide for Haunts of Mackinac. I just wanted to introduce you because many of the photos you’ll be seeing today are Amelia’s, and maybe if you’re on the island and spot her, you can say hello!

A close up of lilacs in two different shades. (Photo: Amelia Balinski)

I can just imagine what the air smells like along this white rail fence on Main Street near the Marina! (Photo: Sandi Steensma)

Along that same white fence  – lilacs bend in the breeze as a horse team pulls a shuttle toward Mission Point.  (Photo: Grace Reimer)

Lilacs, lighthouses, and lamp posts – beautifully framed by Katy Rise.

St. Anne’s – through the lilacs. (Photo: Dan Denardo)

Main Street is definitely playing a starring role in this year’s Lilac Festival! (Photo: Sandi Steensma)

Lilacs aren’t the only flowers blooming on Mackinac. These tulips are bright and happy at Mission Point Resort. (Photo: Amelia Balinski)

On Sunday, June 11, a storm hit Mackinac during the afternoon.  Thank goodness the damage it did was much less than it could have been.  The ferocity of this storm’s appearance was really terrifying, but except for one tree down and limbs breaking here and there, the island fared well.

This photograph was shown on WZZM-TV as a shelf cloud built over the Mackinac Bridge. . . .

. . . and Sandi Steensma captured the cloud just before the storm broke over the island.

Before the bridge was closed for a short time, this trailer, being pulled behind a truck, was tossed on its side.

HERE AND THERE AROUND MACKINAC

Beach flowers can find a way to bloom even through stone. This cheery yellow face appeared among the rocks on the island’s east side.  (Photo: Tom Chambers)

The Pearl Mist, a Great Lakes cruise ship, arrives on Wednesday morning. (Photo: Tom Chambers)

Runners pass through downtown during the Lilac Festival Race. (Photo: Katy Rise)

Grand Hotel continues to add wildflowers, lilacs and milkweed to their lawn in an effort to attract and sustain Monarch butterflies, whose numbers have decreased on the island in recent years. (Photo: Grand Hotel)

Jennifer Sorrentino spotted this baby owl on the island this week. How cute is that!

Friend Pam Day took this shot from the porch of her condo across from the Grand Golf Course one morning this week.   Ted and I will be in those same condos the middle of July, and I hope to join Pam for a cup of coffee!

A just for fun shot by Jill Sawatzki. Jill found a whole dolly full of Moomers Ice Cream containers sitting unattended near the Island Bookstore. Glad I wasn’t there, or we might have tempted each other into arranging for at least one of those containers to end up in the condo freezer!  FYI: All that goodness was on its way to the Good Day Café on Main Street!

Something hard to see and harder to get a close-up of on Mackinac – a baby bunny. (Photo: Amelia Balinski)

And the sun sets on another beautiful Mackinac day . . .

. . . both photos by Amelia Balinski.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

Happy Father’s Day in Heaven to my daddy, Leonard Sumner. He loved my mama . . .

. . . and me with a love that was unconditional and never ending. He gave me, his only child, the kind of childhood every little girl should have. I love you, daddy, and Imiss you every day. Till then . . .

See you back here soon for more Mackinac news and what’s happening at the beach!

God bless.

 

Through the Eyes of Fudgies – Part II 8/30/16

On Sunday you read about Kim and R.D.’s first-time visit to Mackinac.   Today it’s all about Debra and Glen!

Debra and Glen Phelps

As someone who came to the island for the first time over 15 years ago and has cried like a baby as I’ve left each year since then, I can recognize a total convert to Mackinac-ism in an instant.  Debra learned about the island from reading this blog and has wanted to come up here for years.  She came, she saw, she fell in love  – hook, line and sinker.  When she tried to book a room for next summer before they had even checked out from this visit, I knew I had a true-blue Mackinac fan on my hands!  Debra’s husband Glen is “almost” as Mackinac-in-love as Debra, and that will make for a very happy family over the coming year, as they plan their next trip.

Debra’s beautiful photographs have captured a vast segment of Mackinac’s beauty, and her words from her Facebook page tell the story of her island trip much better than I could.  From this point on, I’ll use Debra’s words:

Debra and Glen Phelps

“Mackinac Island is as beautiful and unique as I expected! It is like going back in time . . .

