Summer of 18-#37-Mackinac Bridge, Ferry to & walking on Mackinac Island, Friends Visiting

Friday August 17th, 2018
Today was moving day and we were going to St. Ignace, which is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  To reach our campground there, we had to cross the Mackinac Bridge.  This is the 5th longest suspension bridge in the world at 5 miles long.  For those of you on Facebook I did go live as we were crossing and I'm sure the video is still available on there if you missed it.

Bridge in the distance

This is a toll bridge.  Lily(motorhome) cost us $10 and Tilly(car) cost $4, one way.  We will have to pay the same when we come back over.

We arrived at Tiki RV Park and got settled in.  The drive today was better than we expected and it was good to have a relatively stress free travel day.

We got setup so we would be ready for our guests, Johnny & Kathy tomorrow.

Saturday August 18th, 2018

We went out to the local store to get some last minute food items and were back before J&K arrived.  We sat and got caught up with whats been going on, and made our plans and got tickets for our trip to Mackinac Island tomorrow.
I made potato salad and Bryan made his baked beans to go with barbecued hot dogs, hamburgers & fixings.  After eating, we decided to go and have a look around St.Ignace.  It's a cute little town but we were busy chatting and enjoying our company, so we didn't get any pictures.

There is a firework show every Saturday night in town.  They have one in Mackinaw City on Friday nights as well that K&J had seen last night.  We didn't go back out, but I heard the fireworks going off and went outside to see if I could see them. They were actually quite close and I could see them over the trees.  The view was better than my pictures show and we watched them until they finished.

We had a relatively early night as we will have a long day tomorrow.

Sunday August 19th, 2018
We were up bright and early (for us, ha!!ha!!) and made our way to the ferry to get the 11 o'clock sailing.  We were due to meet our new friends, Chris & Jan, that we met in Petoskey, on the island but unfortunately I got a message to say a skunk had sprayed in their chicken coop and they had to clean that out and work on trapping him so the chickens and ducks could have their home back.  We missed you guys and were looking forward to a locals perspective of the island but glad you got everything sorted out.

Kathy & I waiting for the ferry

All ready and waiting to leave

We passed Wawatam (St. Ignace) Lighthouse.  Surprisingly this is not on our lighthouse friends website where we check to find lighthouses, but it was on our passport stamps location listing. Unfortunately, I didn't find that out until it was too late to get a stamp.  I will have to send off for it.

Mackinac Bridge

Nearing Mackinac Island we saw Round Island Lighthouse

and Round Island Passage Lighthouse

As we pulled into the dock at Mackinac Island.  We saw these apartments, and bicycles to hire right by the dock.

The ferry that we came over on

This is obviously the hub of the island where everyone arrives and was very busy.

It was very apparent that the only ways to get around were walking, bicycling, horseback riding or carriage. There were even carriage taxis.

We got our carriage tour tickets first.  The ticket office was directly across from the ferry dock.

We then walked a block and a half down the main street to where we would board the carriage.  

I have decided to do a separate blog for the carriage tour as there are so many pictures for today and you can find that HERE. 

We got off the carriage at Fort Mackinac and we could have got back on for the ride back down the hill to the town. We decided, after some discussion, that we would walk back to the town and ferry. Bryan & Johnny both have mobility problems and have good and bad days.  Today was a bad day for Bryan but he persevered and we walked slowly.

Walking back down toward the town.

This sign explained about the Round Island lighthouses which you could see clearly from the fort and here.  There are pictures in the carriage tour blog that show the great views from the fort as I classed those as being a part of the tour.

Looking back up the path we had walked down. 

At the bottom of the path leading down from the fort was a path into the state park.  We saw some horseback riders going into there.  

Kathy & Johnny beat us down the hill and sat and waited for us on the steps of a church.

Looking back up at the fort.

Fish wind spinner on top of the restaurant at the fort.

A side street, very colorful

Walking down toward the main street.  As you can see walkers, carriages and bicycles everywhere.  You still had to be very aware of watching where you were walking.

Marquette Park on the island is a lovely place to sit and eat lunch.  We were going to do that but then decided to just go back to St Ignace to a Mexican restaurant we had read about over there.  

This is a statue of Father Jacques Marquette, who founded Michigan's first European settlement in Sault St. Marie in the 1600's.  There was a seagull visiting him.

A carriage tour near the beginning of their tour where we had been three hours before.

More bikes!!!

Heading back along the main street.

There were several places giving out samples of the famous Mackinac Fudge.  I didn't try any as I don't like fudge but Kathy did and said it was lovely. Here they are making it.

A grand carriage from the Grand Hotel!!

Due to having to go to the bathroom we just missed a ferry by a minute or two.  We know our priorities though!!! The next one was in 30 minutes, so we sat on a bench and waited.  After all, it was quite a good view.

We boarded the ferry, got front row seats on top.  I think we were sheltered by this on the way back as it didn't seem so windy.

Off we went........

Back past the lighthouses.

The fort in the background

To the right of the fort.

Loved this building further along the coast.

The Grand Hotel, high up on the hill, overlooking Lake Huron.

Leaving Mackinac Island behind.

The Mackinac Bridge in the distance

Star Line's Hydro-Jet Ferry.  We went with Sheplars as we got an online special which saved the four of us a little bit of money. 

Looks so tranquil

One of the crew took our picture for us

St Ignace Lighthouse on the way back

St Ignace

Getting ready to dock

We got back and drove to Jose's Cantina for Mexican.  It has an outside terrace but we decided to stay inside at a window seat, as I think we had enough fresh air for today.

We all treated ourselves to drinks.  I had a sangria, which was a little disappointing as it didn't have any fruit in it!!  Bryan tried a Cherry Margarita, which was unusual for him as he doesn't usually drink margarita's but I think the cherry flavor enticed him.  He said it was good.  

It was a very colorful place and a fairly typical mexican restaurant.

We had a good meal, still not quite the same as western states mexican, but not bad.  

They told me I couldn't have Cheese Enchiladas as the last time we all ate Mexican was in Las Vegas, and Kathy ended up saving my life, by performing the Heimlich Maneuver on me, as I was choking on the stringy cheese.  I didn't take any notice and had my favorite cheese enchiladas, but was very careful to take small bites and chew well!!!!

We went home and all just relaxed.  It was an awesome day but it was an early night again, as we were all quite exhausted and were all hurting in one way or another!!!!