RV Adventure Summer 2014

JULY 28, 2014

MACKINAC CITY, MICHIGAN

The trip from Muninsing to Mackinac was only 160 miles. The route brought us across the Upper Peninsula from the southern shore of Lake Superior to the Northeastern shore of Lake Michigan. The entire route, with the exception of the last few miles to the Mackinac Bridge, was all on 2-lane roads.

The bridge spans the narrow gap between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron in a place appropriately called The Straits of Mackinac. The tall support towers and thick cable arcs of this five mile long engineering wonder are truly majestic. While I have never crossed the Golden Gate Bridge I am sure it is no more majestic than the Mackinac Bridge. Before the bridge was completed waiting for a ferry to take you across the strait often required a waiting time of 36 hours or longer.

On the southern side of the bridge lies the town of Mackinac City (Yes, a town named a city). The RV park where we are staying is about 2 miles from the town.

This morning we boarded a Hydro-Jet powered ferry bound in jackets and sweatshirts to warm us from the chilly 49 degree temperature. The ferry would take us out onto Lake Michigan and Mackinac Island. This is perhaps the fastest boat of its size that I have ever been on. The big Detroit diesel engines and turbines use the same principle as a jet ski for propulsion.

The best description I can give to anyone back in Virginia as to what Mackinac Island is like would be sort of a cross between Tangier Island and Colonial Williamsburg. The 1,800 acre island is now a state park which includes the historic town, Fort Mackinac and a significant portion of woodlands. All transportation on the island is provided by either horse drawn carriages, horseback or bicycle. Even UPS makes package deliveries by horse drawn wagon. The only motorized vehicles on the island are the fire trucks and an ambulance.

There are about 80 privately owned residences on the island that range from small bungalows to mansions. Real estate prices of homes currently on the market range from $400,000 to five million dollars. While winter on the island can be severe, some of the residences are occupied year round.

After landing in historic Haldimand Bay we bought our tickets for a carriage ride tour around the island. One of many beautiful structures on the Island is the Grand Hotel. You may remember the 1979 movie staring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour entitled "Somewhere in Time"' The Grand Hotel was the setting for much of the movie. There are other hotels and bed-and-breakfast on the island but none is as majestic (or expensive) as the Grand Hotel.

We toured Fort Mackinac which sits on a hill 150 above the harbor and island's buildings. The fort is huge containing many expertly reconstructed or restored buildings including the fine lodging homes for officers and their families. First founded in 1751 by the French, the fort changed from French to British and finally to U.S. occupation in 1815. It was abandoned as a fort during the Civil War and later became part of a National Park then transferred to the State of Michigan as a State Park in 1895.

We enjoyed a late lunch in one of the Island Pubs, visited many of the town shops and then caught the 5:30 ferry back to the mainland. What had started out as an extremely chilly morning turned out to be quite pleasant when the afternoon sun finally came out from behind the clouds and bumped the temperature up into the mid 60's.

The entire area is rich in history including the fur trade, fishing and shipping industries. Much additional information can be found by doing an Internet search on virtually any key word above.

Mackinac Bridge

Note the "rooster tail" on the back of the hydro-jet drive boat

Fast, high-powered "people ferries" quickly skirt you across to the island

The back side of the wooden stockade fencing along the wall surrounding Fort Mackinac

The GRAND HOTEL

All island transportation excludes automobiles. Horse drawn wagons and carriages like this one and the three following photos provide for the movement of people and supplies.