08-30-06 @ 7:48 am EDT

All right...this is the big Mackinac Island entry(ies?) for 2006. Fair warning for anyone who can't stand extremely long blithering accounts of visiting an island, you would hate this entry.

I mentioned in my previous entry how my psychologist had suggested that, as a way of facing some of my fears, I go to Mackinac Island completely on my own--including the ferry ride there and back. I balked at this idea, but plans to head over there with Ma just weren't working out due to her schedule and the weather and everything. I really, REALLY have to visit the island at least once a year, so I brought this suggestion up when our original plans fell through (she HAD to go to bingo the day I wanted to go, you see, because the world would have ended if she hadn't; that, and the jackpot was up); once she heard that Psychologist had suggested it she was willing to try it out. She would drive me to Shepler's Ferry before work and pick me up after work, which would give me plenty of time to do all my stuff. I have no real trouble wandering around the island on my own. It's just interacting with people that makes me anxious. Since I mostly avoid people whenever I'm there, it seemed that buying the tickets for the ferry would present the greatest challenge out of the entire trip.

For some reason we always take Shepler's Ferry. I don't know why this is. Arnold and Star Line are about the same in terms of price and speed. Even Charmian takes Shepler's in Manitou Island. *shrug*

Hm, I just noticed they misspelled "Star Line Fery" on my map.

Anyway, the weather was looking good for Monday, August 28th. To go a week later would be madness because of Labor Day, when like a gazillion people walk across the Mackinac Bridge. I have to admit, I wasn't terribly excited about going...mostly because I hate disrupting my daily schedule, and I was anxious about doing it all alone. As I sat in my room early that morning and plotted the route I was to take, and got my stuff together, though, I started to warm to it.

I planned originally to head somewhat east to see the Forest King, then make my way up the middle of the island and out to Cave of the Woods, then back down the middle of the island to Leslie Avenue, along the East Bluff, head down Spring Trail at Arch Rock, and seek along the east shore for any remaining signs of the destroyed Fairy Arch. I early on omitted my plans for the Forest King though, and decided that I would head straight up toward Cave of the Woods. I can see the Forest King another year; I was anxious to find out if they've blocked off Cave of the Woods, like they did Skull Cave. I feel a close connection to COTW because that's where one of my favorite characters, Moon Wolf, lives in my writing. (The fictional COTW is a lot roomier.)

That morning when Dad left for work he told me to be careful and not wear Ma out; I informed him that she wasn't coming. He gave me this odd look when I said I was going over there alone. "The ferry and everything?" he said, and I said, "If I can." He seemed skeptical (I can't blame him, I was too), but wished me luck and left.

I woke Ma at 7:30 AM. There was this really heavy fog. We left around 8:15. When we pulled in at Shepler's, I asked Ma if she would at least come in to help me buy the ticket; she said no--"All or nothing!" -_- So I had to leave her behind and head in. I intended to go to the bathroom and wait for the next ferry, but just as I walked in a voice over the loudspeaker said they were boarding, so I decided that the bathroom could wait until the island since the ride is only about 16 minutes. I went to get my ticket. Prices have gone WAY up since last year, from $16 to $20...gas prices, I guess. There were a couple of obvious fudgies there (fudgie: noun--obnoxious tourist of the most touristy sort; etymology--from their habit of stopping by the island to look at the Grand Hotel, buy some fudge, and head back home without knowing that another 95% of the island exists) who would not stop BLATHERING and BLATHERING. Finally they left and I stepped up to the counter and told the woman I wanted a round-trip ticket.

"Staying the day?" she asked. I nodded. "That'll be $20." I pulled out a $20 bill; I'd had a five ready as well, because I thought they might tax it, but I guess not. "Last ferry leaves the island at nine," she said, to which I nodded and received my ticket, and went on my way. I was probably the easiest customer she had all day.

