Mackinaw City

Before departing from our motel in Blind River, we had an interesting conversation with our next-door neighbors, two Canadians riding beautifully customized Harley-Davidson motorcycles on their way to Quebec City. The bikes were immaculate, gleaming in the morning sun, and I had no idea that motorcycles like these could cost a small fortune.

As we continued west, we passed several Mennonite settlements and stopped at one of their furniture showrooms. The craftsmanship was remarkable. Chairs, tables, bed frames, cabinets, nightstands, and other pieces, mostly handcrafted from maple, showcased exceptional quality and precision.

After reaching Sault Ste. Marie, we headed south and crossed back into the United States. What followed was a long and rather monotonous stretch of Interstate 75 with little to see. To make matters worse, we suddenly lost our cell phone signal, and Apple CarPlay disappeared from the dashboard. What a nuisance! Fortunately, things became much more interesting as we approached and crossed the impressive four-mile-long Mackinac Bridge on our way to Mackinaw City.

After six days on the road, our gas tank was running dangerously low, so we stopped at a Shell station and filled up at $4.25 per gallon. Nearby, we found a family restaurant where we enjoyed a quick lunch before continuing to our hotel.

Once again, we arrived far too early for check-in. To pass the time, we visited the nearby Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, which is no longer in operation and now serves as a museum. Attached to the lighthouse is a two-story brick residence that once housed the keeper and his family. Inside, a narrow spiral staircase of 50 steps leads to the observation deck, where four round porthole windows provide views of the surrounding area.

Next, we located the ferry parking area for tomorrow morning’s trip to Mackinac Island. By then, it was already 5:30 p.m., and since we were near the harbor, we decided to enjoy an early dinner at The Hook Lakeside Grill.

After dinner, we took a stroll along the waterfront. We admired a massive U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker docked nearby and then came upon a large outdoor orchestra rehearsing for the upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations. Listening to the music as the evening sun settled over the harbor felt like the perfect ending to day seven of our journey.Read more