. . . with the town, “cottages”, horses, carriages and bicycles (no cars allowed).”

“The temperature today only reached a high of 70 degrees.”  (Spoken in amazement by a true Georgia girl!)

 

“And the gardens and Lake Huron are gorgeous.”

“We toured the one and only opulent Grand Hotel today.”

“Many famous people have stayed here since it opened in 1887. Somewhere in Time was filmed here. The pool is named after Esther Williams because she swam in their pool in a movie that was filmed here (This Time for Keeps).”

“The pictures don’t do it justice. The porch is the longest in the world (660 feet). Glen liked the rocking chairs on the porch best.”

“More pictures of Mackinac Island . . . the cottages . . .

. . . flowers . . .

. . . the Grand carriages . . .

. . . Lake Huron . . .

. . . and the beautiful Arch Rock formation. Everything is truly beautiful.”

 

“Today the Hortons (who are in very good shape), the Harters (who can ride a tandem bike in total unison) and Glen and I (who are very out of shape) rode bikes on the 8.2 mile bike/horse road that completely circles the outer edge of Mackinac Island.”

“The sin was shining, the wind was blowing and the gorgeous lake waves were rolling in.  We stopped for a photo at Devil’s Kitchen.”

“Exercise is fun in this weather and when surrounded by such beauty.”

“Yesterday we visited Grand Hotel where the movie Somewhere in Time was filmed. On the bike ride today, Ted showed us the tree from the scene where Elyse first saw Richard and she said, ‘Is it you?’ Here Glen and I are standing in front of that tree.”

“Brenda took me to the staircase at Grand Hotel where Richard ran down to meet Elyse when she was calling him.”

“As I was walking Tessa this evening I noticed the city buildings and churches are historic, in keeping with all else on Mackinac Island. This is Little Stone Church where Brenda and Ted attend.”

“Notice that even police ride bikes!”

“Today it rained on Mackinac. But it did not keep anyone from continuing to enjoy this paradise. Glen and I went on the “once a week” tour of the Governor’s Cottage this morning. Because of the rain and the very steep hill that it sits on, we took a taxi which is a horse drawn carriage.  Glen and I are standing on the porch of the Governor’s Cottage, which has been used by Michigan governors and their dignitary and presidential friends for many years.”

“Later in the day, when the rain broke, I walked up and down ‘our street’ and took some more pics. This is the rental horse stable, ‘Cindy’s'”.

“When we got back to Park Place Suites, Tessa and I were sitting in our courtyard and the ‘garbagemen’ came in a horse drawn dray! I do love this place!”

“Tonight’s walk took me to the end of our street that runs into Lake uron and gave me the opportunity to admire the Mackinac Bridge at night.”

“Then off I went to get some delicious Moomer’s Ice Cream (at the No Name Café), followed by Taps at the fort.

“Today Ted, Glen and I visited Fort Mackinac that overlooks beautiful Marquette Park, where I let Tessa play.”

“I feared that it would just be old buildings. I was wrong! The many buildings were filled with period furnishings, historical information and activities for children.”

“There were also gun and cannon demonstrations. And there was an outdoor restaurant with the best view in town!”

“After the fort, Ted took Glen and me for a walk on Anne’s Tablet Trail (one of many trails) through a beautiful wooded area. The tablet seen on the trail honors the memory of a local author from years ago.”

“Ted led us through the woods to the East Bluff where more pretty vintage cottages were lined up, with million dollar views and beautiful flower gardens.”

“I loved our walk so much that I immediately went a second time, showing it to Tessa!”

“Bittersweet picture of Shepler’s Ferry that took us away from the island.”

“I am leaving a piece of my heart here and am sad to leave. But how blessed I am to have experienced this paradise! Glen and I love Mackinac Island so much that we plan to visit again next year. I hope all of you who have followed this trip with me will visit the island too.”

A few more of Debra’s photographs. . . .