People were already getting on the ferry; it wasn't very many. I handed my ticket to the...ferry guy...*shrug*...who tore part off and told me thank you, then I sought a seat on the lower deck. I used to enjoy sitting on the upper, outdoors deck, but I now have a thing against being constantly doused with frigid water, go figure. I sat on the right side and scootched right up to the window to mind my own business. Gradually more people came along, including some Asian fudgies--Vietnamese, I think--who sat right behind me and tended to talk QUITE LOUDLY AND STRIDENTLY every so often. An abnormal number of other fudgies--most of them elderly--stood up throughout the entire trip, one of them even heading upstairs and downstairs between decks now and then, despite the captain's notice to SIT YOUR ASS DOWN DURING THE TRIP! Morons. They seemed quite interested in seeing the bridge but the fog was such that it wasn't visible from here.

The fog made the water look quite strange. It was a rippling mixture of pale powder blue and pale pinkish-lavender. I wondered if there was the teeniest chance that the ferry would end up on a completely different Island altogether, but of course it didn't. -_- I know it's rather lame and borderline unstable to wonder if you'll end up in one of your own stories, but you can't stop me from hoping.

The old man who kept wandering between decks kept questioning the ferry guy who stood belowdeck with us. "How long does the trip take?"

"Usually about sixteen minutes, though it might take longer today due to the fog."

I stared at an island out the window, thinking to myself, "That hump is Fort Holmes"...it was only when I noticed everybody staring out the OTHER side windows that I glanced and saw that the island was over THAT way. o_o;;; So what island was I staring at that whole time?? How embarrassing.

We reached the island without incident of course, and I made my way out to Main Street and immediately headed in the direction of Marquette Park. There's an information booth not far from there, and bathrooms nearby, so that would be my first stop. I glanced around at the buildings to see what I could recognize. I saw Horn's Bar and might have spied the webcam they have perched high atop the building; I stared at it as I went by. Wonder if anybody saw me. I saw the Haunted Theater, which was closed; hm. I saw the Lilac Hotel, beneath which the Island Bookstore is located--I know this because the bookmark I've been using for the past several months is from there and says right on it that the Island Bookstore is located beneath the Lilac Hotel; so if I had time to visit there, I would do so later, because I didn't want to be burdened with additional weight. I think I almost passed the restrooms and had to double back a bit because they're quite inconspicuous. The street was already busy even this early in the morning. I think it was just after 9:30. It's weird, because every time I tune in to Horn's Cam it never looks that busy. :/

The first part of my route was to head up Fort Street and on to Custer Road. Fort Street I was not looking forward to, because it's so steep that there's a "No Bicycles" warning...but it was even worse than I remembered. I wasn't even partway up this short street before I felt like giving up completely!! _-_ I had to keep stopping and pretending to admire the view while I was surreptitiously gasping for breath and feeling like an utter out-of-shape idiot. I at last managed to drag my way up it, though the incline, while not as steep, still persisted as I came to a gate which said, "Entry to Fort Mackinac." That panicked me briefly because I did not WANT to enter Fort Mackinac! Fortunately it was yet another of the island's misleading signs...I slipped through the fence and saw more signs pointing to a path off to my right, while the path ahead of me was clear and apparently free to use. I really, really hate how they do that.

I headed onto Custer Road next. This is a nice scenic if horribly named route which leads to Garrison Road, which takes one halfway up the middle of the island before morphing into British Landing Road. Ha ha, look at me, I can sound all knowledgeable and tour guidey and stuff. Custer Road leads past a path known as "Cupid's Pathway," which I thought had been renamed long ago...but no, there was a sign declaring that I was passing "Cupid's Pathway." O_o I had to keep looking at my map just to make sure I was heading the right way, because I almost headed down that way. I kept on Custer Road. It leads right past Ste. Anne's Cemetery, so as I drew upon this and saw the fancy stone gate and old headstones, I figured, why not snap a few shots, I haven't been here since like 2000. So I slipped in through a little open side gate beside the main gate and started looking around a little.

I didn't really have it in me to spend a half hour browsing headstones so intended to look around just a little. I saw a conspicuous marker ahead and went to read it.

Interesting. I only now just noticed how very young she was when she died.

