08-18-07 @ 1:01 pm EDT

I keep forgetting to post this. ^_^; Oops.

Started 8/11/07

Hi everybody! *waves* I went to Mackinac Island on Wednesday (8/8/07) and now that I'm mostly recovered I'll type up the journal entry about it! :D

For those who may be new to my journal, this is a yearly ritual of mine, similar to wishing Damien happy birthday only more longwinded. Each year I go on a daylong visit to Mackinac Island, a nearby tourist spot, to take loads of pictures and walk around and enjoy myself, then I come home and after recovering (because walking around for hours almost nonstop takes its toll on me) I type up a big journal entry. One of my trips there was so detailed it took like three entries! Hopefully this won't be anywhere near that long. Anyway. Mackinac Island is world famous, but IMO not enough people know about it, so I spend a lot of my online time trying to show it off (you can see lots of pictures of it at my DA account if you're willing to page through my gallery for quite a while). It's just a tiny island, only about eight miles around the shore, but I love it to death and it's what I based my fantasy "Manitou Island" on. It's also quite full of history and is sacred to the Indians of the area. Thing is, the southern part, in town, is a horrid tourist trap and you have to break away from that to really appreciate the place. Most tourists who go there have a special name--"fudgies"--because they stop by the island just long enough to buy some fudge (an island specialty), take a pic of the Grand Hotel, and then go home without realizing how much MORE there is to the place. I have no personal connections on the island but I always hope I don't come across as a fudgie (though I likely look just like one with my ever-present map and camera!).

Anyway...now that that history's out of the way, it wasn't until the last minute that I came up with any sort of "itinerary" for my trip this year, because I honestly wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I just wanted to walk around the woods by myself and take pictures of trees because that's what I like to do most, and honestly, I already have photos of most of the public landmarks there. How many pictures can one take of Arch Rock without wanting to throw up, right? But the night before going I printed out a map and decided on a basic trip of visiting the Turtle's Back (the highest point of the island, so called because "Mackinac" means "Snapping Turtle"), then wandering down and taking Swamp Trail, possibly visiting Friendship's Altar and Croghan Water again, on to British Landing for a brief rest, and then back around the west shore past Devil's Kitchen and on into town. I also wanted to visit the Island Bookstore again, of course. :P

Ma dropped me off at Shepler's Ferry--ticket prices were $21 this year--and I caught the Hope and went to sit on the lower deck since it hadn't warmed up thoroughly yet. It was still considerably cloudy but there were holes in the clouds here and there and the sun poking through them was absolutely gorgeous with how it sparkled on the water. Most everyone else was paying attention to the Mackinac Bridge, on the ferry's other side, which had been featured just the previous night (I think?) on Dirty Jobs (they briefly showed Mackinac Island from above but didn't mention it by name, phooey!). Dunno how many people on the ferry actually SAW that, but...anyway. I took a few pics of the water and sky through the window though I didn't expect them to turn out, though looking at them now, aside from being a bit crooked, they look rather nice. Too bad I didn't try for more! I do have a 2gig card.

We reached the island and I made my way to Main Street and started immediately on my way east. My map showed someplace I've never been before, the "State Park Visitor Center," and seeing as Psychologist and I have been talking about me maybe trying to look up somebody who's an authority on the island to talk with, I thought that might be one of the best places to look. Turns out they also had restrooms there, so I decided to go there rather than the little restrooms they have by the Tourism Bureau info booth where I usually go instead. The visitor center was straight across from Marquette Park, which as usual marked the beginning of my itinerary.

Well, the visitor center was a bust because it turns out it's just a little...visitor center. There are displays of various things having to do with island life and history--I gravitated immediately to the area on natural history and saw stuffed animals and samples of brecciated limestone (wondering to myself, "Did this come from some of the landmarks they BLEW UP?")--and there were island- and Michigan-related publications for sale--something I told myself to keep in mind--but that was about it. It was just a simple place for newcomers to stop in and learn a bit--not what a seasoned visitor like myself was looking for. I figured the clerk behind the counter wouldn't know much more than I already did so didn't bother her and just went to use the restroom. I then exited and crossed the street to Marquette Park, stopping by the statue of Father Marquette long enough to take a few pics--and learn from a tour guide passing nearby that Father Marquette's face is in fact not Father Marquette's, as nobody knows what he looked like, so the sculptor based it on his own face (!)--before making my way to Crow's Nest Trail, the almost-hidden stairway which leads up the bluff beside Fort Mackinac and on to Cass Cliff and Anne's Tablet.