Ted and I had a blast showing Kim, R.D., Debra, and Glen Mackinac Island.  To paraphrase the slogan from the former Atlanta Journal, “We covered Mackinac like the dew.”  We tried our best to wear them out each day, but they were real troopers and just kept on going – even in the rain!

Hope you’ve enjoyed the island through the eyes of these four fudgies!

God bless.

 

Through the Eyes of Fudgies – Part I 8/28/16

Writing about and photographing Mackinac Island has been one of my main passions for a lot of years now.  Sometimes I feel there can’t be a single blade of grass I haven’t held in my lens or a single adjective I haven’t used to describe my happy place.  I go through periods of feeling as if I have nothing new to offer and no story left to tell.  And then something happens, or somebody encourages me, or I see something differently – and suddenly all is right in my world again.

That happened this week, and through these next two blog posts I want to share how seeing the island through the eyes of four people visiting Mackinac for the very first time had me seeing the island as a “fudgie” again.

Two couples, Debra and Glen Phelps and Kim and R.D. Harter, visited this week from Albany, GA.  We’re all connected through the Dougherty County School System where five of the six of us spent a lot of years working in the business of educating children.  Kim and R.D. arrived last Saturday by plane and stayed with us at the new condo.  Debra and Glen arrived the next day by car, after three days of driving, and stayed at Park Place Suites on Market Street with their precious furbaby Tessa.  Both couples filled their Facebook pages with photographs and words describing their week here, and I want to share some of their photos and some of their words.

Tonight – Mackinac through the photographs of Kim and R.D.

KIM AND R.D. HARTER

From Kim’s Facebook post after they got home:  “A few things we learned on Mackinac Island this week: 1)  Taxis aren’t always cars.  2)  Horses always have the right of way. 3)  Bicyclists can be ticketed for speeding or blocking sidewalks.  4)  Hills can hurt going both up and down.  5)  Great Lakes water is salt free, shark free & quite chilly.  6) People help one another.  7)  Wind jackets are for wind, not rain.  8) August isn’t always hot.  9)  Customer service still exists some places.  10) Farewells are painful.  11)  Friends are appreciated.”

Now I could write a story about how Kim arrived at each of these  statements, but in the interest of time, I’ll just pick a couple.  Number 4 – A truth learned after your hosts have you – on the very first day – hike around for over eight hours up and down hills.  The next morning it hurts just as much to go down a hill as it does to go up one.  And Number 6 – Learned after watching a dray drop off several rooms of furniture and large appliances, and then watching any and every man in sight converge and work the next few hours carrying every bit of it into a neighbor’s condo.  Not paid workers, just men who happened to be around and saw the need.

Here are some of the Harters’ photographs – in no particular order . . .

Kim and R.D. at Arch Rock

When you leave south Georgia at 6 am, and it’s already in the 80’s and wake up the next morning in Michigan to 55 degrees, it’s quite a shock – but a very welcome shock!

Through special permission from Grand Hotel management, our group loaded on a beautiful carriage, drawn by gorgeous Hackneys and driven by friend Ben Mosley, for a whirlwind tour of Mackinac.

A little rain has to fall to make you appreciate the sunshine more! But this group was a foursome of troopers who kept going whether through sun or rain or fog or wind.

Mission Point – across a grassy lawn.

A yellow beauty from Grand Hotel’s Rose Walk.

The view out the front door of the new condo.

The Island House’s magnificent flower gardens.

A busy day in front of the Iroquois Hotel.

Well, of course we took them to the Pink Pony!

All the shots in the rain were taken the same day – it was beautiful the rest of the time. This is looking down Mission Hill from the East Bluff.

Trying to catch a nap while waiting on the girls to arrive to tour Grand Hotel’s gardens.

Amazement at the blue, blue water!

Bikes in Grand Hotel’s bike lot.

Looking down from the top of Fort Hill before the Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence tour.

Approaching Grand Hotel.

Dessert at Woods Restaurant.

Crabapples in Grand Hotel garden.

Girl Scouts raising the flag at the Governor’s Summer Residence.

The doors to St. Anne’s.

Mission Point lodging – through a screen and through the rain.

The Chippewa Hotel hot tub – overlooking the marina.

