Monday morning was rainy so I spent the early
morning on my computer and talking with other guests on the Windermere
Hotel porch. There were still some nice photo opportunities, including
the 1,000' Stewart J. Cort passing on its way to Lake Superior.
We packed, checked out and arranged for our luggage to be transported to
the mainland. By 11AM the rain had let up and we decided to take the shuttle
from the nearby ferry docks to Mission Point. The carriage driver warned
us that his team was very slow and that if we were in a hurry, we might
wish to walk, but I wanted to take some videos on the ride and we went
with him anyway.
Mackinac Island Main Street
The shuttle driver was right, Logan & Spanky were
even slower than Bill the day before, and the ride was so slow that the
videos didn't turn out interesting. But it was still pleasant and I took
advantage of the ride to take many still photos. 30 minutes later we arrived
at Mission Point. I took some new photos of the resort and stopped
inside to chat with the concierge, Pat Driscoll, who we came to know three
years ago when we stayed at Mission Point. I enjoyed getting caught up
on things happening on the Island, but a little disappointed to learn that
her dog, Nick, who has become famous for keeping the geese off the Great
Lawn, was home for a break.
We walked back downtown, stopping for photos and to check
out the Icehouse restaurant at Island House hotel. They have no
inside seating and it was still cold and windy enough that we continued
to the main business district. Lunch was at the Broken Spoke, which
has been operating for two years in the old Huron Street Pub & Grill
location. We had a trio of appetizers: whitefish dip, crab rangoon and
French onion French fries.
Whitefish dip, crab rangoon and French onion loaded French
fries at Broken Spoke
We returned to St. Ignace on the Felicity, the
same Shepler's ferry we came over on two days earlier. Today there were
high winds and waves and everyone sat downstairs while cold spray kept
reaching the upper deck on the outside.
We drove up and down State Street for some photography
before I drove back over the Mackinac Bridge, while Linda took pictures.
Back in Mackinaw City, we checked into the Riviera Motel,
this time into 212, the room above the one we stayed in on Thursday &
Friday. This room has a very slightly better view and a little more privacy,
but I missed the nicer bathroom below and it was no fun bringing our heavy
luggage up the outdoor stairs.
We spent the rest of the afternoon working on our computers,
looking out the window at some of the biggest waves I have ever seen in
the Straits of Mackinac, and occasionally slipping outside for photos.
Waves rolling in near Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry's Miss Margy in high seas
Supper was at our favorite fine dinning restaurant in
Mackinaw City or St. Ignace, the Chippewa Room at Audie's Restaurant.
We were a little disappointed to discover that they no
longer bring a complimentary crock of Edgar's Beer Cheese (a blend of cheddar
cheese, bleu cheese and Labatt Blue) to the table. At the end of the meal,
we asked about getting an order of the Beer Cheese to go and our server
brought us an 8 ounce tub of the cheese plus two sleeves of crackers. They
went well while watching the bridge and water at our motel.
I ordered a smelt appetizer, which was a heaping plate
of unusually small deep fried smelt. I rarely get smelt anymore and thoroughly
enjoyed it. For our main dishes I had Cajun whitefish with Lyonnaise potatoes
and Linda had planked whitefish with Duchess potatoes. I was surprised
at how much I enjoyed the Lyonnaise potatoes, which were like particularly
good hash browns. The Chippewa room never does a bad job on fresh fish
and the meal lived up to our expectations.
I washed mine down with an Octorock Starcut Cider from
Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire, Michigan. It was only medium sweet
and went very well with the fish.
It was a very nice meal in a north woods elegant setting,
with two appetizers and one alcoholic beverage for only $80! It seemed
a particular bargain after the prices of meals on Mackinac Island.
Chippewa Room at Audie's Restaurant
Deep fried smelt
Cajun whitefish and planked whitefish
Edgar's Beer Cheese
We followed diner with stops to take photos of the Mighty
Mac and the high waves from various angles, before returning to the Riviera
Motel to watch the bridge until dark while playing Race for the Galaxy
and Carcassonne against each other online. Once again the lights were out
on the south half of the bridge cable, so I didn't bother with more photos
after dark.
Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) flying along Wawatam Beach in
Mackinaw City with Fort Michilimackinac
and the Mackinac Bridge in the background on a windy day. Prints
of this Photo
McGulpin Point on the west side of Mackinaw City
McGulpin Rock is a 34 foot circumference rock was left by the glaciers
and is estimated to weigh about 54 tons.
