Downtown Mackinac Island photographed from Cass Cliff just west of Fort Mackinac Friday - Day 9 (July 21, 2023) I was out early to enjoy Mackinac Island while
it is quiet before the day trippers arrive. I walked the 130 or so stair
steps up to the East Bluff from Marquette Park and took many photos. I
walked past the back of the fort and the Michigan Governor's Summer Residence
and back down to the park to be in position to record the boy scout flag
raising ceremony at 9:30. Unfortunately a large riding mower in Marquette
Park spoiled the recording.
Back at the Chippewa Hotel, we packed our bags and arranged for dockporter Archie Horn to see that our luggage would be waiting when we returned to Mackinac Island.
It was a little before the dining room would open for the day at the Pink Pony (at the same hotel) so I put our name in. They text you when your table becomes available and you have 3 minutes to be there. I really wish they would allow guest staying at the Chippewa Hotel to make reservations in the restaurant. Lunch was on the deck. We had whitefish fingers and smoked whitefish spread (Yes we eat a lot of whitefish when we are at the Straits of Mackinac!). It is a lovely setting and I enjoyed the meal.
Returning to Mackinaw City, we took the shuttle back to the Rivera Motel and returned to the same room we stayed in earlier in the week. The only thing we did in the afternoon was drive down to Cheboygan to tour the Cheboygan Front Range Light, which is maintained and kept open to visitors by the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association.
Back at the motel later in the afternoon, we were relaxing on the balcony when a Lockheed C-130 Hercules passed over just off shore at a very low height. The 552' high Mackinac Bridge tower is nearby and this plane was considerably lower than the tower. A second plane followed it, a little higher, and we finally reacted and snapped pictures. The planes passed over the Mackinac Bridge a block farther west and it must have been terrifying for some of the drivers on the bridge.
Supper was at the Chippewa Room at Audie's Restaurant, the last of the restaurants we try to always visit in Mackinaw City. Linda had very good fried walleye and I had BBQ baby back ribs which were the first dish which has ever disappointed me at the Chippewa Room. Fortunately I had added 4 sauteed perch to it (for only $5!), which were best fish which I had on the trip.
In the evening we visited Ron and Debbie Tripp, who we have come to know in the past couple of years because Ron provides many photos which are used on the Mighty Mac Facebook page. They have built a lovely home on Wawatam Beach on the west side of Mackinaw City and we enjoyed wine, good conversation and the views sitting near the shore.
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