Month: September 2017

Manistique, MI

September 9-11, 2017  Saturday-Monday

Wow, the temperature early this morning was 35 degrees, I think it is time to go south. Although a bit chilly we had a great day exploring Manistique. Manistique is the county seat of Schoolcraft County which is named in honor of Henry Schoolcraft, who explored the area with the expedition of Lewis Cass in 1820. The county was founded in 1843 and is largely rural and forested, with much of the western portion of the county located within Hiawatha National Forest.

Out first stop, Schoolcraft County Historical Park where we found the historic Manistique Water Tower. This Romanesque style building was built in 1922 and held a 200,000-gallon water tank. Other buildings in the park were the Historic Manistique Pumping Station which now houses the Putnam House Museum, the 1894 Kepler Family Log Cabin, and a building housing the 1883 Hook & Ladder fire equipment, the equipment looked very cool through the window but the museum was closed so we could not go in. Leaving Schoolcraft County Historical Park we visited Manistique Central Park which contains a gorgeous Quarry Lake that is stocked for fishing and currently occupied by Canadian Geese. The highlight of the day was enjoying the scenery along the Manistique Boardwalk as we returned to the marina.

Now that we are back at the boat Rick has checked the forecast for the lake and it looks like we will be here for a few more days.  The wind and waves are higher than we like and are coming from the direction we want to go in (South to South-southeast).

 

Mackinaw City to Manistique, MI

September 6-8, 2017 Wednesday-Friday

Sept 6-Wed: Today was another weather day so we decided to walk the 3.5 miles to McGulpin Point Lighthouse which is located on a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac. It was well worth the walk, the grounds were beautiful, the lighthouse was free, and there was a short self-guided tour to the lake, which ended at “the big rock.” Historically “the big rock” was used to monitor the lake levels at the Straits of Mackinaw but today because of high water levels (+28 inches) it is mostly underwater and not as impressive as we expected.

We found it interesting that the 33’ McGulpin Point Lighthouse, built in 1869 and decommissioned in 1906, had only one lighthouse keeper, James Davenport and he always went above and beyond his duties. Since the lakes freeze over in the winter lighthouse keepers were not needed at the lighthouses but a least once a week James would go to the lighthouse and report on its condition to the District Inspector. These letters, now part of the National Archives in Washington, show that he most likely played a critical role in the opening of navigation every spring by reporting on ice conditions in the Straits.

On our way to the lighthouse, we saw a restored Mackinaw Boat that was just beautiful. Mackinaw Boats were used by the fur traders, fishermen, settlers, and lake travelers of the early sixteen hundreds through the early nineteen hundreds. The size and shape of the boats made them perfect for rough seas, easy handling, and landing on any beach.

This weekend will be the 11th Annual Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing and we just happened to walk by the staging area on our way back to the marina. We couldn’t enter the staging area but did watch as truck, after truck, after truck pulled-in to drop off tractors. Last year the event drew an amazing 1,326 tractors.

Sept 7-Thurs: Today we said goodbye to Mackinaw City and hello to Naubinway, MI which is in the upper peninsula of MI. Residents here are frequently called Yoopers (derived from “U.P.-ers.”) Naubinway, founded in 1873 by William Boucha, is located on one of the few natural harbors on the northern shore of Lake Michigan and was once a lumber mecca. When the timber ran out fishing became Naubinway’s main industry. This is the most northern point that we will reach on our journey and is the only western harbor within 40 miles of Mackinaw City.

Tonight, Andiamo is the only boat moored at the Naubinway’s City Marina with the exception of a small sailboat that is well secured but has no one aboard. The marina has water, electricity, and a restroom/shower but no other amenities and is the only marina since we purchased our Wirie wifi booster in December, where we could not access the Internet. The good news is that the sky is full of stars and the weather looks good for traveling tomorrow.

Sept 8-Fri: It was a lovely day on the water, we arrived at Manistique in the early afternoon. We originally tied up in slip 5, on the north side of the marina but could not get acceptable Internet service so we moved Andiamo to the West Side of the marina within site of the Internet antenna, which did the trick.

After a walk around town, we made use of their beautiful boardwalk, which goes 1.3 miles along the city limits on the banks of the Manistique River and Lake Michigan, to go to the grocery store. It was our first supermarket in over a week and we were delighted to be able to purchase fresh veggies.

