We spend several days on Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Island. This is a unique place since automobiles are not permitted, and while there are some permanent residents, most of the action happens during the summer season. This is a view from the marina toward the restored fort.
This view is the opposite direction showing some of the fine homes on the island.
This view is toward the ferry dock to the west of us. Three ferry lines bring thousands of visitors every day.
On the first day we're on the island, we take a bicycle tour around the eight mile perimeter. A number of the photos that follow were taken during the tour. The road is wide enough for horse drawn carriages and bicycles only. (No cars allowed on the island.)
There was a festival of old time big wheel bicycle riders going on during our visit. Here, one of the riders passes our rest stop.
Here is the view as he passes us. Note the other riders of traditional bikes in the distance.
We're also passed by dozens of horse drawn vehicles including this drive-it-yourself carriage. They're romantic to view, but horses in the summer smell very pungent.
And another big wheel bike whose rider is showing off a little...
The views of the lake and surrounding mainland are breathtaking.
We pause for a bite of lunch at the Iroquois Hotel.
Our restaurant is across the street from this very old and very picturesque hotel--the Windermere.
The red geraniums against the yellow paint and a deep blue sky make a striking combination.
We work our way up the east bluff (a big job on a bicycle) to view some magnificent homes. This one has a view to match.
Then to the west bluff for some even bigger homes. Jan admires the beautiful flowers at one of the finer homes on the island.
No visit to the island would be complete without a ride past the Grand Hotel. Here one of the hotel's beautiful carriages is heading to the docks to pick up guests. Flowers are everywhere.
Jan took this close-up of some of the beautiful gardens at the hotel.
Getting stuff around the island is a chore when trucks and cars aren't permitted. The next series of photos shows how it is done. Here is a photo taken at the Grand Hotel which shows horses pulling a double wagon filled with luggage. Note the bike rider stealing a ride by hanging onto the last wagon.
Luggage is also delivered by bicycle. We've seen delivery boys with twice this amount of luggage stacked on an ancient bike.
Horses also pull the UPS wagon, serve as taxis, and as grand carriages. Here is another of the Grand Hotel's beautiful carriages.
And here is the UPS wagon (honest!).
Getting around during high season can be a job. Here is a view down the main street during a typical afternoon. The shops aren't much...t-shirts and fudge, over and over again.
And for all of our yachting friends, here is a picture of the Mackinac Island Yacht Club. They have no docks, no transient docks, no exchange priviledges, no nothing, except this beautiful club house.
After leaving Mackinac Island, we return to Hessel to see family and pick up guests. We are visited by Jan's cousin, Lenore Lutz, her husband, Don, and their daughter and family. This is Don and Lenore (or Lenny, as Bill calls her).
Their daughter, Kristin, and her family were visiting at the time. In the photo are Kristin, her husband Noel, and their three children, Corey, Samantha, and Shawn.
We had a chance to "preview" the Antique Boatshow which has been head in Hessel each year for several decades. Here are the bunch of us looking at a 65' Chris Craft, The Great Lady--one of the largest all-wood Chris Crafts every built (according to the owner). Looks like a lot of wood to keep varnished to me...
The real hit of the show is the speedboats. Here are a couple.
Here, Jan is looking at the one Bill has said we should buy. I think Jan said no--but not very convicingly. These boats are maintained in absolutely perfect condition--probably better than new. That's not so hard when you keep the boats in sheds 11 months of the year.
Rich and Nancy (Jan's brother and his wife) join us for a trip to Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, about sixty miles due west of Hessel. The first big event is to pass under "Big Mac" (so named because it resembles a giant hamburger).
We pass under the majestic bridge for the first time on this trip.
In the afternoon, we arrive at Beaver Island. This island is about 20 miles off shore, and in some ways is the island that time forgot. This is a view of the quaint Episcopal church that is open only the three summer months.
But there are some wonderful artisans on the island. Here Nancy and Jan pose with a canoe builder par excellence. His canoes are made of cherry, and laminated of strips not more than half or three-quarters of an inch wide. The final product is magnificent.
Jan bought a beautiful hand-made jewelry box made of camphor wood from this quaint shop.