I had an uneventful climb, being the only one there, though I did see what looked to be a small hole or tiny cave high up in the cliffside and attempted taking pics though most came out blurry. When I reached the top I had to pause to gain my bearings since I didn't want to get lost; I didn't recognize the trails but I did see the Cass Memorial, which I knew I had to pass, so I went that way. This is RIGHT near private property and there was a guy lounging around so I felt self-conscious and just glanced at the memorial wall without taking pictures. I got onto Huron Road and headed for Garrison Road, which it turns into further north. Garrison Road meets up with the North Bicycle Trail, which I intended to take a brief stroll down to see if I could find the Forest King--a large pine tree--again, and leave him a tobacco offering. I think I did find him, though he wasn't as impressive as I'd remembered him and I'm honestly not 100% sure if it was the same tree. O_o;; So that was kind of embarrassing; I mean, I almost passed him before looking and thinking, "Hey, there's a big pine tree..." and I even walked a bit further because I hadn't remembered him being so nearby. Well, I told myself this must be him and left some tobacco, apologized in case I was wrong ^_^; and headed back to Garrison Road. This led me past Fort Mackinac at a distance, and the Rifle Range, and I reached Skull Cave.

Nope, I didn't even take one shot. ;P I already have pics of the cave, and it's still blocked off from the public, as it always will be. I wanted to climb up toward the top of the island (Skull Cave rests at the bottom of the Turtle's Back and is thus one of the oldest caves on the island), but not by taking Watch-Your-Step Trail, that horrendous set of stairs that goes on FOREVER. I was going to take (Alexander) Henry Trail instead--I heard another tour guide mentioning him to tourists as they passed the cave ("So of course, Henry didn't want to be anywhere near this place at this time..."), simply because I'd never taken it before. This was a quite small gravel/dirt trail that led up past the side of Skull Cave and seemingly vanished into the trees.

I was kind of leery of this as I felt it might get very steep, and I'm terrified of heights. Still, I got on the trail and it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd thought. In fact it was certainly easier than Watch-Your-Step Trail! I wound my way up the bluff, stopping occasionally to take pics (rocks were piled along the left side of the trail to form a sort of wall, and the bluff rose to the right), until the trail reached Fort Holmes Road and I was officially atop the island. Woohoo.

A plane flew over and I attempted taking a picture of it.

Nope, I didn't head toward Fort Holmes. I did see what I thought was a trail leading to the side of it, but when I saw that there was a modern building there, I backed off as it was likely private property, maybe something to do with where they get their water or electricity or dump their trash or something; I did hear a horrendous cawing of crows the entire time I was ascending the trail. *shrug* I had decided ahead of time that I wished to take Morning Snack Trail, just because I'd never taken it before and I've already visited the other main trail up there, Beechwood. I was surprised by how well my back was holding up, seeing as it had been my major concern. See, I've put on a LOT of weight since starting my meds, and the last time I walked an extended distance, my lower back KILLED me. Even going outside and moving around for a few minutes makes it act up. I'd taken a three-hour walk along the old railroad tracks near my house and had barely made it home, so spending six-plus hours on the island worried me; but I'd already been walking about two hours and so far was doing fine! I thought perhaps it was just the fact that I liked the island so much that helped. Heck, it's as good a theory as anything.

I took lots of shots along Morning Snack Trail--nothing terribly eventful, just lots of lovely trees, some toppled, some with big boles (?), etc. I paused now and then to breathe in the air and when the wind gusted through the leaves I stopped to shut my eyes and listen, imagining, as I had the last time I'd been here, the sound of glacial Lake Algonquin's waves washing over the hunk of rock that formed the prehistoric island. As before, the sound of planes taking off and landing at the island airport ruined the effect a bit, and the wind didn't last very long so I went on my way.