Mackinac City – Weather Day

September 5, 2017  Wednesday

If a looper doesn’t go out because of weather they call it a weather day. We planned to leave Mackinac City today but the weather forecast kept us in the marina. Fellow Loopers on Steele Away left today but called to tell us we had made the right decision, they made it to their destination but said it was a pretty bumpy ride.

Since we didn’t go out we decided to have a work-day on the boat which kept us busy all day. When we returned to the boat from taking our showers we had a little rainbow. Within twenty minutes the weather was looking a little ominous, hopefully, we can leave tomorrow.

As you can see from the picture it is pretty isolated at the marina tonight. There are 132 slips in the marina and only 4 pleasure boats, we are the only ones on our dock.

Continue reading “Mackinac City – Weather Day”

Mighty Mac on Labor Day

September 4, 2017

Mighty Mac on Labor Day, it’s a tradition! The first Mackinac Bridge Walk was held during the Bridge’s Dedication Ceremony in June 1958. For the 60th time, thousands of Michiganders and visitors gathered together to walk across the Mackinac Bridge from St. Ignace to Mackinaw City. This is the only day of the year that walkers are allowed on the bridge.

Since we arrived we have been watching the preparation for the today’s event. At the Conkling Heritage Park next to our marina, they have been preparing for thousands of people on this side of Mackinac Straits to be bussed to Saint Ignace for the walk and for thousands from the Saint Ignace side to be bused back after the walk. The buses started arriving at 4:00 am this morning and by 4:30 am the first load of walkers left and they continued to leave for the next 5 ½ hours. The walk started at 7:00 am with the Governor and his entourage leading the way. The walk, which is approximately 5 miles takes most participants one to two hours to complete.

All walkers had to be finished by 11:30 am, anyone not off the bridge by then was given a ride in one of the many buses that were used for the event. Normal traffic resumed at noon and by 2:00 pm all of the buses returning walkers to the upper peninsula had left the park.

In terms of overall length, 26,372 feet, the Mackinaw Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the United States, in terms of the suspension portion of the bridge, 8,614 feet, it is the third longest after the Golden Gate Bridge at 4,200 feet and the Verrazano at 4260 feet.

Mackinaw City, MI

September 2-3, 2017  Saturday – Sunday

What you notice first in Mackinaw City are all the T-shirt stands, fudge shops, hotels, and restaurants. But you soon realize that the village has done a great job showcasing the history of the area. There is a two-mile pathway that displays forty-six markers that feature historical displays outlining the history of the city and the Straits area.

Saturday was the Third Annual National Rally & Pipe Out Paddle Protest in Mackinaw City, Michigan and two of the canoes were launched at our marina. It was interesting to get their perspective on the pipeline and to have a close-up view of their canoes.

From our boat, we can see the remains of the Mackinaw City Railroad Dock and the old Coast Guard Icebreaker Mackinac WAGB-83. The railroad dock is where trains were loaded onto ferries to cross the Mackinac Straits. The A-frame device adjusted the height of the tracks to match the decks of the ships for loading and off-loading the trains. The icebreaker, once known at the Queen of the Great Lakes, is now a floating museum. It was fascinating to tour the ship, see the six massive diesel engines, and learn how the ice is broken. They do no bash through the ice, they are designed to ride up on top of the ice. As the ship moves forward, the hull rides up over the ice and the weight of the boat crushes the ice. This process repeats as the icebreaker clears a channel.

It was interesting to see three of the guns from the most famous ship in the Union Navy, the U.S.S. Hartford in Mackinaw City. You may remember me mentioning the U.S.S. Hartford in December as Rear-Admiral David G. Farragut’s ship in the Battle of Mobile Bay.

 

 

 

Mackinac Island to Mackinaw City, MI

September 1, 2017   Friday

An early morning trip to the post office to mail postcards and we were ready to leave our turbulent Mackinac Island moorage for the calmer waters at Straits State Harbor Marina at Mackinaw City, MI. Wait, which is it Mackinaw or Mackinac? The Natives of this area, the area of Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island, St. Ignace and the Straits of Mackinac, called the land Michinni-makinong, when the French arrived around 1715 they called it Michilimackinac, ending in “ac” but pronounced as “aw,” the name was shortened to Mackinac in 1780. Establishing a city in 1857 the British, hearing the “aw” named the new city Mackinaw. Either way, Mackinaw or Mackinac, they are both pronounced with the “aw.”