Kim and R.D. at Woods Restaurant bowling alley . . .

. . . and later at dinner.

The Little Stone Church parsonage.

Last day goodbyes . . .

. . . came too quickly.

Leaving us with Numbers 10 and 11: Farewells are painful, and friends are appreciated.

We’re hoping these sweet friends will return to Mackinac again soon.  And remember, next time we won’t call you fudgies!

Stay tuned for the next installment from fudgies Debra and Glen!  Their story and photographs are coming on Tuesday!

God bless.

 

49757 Postcard – #8 8/13/16

Dear Friends,

There’s so much news this week, this will be more like a letter than a postcard!

I guess I’ll just go in order of importance, so here we go . . .

MORE FAMILY!

Ted has gone from being an only child to discovering he has two half-sisters, Sheryl and Deb, and a half-brother, Ross.  He had another half-sister, Rhonda, who passed away in 2011.  He also has an Aunt Marcia, an Uncle Paul –  and an Uncle Ken, who is 93 and lives in Arizona.  Because of some health issues in their families, we haven’t had a chance to meet the half-siblings yet, but something tells me that might happen before the summer is over and we return to Florida. We sure are hoping so!

Today, another first cousin, Kel Bennink and his wife Gwen, arrived on Mackinac for a day trip.  Throughout this process of learning more about Ted’s birth family, we’ve been told over and over how Ted looks like the “men in the family”.  Today we saw how true that is!

Kel and Gwen arrive this morning on Shepler’s.  Kel says Ted is a carbon copy of his brother Marv, but Ted and Kel look a lot alike also.  At least that’s what Gwen and I thought.

Standing side by side on the Grand Hotel porch, the resemblance is even more pronounced.

We had a great few hours with the Benninks, showing them a little of the island and having lunch together at the Chippewa.

We are loving meeting all these new relatives – what a wonderful new family Ted (and I) can now claim!  Happy Birthday on Sunday, Gwen!

WHERE TO NEXT?

Sunday night will be our last night in the condo in the Mission, and boy are we going to miss this beautiful place!  Being able to sit out on the deck and people watch, with freighters passing in the background, has been just about a perfect arrangement.  We are going to be “homeless on Mackinac” for one night (not really, we’re bunking in with friends), and then we’ll move up the hill into the new condo on Tuesday.  We’ve hiked up there a few times already to check everything out.  It’s two hills short of where our old condo was, but the Grand Hill hasn’t gotten one bit less steep.  But, for the first time since we moved into our new house in Florida, we’re going to be in a one-level residence.  I’m going to enjoy that.  As soon as we’re settled, I’ll be showing you around the new place!

PHOTOS FROM AROUND MISSION POINT

Since we’re leaving this area and won’t be down here nearly as much, I wanted to give you one more night of photos from this end of the island.  Mission Point is so beautiful this year.  The Ware family, who bought the resort a year or so ago, is really doing a phenomenal job with renovations, new shops and cafes, and gorgeous landscaping!

I mean really, could it get anymore relaxing than this? Two Adirondack chairs – under the trees, and by the water. Sigh.

A freighter passes as we walked Maddie along the lakeshore trail this afternoon.

Masses of flowers are scattered everywhere around the Mission Point Executive Putting Green.

Small Point Inn – across a field of wildflowers. (Thought of you, Irene!).

The Mission Point gazebo – scene of nearly a wedding a day since we arrived four weeks ago.

Who knows what these are? They grow along the path that runs in front of the resort. At first I thought, “Cherry Tomatoes”?

Nope, they’re a species of Rose (at least that’s what someone told us). Can anyone help me out here!

A COUPLE OF EXTRAS

Robert McGreevy’s great shot of the US Brig Niagara which docked overnight a few days ago.  The wooden-hulled brig is a teplica of the ship that served as the relief flagship for Oliver Hazard Perry in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.  It is one of the last remaining ships from the War of 1812. 

Thanks to Cousin Kel for this shot of Ted and I today in front of Little Stone Church.

That’s it for tonight, I think.  I’ll be back when we’ve made the move up the hill, and we’ve gotten our luggage unpacked – again!