I at last reached where Morning Snack Trail began its proper descent of the bluff...and halted. This thing...was STEEP! o_o;;; I stood there in shock for several minutes, staring at Cliffview Trail below, and panicked briefly. You see, while I don't have much difficulty getting UP things, I have all SORTS of difficulty getting DOWN! I have honestly climbed up ladders and then had to be rescued! Just climbing on top of the toilet to reach something on a shelf makes me quake! I'm just so deathly afraid of heights, and now here I had to take one to reach the right trail to continue.

I whined to myself, and at last started tentatively down the trail. I made it several steps, kicking away loose gravel before setting down each footstep so I wouldn't go sliding. I had thoughts of just running pell-mell down the trail like people tend to do in high spots, but I've never been one for doing that, and I was terrified of falling on my face and tumbling to the bottom or having my feet slide out from underneath me. I was also afraid of breaking the camera! (Regular readers of my journal will understand why.) I at last tucked the camera away as safely as I could in my purse, grasped onto some roots that were fortuitously trailing along the right side of the trail, and started picking my way down as slow as a snail, still kicking away loose gravel and whimpering to myself the entire time. I did stop now and then when the footing was safe enough to take pictures of my progress.

After an eternity I reached several feet from the bottom, where a sign reading "Morning Snack Trail" stood, and descended to level ground again, letting out a breath. I looked back up the way I'd come and then muttered at the sign, "Take THAT, Morning Snack Trail!" as if the trail itself had spited me by making itself so damn steep, and paused to regain my bearings and settle my frazzled nerves.

Now I intended to take the much tamer Cliffview Trail back to Garrison Road, my brief visit to the Turtle's Back completed. An early plan of mine had me doubling back to use the bathroom at Surrey Hill Square (see last year's entry for my lovely and unplanned visit there), then *gasp* passing through Harrisonville, the island's town of yearlong residents--a thought that made me nervous yet curious--but I checked my bladder gauge, found it all right, and decided to save time and just keep heading up Garrison Road.

Cliffview Trail offered some nice views of the side of the bluff now rising steeply to the left and I was rather impressed as I'd never seen it from this angle before. I got back onto Garrison Road and kept taking it as it turned into British Landing Road at the middle of the island, passing the airport and the big field near State Road as I did so. It was bright and sunny and hot here, and there were various other tourists who spotted a plane coming in low for a landing--again I attempted a photograph. What stood out most though was the GRASSHOPPERS. They were basking all along the shoulders of the road, and as soon as I noticed them begin hopping/flying off into the air, I made a point of walking along the shoulder just to see, and I felt like some kind of weird grasshopper/locust demigod with grasshoppers of all sizes swirling and flying into the air as I walked along, clearing a path for me. (*spreads arms dramatically* "FEAR ME, FOR I BRING...GRASSHOPPERS!") Hm. Anyway. This must have been a greeting from Peepaukawiss, since no rabbit ever presented itself to me on the entire trip even though I'd been hoping for one (I've seen a rabbit on my past two trips), so, phhhhbbbt to you, Manabozho, for being so lazy. ;P

I turned onto Leslie Avenue and continued. I intended to take this to Scott's (Cave) Road, and then taking that to Swamp Trail, simply because it leads past a big undeveloped (?) part of the island where there are no trails and I thought I might see something interesting. I finally reached Swamp Trail and started along it a bit, but at last trailed to a stop, because it was so very narrow and I was afraid of poison ivy. Swamp Trail is a horse-jumping trail and when I peered ahead into the woods a bit more I understood why--there were jumping bars or whatever they are along it. O_o I didn't relish the thought of having to clamber over those, and even more the thought of being trampled by a leaping horse as I innocently walked along didn't much appeal to me, so I decided to again alter my plans. No Swamp Trail this time, it appeared. Ah well. I would just go back to Scott's Road and decide what to do there.

