The weather is more pleasant this morning and
we enjoyed the view from our room until 10:30AM when we had to be out of
the room at the Riviera Motel. I really wish they allowed a little later
checkout! Around Mackinaw City, we bought whitefish spread at Big Stone
Bay Fishery to take home and fudge at Joann's Fudge as a gift to family.
Big Stone Bay Fishery
Lunch was at one of the Mackinaw City restaurants where
we try to eat every time we are in town, Scalawags Whitefish & Chips.
This popular little restaurant has been on the market for sale for over
a year and their many customers are grateful that the owner is keeping
it open while he attempts to sell the business.
We had a perch dinner and a two piece whitefish dinner.
The fries, coleslaw and hush puppies are all good, but the fish is the
star of the show. Not necessary the best of the trip, but both fish dishes
were among the best.
Perch dinner and 2 piece whitefish dinner
Before leaving town, we stopped to get a look at the interior
of Brigadoon, a large B&B built onto a home that I occasionally played
in as a child. We may host an extended family gathering at the Straits
of Mackinac in a year or two and this is a location we are considering.
It seemed weird to be leaving Mackinaw City before we
were leaving the area, but I wish to post more things about St. Ignace
on the Mighty
Mac Facebook Page and felt that spending a night on the St. Ignace
side would be an opportunity to improve on that. We started with a visit
to Kewadin Shores Casino, which I had not been in since 2011 when my father
passed away. Then we drove south through town, stopping at interesting
looking businesses and spots along the shore and many of my favorite places
to photograph the Mighty Mac from the north side.
Commercial fishing boat Laura Ann
The Mighty Mac from Lakeside Cemetery
We stopped by the St. Ignace Coast Guard station
and walked out on the nearby Pier 3 at Pier 3 Park. The end of the dock
at the Coast
Guard Tug Biscayne Bay moors is off limits to all because it is
the home of one of the largest colonies of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo)
in the upper Great Lakes, but from Pier 3 you can watch the upper Great
Lakes largest Common Tern colony, 400' away at the Coast Guard station.
Common Terns on the end of Pier 3 (Prints
of this Photo)
Terns in the nesting colony
Finally it was time to check in and we went to the Super
8 by Wyndham St. Ignace on US-2 west of town. The city of St. Ignace
is built around a bay facing the back of Mackinac Island and there are
few businesses with a view of the Mackinac Bridge. The Super 8 has the
best view of any motel on this side and has been on my radar for a couple
of year. I had reserved a room there in May of 2020, but that trip was
canceled by Covid.
We had Room 112, which had a decent view of the Mackinac
Bridge, but because of trees, rooms a few doors farther west, perhaps 107,
would probably have a better view. The room was comfortable, clean and
more roomy than any we had for the past week. The balcony had just two
plastic chairs. I settled onto the balcony, but discovered that it was
much different than sitting at the Riviera Motel. The view was great, but
it was like looking at a picture. At the Riviera we were also looking at
the ferries, traffic, birds, people and the movement of the water.
View of the Mighty Mac from the Super 8
After about 20 minutes, I went into the room. I still
liked the view and every hour or so I would look out and take a few photos.
Before supper, we took a drive along the shore west of
the Mackinac Bridge, farther than I usually drive and I took many photos
of the bird rookeries on Green Island (also known as Gull Island) a 1,200'
unpopulated Island off Point La Barbe.
Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) on Green Island,
west of the Mighty Mac
Ring-billed Gulls and a swan
A sail boat moored off shore
On a Tuesday night in June, we thought it would be easy
getting a table at The Gangplank Pub & Grub, but they took our
cell phone number and told us it would be about 45 minutes. We took a walk
along the harbor across the street photographing Wawatam Light and
returned to wait. The time stamp on my photos tells me that it took exactly
an hour.
This was first time I had dined at this 6 year old restaurant
and we ordered gator bites, whitefish tacos and Angry Poor Boy (Jumbo Shrimp
dusted in Cajun seasoning & deep fried, served on a grilled French
bun with angry mayo, lettuce, tomato & marinated cucumbers. We enjoyed
it all and would eat there again, but this doesn't make my short list of
restaurants I must visit around the Straits.
Wawatam Light
Whitefish tacos and a shrimp poboy
It was my birthday, but instead of having a dessert here,
we went to Zak & Mac's Chocolate Haus, which we had noticed
during the afternoon. I enjoyed my butter pecan and Mackinac Island Peanut
Butter Fudge ice cream at a table in the pocket park next door. I REALLY
liked the scoop of Mackinac Island Peanut Butter Fudge!
Zak & Mac's Chocolate Haus
After a few dusk photos of the Mackinac Bridge, we returned
to our room. About 11PM I looked out at the Bridge and saw it lighted a
way I never have before. The bright, slightly more than half moon was providing
back lighting and the moonlight was shinning on the water. Better yet,
the south cable lights were finally working again After taking photo from
the motel. I drove down to the shore and took photos from a couple more
angles.
I want to return to this side the next time we are at
the Straits of Mackinac in a full moon.
The Mackinac Bridge from near the Super 8 Motel
Moon over the Mackinac Bridge from the shore