God bless.

Catch-Up Sunday 8/7/16

Tomorrow begins our fourth week on the island, and Ted and I are having a hard time wrapping our heads around that.  Every evening we laughingly ask ourselves, “Where did THIS day go?”  On the flip side of that thought is the wonderful truth that it will be ten more weeks before we leave.  That makes us laugh also!

I was looking through the hundreds of photographs I’ve taken since arriving and came across a few that didn’t fit a particular blog, but still might be fun to see.  So tonight – it’s “Catch-Up Sunday”!

On our very first weekend we went out on an Arnold Line Sip ‘n Sail Sunset Tour. Although the weather didn’t cooperate, and we missed the sunset due to clouds, we had an awesome view of the Mackinac Bridge – from UNDERNEATH!

Coming back across the Straits at night is always a beautiful experience – with the island off the port side, and Grand Hotel illuminating the West Bluff.

Approaching the dock at night is very different than during the day, when the entire area is teeming with passengers arriving and departing, luggage being transported off and on the ferries, and dock porters somehow making it all work seamlessly.

From the deck – a wedding carriage on the way to pick up a bride and groom.

I love riding the ferry and picking out first time visitors to the island. They always sit in the front rows (especially if there are children). I remember doing exactly the same thing about the first 20 times I rode the ferry, but that first time can’t be beat for excitement.

Jan and Don Weir, blog readers who came over for a day trip, dropped by the condo to say hello one afternoon. Harbor Springs is their summer home, and they spend their winters in Indianapolis.

Leaving the Chippewa after dinner with Jordan and Matthew (on the last day of the yacht races).

Little Maddie – thinking about getting her feet wet (she didn’t).

Downtown Mackinac in the evening is so peaceful compared to a busy summer day.

Lake view through the back slats of an Adirondack chair – on the Mission Point Resort lakeshore.

A close-up of Queen Anne’s Lace (one of the few flowers I can always remember the name of)!

On Jordan and Matthew’s last morning on the island, just after breakfast at the Chuck Wagon and before turning in their bikes, we all stopped by the Arnold dock to check out the Victory I, a Great Lakes cruise ship that came in during the night. The ship holds 202 passengers and will begin cruises to Cuba in the Fall.

View from the top end of Franks Avenue in Mission Point.

Because the afternoon was really warm, we decided to walk Maddie up behind Mission House, which is where the majority of the State Park employees live during the summer. It was built in 1825 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Curving past Mission House and turning back down the hill you pass the Mackinac Island Center for the Arts, located in the former Mission Point Theater building.

On the way back from town and another “ice cream after dinner” run, we stopped for a moment to enjoy a Music in the Park concert. The summer concert series takes place most Thursday evenings throughout the season.

From the deck Friday evening.

A beautiful sunrise over Lake Huron. (Photo by Ted, who – just like in Florida – is the only one up early enough to catch moments like these).

Company’s coming Monday to spend a couple of nights!  Can’t wait!

God bless. 

49757 Postcard – #7 (8/4/16)

Dear Friends,

On our regular late afternoon outing with Maddie today, we chose to walk the lakeshore trail that winds between the Mission Point Resort Executive Putting Green and Lake Huron.  I know I usually show the gorgeous flowers along that trail, but it occurred to me today that I never show the “wild” areas.  You see, not everything on Mackinac is manicured and formal.  In fact, the vast majority of the island is in its wild and primitive state.  I love getting past Main and Market Streets and into the Mackinac woods.  Even though I dearly love all the lush and incredible flower gardens, it’s the wild part of the island that draws me back year after year.

Being where we are in the Mission right now, I haven’t gotten up into the interior of Mackinac at all except for that buggy ride out to the Woods Sunday evening.  When we move “up the hill” in a couple of weeks, you’ll be seeing a lot more “wildness” in my photos.

The path turns off Main Street just as you reach the Mission Point Resort putt-putt course.  Where the path makes that first left turn, there is a big beaver lodge just beyond the shore.  I haven’t managed to be there at the right time to get a photo, but there’s been a whole beaver family living and working in that spot for almost two years now.