I'd been stopping frequently to tap the toes of my sandals against the trails to shake loose pebbles that kept making their way in, and some way along Scott's Road I did this again, then froze. I thumped my foot again--the ground sounded hollow. I found this exciting, for in an old geological survey book I have of the island, the writer attests that there are likely underground caves closed off from the surface, and there are various roads along the East Bluff where one can hear the hollow sound of the caves beneath them. Scott's Road is an East Bluff road, and here was a hollow sound! I'd found it entirely by chance because of some pebbles in my sandals--when I moved a bit to the side, the hollow sound seemed to cease. I took photos of the trees standing on both sides of the road where I'd found this spot, to sort of bookmark it, then of my foot in the trail so I wouldn't forget why I'd photographed those particular trees; even though I'll likely never find or at least recognize that spot again, I felt quite accomplished in this alone, even though Dad later on said it likely meant nothing. I'm a believer in there possibly being loads of tiny caves lying undiscovered beneath the island--and these caves will play a part in the sequel to Escape From Manitou Island--so that was quite interesting, at least to me.

Continued 8/15/07

WELL! I'm picking this up quite a while later. Where was I? Scott's Road. All righty. Well, one of my potential plans had been to take Scott's Road around the northern point of the island and through a connection of trails visit Croghan Water and/or Friendship's Altar, since the last pictures I have of those date from a few years ago, on the old Polaroid camera. Thing was...my back was acting up by now. >_< I knew I'd never make it. There were no shorter routes available so I figured I'd take what I assumed would be the easiest: Scott's Shore Road, which is a small road leading directly to the shore road, then take the shore road around the tip of the island to reach British Landing on the other side. Anyone who's read my other island accounts knows that British Landing is sort of the "halfway point" where there's a rest area, bathrooms, and a small confection shop, the Cannonball. I decided this would be the easiest way to go because (as I thought) the shore road was most level, and paved, and it would take me directly to British Landing, where I could finally stop and rest and think about my next course of action.

I saw to my relief that there was a small rest area marked at the end of Scott's Shore Road!--but as soon as I reached the shore some stupid kid with a cell phone just HAD to stop there and yak. And then as soon as he left, another couple sat down there. It was just one picnic table. I felt so irritated and miserable, I couldn't even sit for a minute and my back hurt so much. I had to just keep walking. My thoughts about the shore road being easier to take quickly evaporated when I discovered that it went UP and down and UP and down and the entire walk was in scalding sun, past numerous other tourists, hence whenever I had to stop to try to stretch the pain away for a brief moment, anyone could see me and know how woefully out of shape I was. -_- And I couldn't tell how far around the shore I'd gone since there were no real markers. I thought I would recognize Point Aux Pins but I didn't. I saw a few trees that I could swear I took pictures of years ago but I had no clue how far along they were. The same with an odd twisted metal contraption lying out in the lake. I passed private property and sections of shoreline where people were frolicking in the water, and then what I HOPED was the British Landing State Dock, where an odd boat was tied up and fenced off and a bunch of tourists in bathing suits were leaping off a wide gravelly area into the water. I was puzzled by this, as the dock to the right of the boat was cordoned off with a no trespassing notice, but apparently this wide gravel area was open to the public. *shrug* I was so tempted so many times to go down and put my feet in the water like I've been meaning to do the past couple of trips but didn't. If this really WAS the state dock, then British Landing surely wasn't too far away. I could never be sure though as my view of the shoreline kept altering as I went around curves, past bays and then past points. The Mackinac Bridge was in view and looked the same as it did from British Landing but the thing is so damn big who could tell? Every time I came to a curve that vaguely resembled British Landing I prayed, "PLEASE let that be it."

As I trudged along one of the tourists walking ahead of me turned his head to look at me, then smiled and remarked, "You have come a LONG way!" I could only offer a tired smile and weak laugh to affirm this, though I bet he had no idea just HOW far. Seeing as we were all walking along the shore road he probably assumed I was taking the 8-mile shore walk. He couldn't have known just how long I'd been wandering around in the interior before dragging myself down here!

