St. Ignace

At last post, we were leaving Grand Marais, with a destination of St. Ignace.  We thought there would be a good chance we could get a site at the casino there, and we were right! 

We backed into one of their large grassy sites, with 50 amp Electric and Water and picnic table!... and went in to register. 

The website says $10, but with my players club card they gave me 3 free nights! 

 THEN... they said Jeff could get another 3 free nights with his players card!  We would like to leave Sunday, but that will be determined by if we can secure a site for Sunday night.  We may need to wait until after the holiday weekend.

 

Thursday we took the Ferry to Mackinac Island.

I was nervous about a ferry ride, because I can get motion sickness just by watching something on the TV... but I told myself for 24 hours that "I don't get motion sickness anymore" AND I took 2 Bonine motion sickness pills.  IT WORKED!  I didn't get sick!  We had an enjoyable ride both ways.

There is a lot of history on Mackinac Island... including Fort Mackinac,

which was built in 1780 by the British during the American Revolutionary War.

 

There are no motor vehicles allowed on the Island.

So what you find are bicycles and horse drawn carriages.

There are plenty of places to rent bicycles... but we took our own.

 

 

We thought it was funny that there would be a Harley Davidson shop...

but look at the bike on display!

It's an original Harley Davidson Bicycle

There is a beautiful shoreline road that we rode for a few miles...

so relaxing and quiet with no motors.

 

 

Of course, then, Jeff was on the search for a place where he could get a draft beer.

We found just the place... where we could not only enjoy a refreshing beer,

but also watch people playing 18 holes on a miniature golf course.

 

 

 

I just had to get a picture of this bicycle in the parking lot.

 

We wandered in and out of a few shops, then decided we were ready to go...

but I needed an ice cream cone first.  Was it ever good!

Days like this are more like a vacation, and very enjoyable. 

BUT... we really prefer the less touristy part of traveling.

This island has become all about tourists...

we like to experience the real day to day life in different places.

 

 Friday we crossed the Mackinac Bridge,

currently the third longest suspension bridge in the world.

 The bridge connects St. Ignace on the Upper Peninsula, 

and Mackinaw City on Michigan's lower peninsula.

 

It is a toll bridge, of course, that costs $4 for automobiles, and will cost us $20 when we pull the fifth-wheel across... which we will have to do to continue our travels.

The bridge is also where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan connect.

 

We are hoping, today, to find a place near the bridge, to launch the kayaks. 

 Hopefully we can kayak under the bridge from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron!

 

Also... maybe today will be the day that I finally get the answer to the mystery...

 

What are "Pasties"??