Between the path and the lake, everything is natural.  See that little circle of water that looks like a small pond.  It’s a great swimming hole for island kids and visitors.  Don’t be fooled by its smallness though.  Matthew went swimming there and said it was way over his head.

 

Probably the largest Weeping Willow tree I’ve ever seen. With the wind blowing this afternoon, it was beautiful to see the branches dipping and swirling like a group of green-clad dancers.

You can see in this pic how the wind was kicking up.  All the trees are leaning sideways!

I love this pathway!  Water as far as you can see, and wildflowers galore!

Remember me mentioning the beavers.  They are busily cutting down several trees along the shoreline.  Some are small . . .

. . . . and some are fairly large!

The pathway deadends into the road around the island, so we turned back toward town.  This sign warns against climbing up this steep cliff.

Standing at Small Point Inn and shooting back toward the lake.  You can see cyclists on the path where we were just walking.

Almost to the condo we spotted this unbelievably gorgeous 8-month-old Golden Retriever puppy and her owners.  Yes, I went all blubbery over her.  Maddie, on the other hand, didn’t care for her at all and tried to pick a fight.  Have I ever mentioned that Maddie does NOT like other female dogs?  Our little DIVA. And yes – I got the name of her breeder here in Michigan.

One last pic from tonight.  As we were leaving the condo to ride downtown for ice cream after dinner, we were treated to a wedding carriage!   Happy bride and groom – just married at Mission Point.

Today was the warmest we’ve had since we arrived.  Close to 85 on the island, and for Mackinac, that’s a heat wave.  Supposed to cool off tomorrow though.  All is good.

Wish you were here!

God bless.

It Sure Is Quiet Tonight 8/2/16

When you’re senior citizens (like us), and your children have been off, gone, and busy with their own lives as long as ours have, it’s hard to remember how full your house can seem having teenagers around.  Laughter-filled, chatter-filled, always-in-motion-filled, siblings-good-naturedly-fighting-filled . . . . . just FILLED. 

And then they leave. 

I’m typing this around 6:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.  Jordan and Matthew are somewhere in the air between Detroit and Atlanta.  From Atlanta they’ll fly into Daytona Beach after dark.  The house is quiet.  I can once again hear bike tires and lawn mowers and ferry horns.

I miss them already.

It’s a pretty special day when your grandchildren invite you to dinner at the Woods Restaurant  . . . . THEIR treat!  That’s what happened Sunday.  We took the Woods shuttle from downtown.  Actually GETTING to the Woods is part of the delight of eating there.  The trip up Cadotte . . .

. . . then out through the Annex, on roads lined with rail fences and hardwood trees, makes for a beautiful appetizer . . . even before you arrive at the restaurant..  From town it takes about 30 minutes (depending on how many folks you pick up at the Grand), and it’s worth every minute!  And then you get to dine at one of the greatest restaurants on the island.  It was a very special evening! 

On Monday we rode our bikes around the island, stopping to peek at the progress at Silver Birches.

Late afternoon on Monday we took Maddie on a long walk along the shoreline at Mission Point.

It had been such a beautiful day we didn’t want it to end.

Had to snap a pic of this flower.  I think it’s a weed (someone correct me if I’m wrong), but it sure was a beautiful weed!

Jordan, Maddie, and Ted – walking back to the condo.

. . . while Matthew practiced his putting just across the street.

A daylily in a Mission Point garden.

The island grapevine went crazy over the weekend when this yacht, owned by Jimmy Johns, pulled into the bay.  The rumor on the streets was that Kid Rock was aboard.

And, sure enough, later that evening he was spotted in the Pink Pony. (Photo: Pink Pony)

Monday night ice cream at the No Name Café.  We’d say we’re probably part-owners in Moomers Ice Cream now!

Ted and I were sad when we realized this morning would be the last time we had four bikes in the racks at this condo.  We rode them into town . . .

. . . had breakfast at the Chuck Wagon, then turned in Jordan and Matthew’s bikes to Mackinac on Wheels.

Too soon we were on Shepler’s (Matthew and I rode up top) and heading for the airport.  We got a close-up look at the American Integrity as we turned out of the harbor.

