Monday June 9 -
Sunday June 15
Planes, Trains, Cars, Boats, and Islands (part
3)
Due to the number of pictures, this week's travel log is split into three parts. Here are links to the other parts:
Saturday, June 14:
Much nicer weather today! We are off to Mackinac
Island.
We catch a ferry in St. Ignace to head to the island.
Since this is the 9:30 AM ferry, the pilot said he would take us
under and around the bridge. I am not sure what 9:30 has to do
with it but it works for us.
A sister ferry heading to the island |
Mackinac Bridge. Longest suspension bridge Western Hemisphere. |
The Mackinac Island Grand Hotel.
There are no motor vehicles on the streets of Mackinac
Island (except for a couple of emergency vehicles that are out of
sight). The island is a very nice tourist destination with its
charm of horse carriages and mass of bicycles. The road that
runs around the island is eight miles. The island was the
second national park but at Michigan’s request was turned over and
is now a Michigan State Park. Over two thirds of it is
undeveloped forest/natural area and only less than a third of it
is developed.
Main street Mackinac Island. |
Traffic jam of carriages. |
After arriving, we head down to catch a carriage ride that
takes us around parts of the island and through the undeveloped
state park areas.
Our carriage. The driver was great, knowledgeable, and funny. |
Arch Rock. |
After the carriage ride, we stop at The Grand Hotel for
lunch. And to my surprise, the place is filled with all of my
friends for a retirement lunch for me!
All the people that came to my retirement luncheon! |
A very special guest |
I am choked up and drawn to tears as they all rise to sing
“For He is a Jolly Good Fellow” and present me with a gold watch…
Shortly afterwards, I wake up from a nap. Could this all have
been a dream??? Am I due back to work on Monday??? Nobody
knows!
We continue looking around the hotel before heading back to
town. Becky needs to look in the shops.
The porch at the Grand Hotel. Time for another nap. |
A wedding party arriving at the hotel. |
We head back to the dock to catch the ferry back to the
mainland after a good day on the island.
Waiting at the dock for our ferry back to the mainland.
Sunday, June 15:
A day to get caught up and relax.
Due to the number of pictures, this week's travel log is split into three parts. Here are links to the other parts: