Northern Michigan

After 10 days of being in Mackinaw City, Michigan we are finally back underway. The Tidings of Joy was pulled out of the water to have a prop fixed and some keel work done. Because there were no prop shops in northern Michigan it had to be sent to Detroit, which took a week to get back. It was quite the site watching the boat get pulled from the water and then sitting hoisted up along side the mechanics building.

While we were here we made the most of our time and toured all over the northern portion of Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. The first day we drove to Boyne Highlands and looked at the ski slopes and walked around recalling a time when we both were there as kids. They were having a huge biker rally so we watched as all the bikers poured in and swarmed around us. We also drove to Harbor Springs, which was super cute and boutiquey little town. I got some kitchen things at a little spice and cookware shop. A cabbie had mentioned to us to eat at a place called the Legs Inn famous for all of it’s stove legs decorating the roof and great locals restaurant. After lunch we made our way back to Mackinaw City and checked into our reasonably priced motel. We got a deal on Expedia and the room directly reflected that. It smelled awful like must and mildew. When you walked into the room the smell was overwhelming. I asked the front desk clerk if we could change rooms. The informed us there was nothing available despite the vacancy sign out front. I think what they meant was we have nothing available at your discounted rate but sent in a cleaning person to wipe down all the walls with this smelly cleaning product which made us both cough and they removed the filter from the air conditioning and washed it out. Neither thing removed the smell so I bought an air freshener at the market and we tried not to spend too much time in the room.

The next few days we drove everywhere from – Travers City, Petoskey, Boyne City, Cheboygan, The U.P. – Whitefish point, Tahquamenon Falls, Sault St. Marie and Saint Ignace. But of all the places we went both of our favorite had to be Mackinac Island. Not only was it total nostalgia for Jeff from his childhood it was also the first place where we met up with family- The Handlers (Cousin Hillary, Larry, Jake and Nicolette). Jeff and I have been traveling for two months and besides a couple of impromptu happy hours we have not spent time with anyone but ourselves so this was a very big day for us!! We took the 10a.m. ferry with our bikes and set out the meet the Handlers. Because they are regulars on the Island and we are not we spent part of the morning doing different things. Jeff wanted to do the touristy things like see the Grand Hotel and walk through Fort Mackinac while the Handlers rode bikes and had breakfast. Finally after lunch we met up with them in the park.

We were all so excited!!! From there we sat with them while they had lunch and then the four of them and Jeff went on a horse and buggy ride. I had to oppose being a vegetarian and knowing what those horses have to go through in order to accommodate all of the tourist all season long. All was good. I set out on my bike and rode the perimeter of the island alone while Jeff and Handlers rode the horse and buggy.

I enjoyed my alone time, which doesn’t happen very often on a trip like this, and the bike ride was gorgeous. The path wove through tree-lined forest, rock cliffs and beautiful Lake Michigan. I was quite content. After the buggy ride Jake and Nicolette wanted to swim and Jeff wanted to go on the bike ride I had just finished. Since it was so gorgeous I said I would go a second time. I rode 16 miles that day and felt proud of myself. Jeff loved the ride too. Afterwards we strolled the town and ducked into a local pub for a few pints of Sheboygan Amber Ale before meeting the Handlers for dinner. We met them at an outdoor restaurant outside of there hotel right on the water. The views were gorgeous and we were all happy to be together.

Mackinac Island. (Check out the cop photo bombing us)

After dinner we caught the ferry back to Mackinaw City and rode our bikes back to our motel. We were pooped. The next day it poured rain all day so we decided to do chores – laundry at the laundry mat and marketing. That seemed to consume our entire day.

Yesterday which turned out to be our final day in Mackinaw City we drove to visit the Handlers at their cottage on Walloon Lake. It was this cool 50’s style cottage with a funky old timey kitchen and windows all around the perimeter. It was adorable. They suggested we rent a pontoon and Jeff and I were all over it. How could we pass up a chance at boating and especially when we have been deprived of ours for over a week. Larry and Jake had gone into town earlier and set-up the boat rental and got some provisions for lunch and snacks. We were all set. Jeff signed up as a second driver and pulled the boat away from the slip and we cruised all around Walloon Lake. It was great and very reminiscent for me of Indian Lake and being on the family pontoon. Larry and Jake each took turns driving. Jake liked to floor it while Larry enjoyed a more leisurely pace. When we were almost done with our ride we stopped the boat so Jake and Nicolette could go for a swim. The water was cold but the kids quickly got used to it and were happily swimming around the boat. Jeff and I had a bit of a deadline that day because our rental car was being picked up at 5 so we had to say goodbye to the Handlers for now. We all enjoyed our boat ride and were looking forward to seeing them one more time in Charlevoix (our next stop), which isn’t too far from their cottage.

At 5:45a.m. this morning our alarm went off and we began our pre-departure routine and by 7:30 we were back underway. Thank god!! We were both getting very stir crazy and don’t think there was a single other city we could have drove to. Next stop Charlevoix, MI