Last glance going through security (Ted saw them onto the plane with a special pass) . .

And then they were away.

It’s sad when we look back and think Jordan and Matthew are 16 and 14, and this is the first time they’ve spent this long with us without their parents.  Many of their “growing-up” years were spent in Arkansas, and we only saw them once or twice a year.  One of the big reasons we moved to Florida was to get to know our grandchildren (and have them get to know us) before they were “off and away” –  just like our children are now.  It was a good move.

Jordan and Matthew, when your mom  and dad asked where you’d like to spend a week’s vacation, we thank you for both saying “with BeBe and G-Daddy on Mackinac!”

Our hearts are full tonight.  We love you, and we miss you.  You are both awesome beyond words, and you make us so, so proud every single day.

Hold things together in Florida until we get back.

God bless.

Fun With the Grands! 7/31/16

How much fun can you pack into a Friday and Saturday on Mackinac Island with two teenagers?  I think we set the record!

FRIDAY

We started Friday with a bike ride up to Fort Holmes, with stops along the way near Anne’s Tablet to look out across the Jewel Golf Course to the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge.

I guess I should state right about here that the four of us were on bikes, but there were several stretches when BeBe (that’s me) bailed off the bike and walked up the steepest parts (like Mission Hill, the East Bluff, and Fort Holmes Road).  I was the only one who had to do that, but I’m proud to say I stuck with them for most of the way!

It was another gorgeous Mackinac summer day – in the 70’s, with a little breeze.  The view from Lookout Point down on Sugar Loaf was a sea of green leading to a brilliant blue Lake Huron.

Inside the restored Fort Holmes structure, Matthew and Jordan were amazed and astounded by all the history G-Daddy knew about the War of 1812.  LOL!

On Fort Holmes ramparts. Through the open stockade door, you can see the lake.

 

The new structure from the edge of the hill.

After a burger at Mission Point Resort’s Bistro on the Green, we challenged each other to a game of puttputt – girls against guys.

The girls won, BUT Matthew got a hole-in-one on the last hole!

After dinner, we headed downtown for ice cream from the No Name Café (loving their Moomers Ice Cream) . . .

. . . then stopped in to see Jill at the Island Bookstore.  Right next door is Great Turtle Toys, where Jordan and Matthew tried to teach G-Daddy Kendama tricks.

Ted and I have been pretty amused at how early Jordan and Matthew are ready for bed each night AND the fact that they slip in a nap or two during the day.  Of course, so do we!

SATURDAY

Saturday morning found me back volunteering at the Stuart House Museum  The kids stopped by during the morning, and Matthew came back by with half a pound of fudge for me to have for lunch at my desk.  Thank you, Matthew!

Speaking of fudge, you would not BELIEVE how much fudge these two can consume.  They make a fudge run every single day, and it is all gone by bedtime.  Amazing!  Matthew is also a pickle lover.  The second day they were here he bought a big jar of dill pickles at Doud’s and ate the ENTIRE jar in one sitting (we weren’t aware he was doing that, by the way).  Then he followed it with a 1/2 lb. box of fudge.  I don’t even want to think about what would happen to me if I did that, but he was perfectly fine – ate a huge dinner and went to bed without a problem.  Ahhh, youth!

On Saturday afternoon, while BeBe and G-Daddy rested, Matthew and Jordan took their island map and rode out to find the Crack in the Island and the Cave in the Woods.  They then rode back to the cave where they’d gone geo-caching with Ted and their parents near Robinson’s Folly back in 2012 (where they’d been with Ted on Wednesday). They found the geo-cache again and opened it to find the note they had written four years ago.  How cool is that!

We had tacos for dinner, then Jordan and I stayed up to watch Somewhere In Time.  It was Jordan’s first time to see the movie, and I’m embarrassed to tell you how many times I’ve watched it.  I cried  . . . . again.

Here it is Sunday night (I’ll tell you about Sunday on another day), and we can’t believe we only have one more full day left with the kids before they leave on Tuesday.  This week has gone way too fast!

The view from the window above our bed at dusk.

God bless.