This has been by far, our shortest day on the water, only seven miles. We are in calm water, at a less expensive, although better, marina. We will spend Labor Day weekend here and if weather permits enter Lake Michigan on Tuesday.

According to the Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce, this area has routinely been rated the #1 tourist destination in Michigan, that comes as a surprise to us so it will be interesting to check it out, we are looking forward exploring the area.

Mackinac Island, MI

August 30-31 Wednesday & Thursday

What a fun two days, if you do not count the sleepless nights while the boat was rocking and rolling and the lines were squeaking from the wakes of the ferries coming in and out of the harbor. It is by the ferries that most people arrive on Mackinac Island to enjoy the serenity of life without motor vehicles. On Mackinac Island cars have been banned since 1898 and, except for a few emergency vehicles, the only transportation on the island is by foot, bicycle, or horse, be it horseback riding or a horse drawn carriage, thus the tempo of the island is more comparable to the 19th century than today’s world. At least that is true in the summer, if you look closely you can see a few snowmobiles hidden away waiting for winter. In the winter the snowmobiles are used not only for travel around the island but also to cross the Straits of Mackinaw when it freezes.  The trouble is the Straits have not frozen solid enough the last two winters.

Wednesday we put on our hiking boots and set out to explore the southern tip of the Island. The island is small enough that we could have easily walked the entire circumference, about eight miles, if there weren’t so many beautiful sites to explore along the way: the Grand Hotel which has the longest front porch in the world at 660 feet, Fort Mackinaw a former British and American military outpost, Arch Rock, a natural limestone arch which stands 146 feet over the Lake Huron coastline, and Mackinac State Park to mention a few. We were also enchanted by the beautiful homes and lovely gardens of the island.

Thursday we rented a two person horse drawn carriage from Jack’s Livery Stable to explore the northern portion of the island. We could have rented bicycles but I wanted to have the experience of driving a horse drawn carriage, I don’t think I had fully thought through just what my view would be (see pictures). We had a blast, riding around and exploring the rest of the island, including Harrisonville, nicknamed the “Village” where most of the year round residents live. Most of the 550+ islanders that live on Mackinaw Island year round call the Village home and many of their families have lived there for generations. The island school has about eighty students that either walk or ride their bicycles to school, except in the winter when the snowmobiles come out of hiding to transport students.
As we were going through village a lady run up to our carriage and convinced Rick to give her his camera she then ran ahead of us and took our picture about fifteen minutes later, as we were passing the Grand Hotel she again ran up, took our camera, and insisted we needed a picture of us in front of the Grand. She was such a hoot and I thanked her for going out of her way to get that picture for us.

As we were going through village a lady run up to our carriage and convinced Rick to give her his camera she then ran ahead of us and took our picture about fifteen minutes later, as we were passing the Grand Hotel she again ran up, took our camera, and insisted we needed a picture of us in front of the Grand. She was such a hoot and I thanked her for going out of her way to get that picture for us.

After we returned our beloved horse Barney and the carriage to Jake’s we retreated to Andiamo to get warm and have lunch. Riding around the Island was fun but the wind had chilled us to the bone and we wanted to have lunch where we could control the thermostat.

Our morning might have been a bone-chilling experience but the afternoon had us stripping off our jackets as we enjoyed the tropical heat of the Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House. The museum was the first of its kind in Michigan and is the third oldest live butterfly exhibit in the United States. The 1800 square foot tropical garden is full of tropical plants and hundreds of live butterflies. It was so peaceful to just enjoy watching the butterflies, the exception to that was the boy who was tearing the wings off a butterfly and a mother who couldn’t understand why her daughter could not use her butterfly net.

As we left the tropical butterfly garden we entered the insect world and I marveled, as always, at the way Rick has with kids as he helped them find out how the bees left their hive, where the tarantulas were hiding, and what branch the tree frog was on.

MACKINAC ISLAND’S ORIGINAL BUTTERFLY HOUSE AND INSECT MUSEUM