I photographed this, including some scenery behind it in the shot, as I thought that was her grave. But it turned out her headstone was in fact to the other side, and I photographed that and another Biddle grave that stood beside it. I took a few more shots, then decided to get going. I got a "low battery" warning on the camera so stopped to exchange them for some of the batteries Ma had given me from the dollar store. I decided to try to be a BIT more frugal with how much I used the camera, though I wasn't worried. It's a new camera, BTW, another model of Canon PowerShot to replace the last one (recall the Black Lake entry...?), which has apparently started shorting out as it turns itself off and on at whim, and can't be used whatsoever whenever it's acting up. *sigh* Well, this one is a 4 megapixel as compared to the old one's 2 megapixels, so I was hoping the photo quality would be better and perhaps I could post free stock photos at DeviantArt, not that anyone would care for them. *shrug* Thing is, the photos are about a megabyte each and we have only a 46.6kbps connection, and that's on a GOOD day...so uploading all the shots I've taken will take me ages. x_x Thankfully, I'd gotten a 2gig card along with it.

I left the cemetery, passing an interesting-looking grave set among some very tall bushes or cedars/arbor vitae. I decided not to photograph that, but when I aimed at some nearby woods, I got a "low battery" warning yet again! Confused, I tried to take another photo, only for the camera to turn itself off. I turned it on again, and this time the LCD snootily ordered me to "Change the batteries" before turning itself off again. These brand-new batteries which I'd only just opened that morning...wouldn't let me take even ONE shot!

I halted alongside the cemetery wall and took the batteries out and tried two more from the same pack. But the result was the exact same. I couldn't take a single photo. I started to panic. I was already far enough out of town that heading back--and especially having to head back UP Fort Street on my return--would put a serious dent in my schedule, as well as strain my muscles and lungs more than I thought I could stand! I fought to think of what I should do. There was no way I could continue any further as it was--I was on my way to Cave of the Woods and needed to take pictures. It was only after ten o'clock!

I pulled out my map and looked at it with much anxiety. Well...it would involve heading BACK down Custer Road, turning right on Carriage Road and cutting through Cupid's Pathway, and heading on to Surrey Hill Square. The last time I passed this place was back in 2001, and all I remembered of it was horses in a field. But I'd read that they had a working blacksmith there, and a gift shop. Perhaps there I might luck out and find some batteries. I hoped. Surrey Hill was the closest place I could think of...after that, there would be nothing until British Landing, way at the other end of the island, which has just a concession stand-type place and restrooms. -_-

My feet heavy, I turned and headed back, feeling angry and upset and stupid. Only like an hour into my trip and already it was messing up! I made sure to tell myself to inform Ma NEVER to buy batteries from a dollar place ever again. Stupid things. Should get our dollar back.

I at last made it to Surrey Hill, but once I reached it I was quite confused. There were two main buildings here, an animal enclosure, lots of people, gardens, and probably stables off to the further side (I didn't really look). I saw what I assumed was the gift shop, but there was a long line of people waiting out front so I could tell they were waiting to take part in something--either a carriage ride or a glimpse at the blacksmith. Waiting in line was not what I wanted so I figured that could not be the gift shop after all. The other place...I had no clue WHAT the hell it was. It looked like a gift shop too, but I couldn't be sure. So I just stood there very confused and wondering what to do. I didn't even know if any of these places even HAD batteries in the first place.

I started tentatively making my way closer to the buildings. I wanted to make a beeline but there was nice grass and nice paths and I figured they'd get pissed off if I cut through the grass so I had to meander around a bit. I spotted an island worker carrying a bucket full of somethings like sticks or shovels or something and gnawed on my lip a bit before moving an inch toward him to try to catch his eye. Ugh, I felt so incredibly STUPID. >_<

"Excuse me," I finally called out in a very small voice, and fortunately he slowed down and looked at me. "Do you know where I might find some batteries?"

"Batteries?" He cast a thoughtful look around, then gestured at the buildings. "They sell batteries up there at the Surrey Hill shop."

"Thanks," I said, and he went on his way. Well...at least I knew they had batteries here, so my detour wasn't in vain. Thing was...I didn't know which was the Surrey Hill shop!! >_<;