Around three or three-thirty PM I finally reached British Landing and made it to one of the picnic tables in the shade. Somebody was already sitting there but I made myself inconspicuous on the other side, and as soon as they left I turned around and rested. (An earlier picnic table I'd spotted, in the sun, had been taken over by a guy before I could reach it. Grrrrr.) There was a lot of talking and activity. There was a Muslim family present; one of the younger girls was dressed in a pink dress and head covering but the rest of them, including the older women, were wearing casual clothes. They talked in whatever foreign language from where they were from. The nature center was closed (as usual) but the bathrooms were public and the Cannonball was doing good business. I was too tired to take any photos at all though and I suddenly realize that I can't even remember if the old cannon was still there. o_o

I sat at the table and drank some of my water and tried to figure out what to do. I was in so much pain. My plan by now had shifted to just continuing to take the shore road all the way back to town, but that was such a long walk by so many people! I could instead head back up British Landing Road and take it down the middle of the island, past the airport and to Garrison Road again back the way I'd come earlier. That was surely much shorter, but still quite a long walk for someone whose back was in sheer agony. I really did not think I could make it either way. I went to the bathroom, still thinking, then when I stepped out saw a payphone attached to the building with some people making a call. An idea started to form in my head, and it was a stupid one, but I was desperate!

When the phone was clear I went to check it and there was a sign on it saying that SBC calls were only 50 cents local, unlimited time. There were NO other prices or info on the phone, just an island number (didn't even say what it was for), so I could only assume that was the price. I had no change on me which meant I had to get some. I doubted that the people manning the Cannonball would just make change for me no matter how pathetic I looked. So I went over and stood in the very disorganized group before the windows, ready to order--ANYTHING--as long as I would get some quarters in return.

On my map, you see, there was the telephone number for the Mackinac Island taxi service. I'd seen their taxis before--horse-drawn carriages. I had no clue if one would come out here to pick me up and take me back to town, nor how much this would cost, but I had to at least try. I'd intended to just ask the girl at the Cannonball how the taxis worked, but she was so busy I couldn't bother. I would just call them, ask if they'd do it, and if they said no, well, at least I'd tried and hadn't had to talk to anyone face to face. Once I'd tried this I'd decide what to do. Plus the thought of maybe getting to ride in a carriage for a change, even if it was only a taxi, was kind of an interesting one.

Well, the "line" at the Cannonball was such that it wasn't really a line at all, and at one point a couple moved ahead of me so I just let them, stepping back--I preferred to wait until it wasn't so busy anyway. They noticed, however, and insisted that I take my place back before them. I kept scanning the menus but nowhere did it mention beverages or their prices, just food items like chili fries and Oreo cookies and all sorts of stuff that made my stomach churn just thinking about them! When I finally got to the counter I asked the girl how much for a water? "$2.25," she said. I knew it was a ridiculous price but didn't care, and handed over the money; I received a bottle of Dasani and my change, which included three quarters. I stuck the Dasani in my backpack, not in the least interested in it, and went to the phone.

I deposited two quarters and dialed the number for the taxi service. I got a weird tone and then a recorded woman's voice said, "We're sorry, but you have deposited the incorrect amount of change. Please see instructions on the phone for how to place a call," and my two quarters were spat back out.

Now I was confused. It said 50 cents on it--and there WERE no instructions on the phone! I was too embarrassed to go ask the clerk at the Cannonball how to work a stupid payphone! How come the stupid recording couldn't tell me how to work it or how much change to use? Like it would've been so hard to record THAT? I decided to try just one quarter since I thought that was how much calls cost at home. But when I dialed the number, I got the same recorded message--except that this time THE PHONE KEPT MY QUARTER!!

I now had fifty cents--the same amount I'd already TRIED and which hadn't worked--and no way to make a phone call. Oh, I could always go back to the Cannonball and order ANOTHER damn water, but I doubted it would help much seeing as the stupid phone wasn't going to tell me how it worked, and I already had two bottles to carry around with me!

I was so humiliated and dispirited now that all I could do was go and sit back down at the picnic table. The Cannonball wasn't nearly as busy anymore but I didn't care, I couldn't face the clerk again. I couldn't even call a taxi properly! I would simply have to walk. But the sheer thought made me want to cry, and I rested my head on my arms and thought though no more ideas would come. I was fresh out. I'd wasted about a half hour or so here at British Landing, and all for nothing. I STILL had to walk all the way back to town, the only differences being that now I had another bottle of water to weigh me down, and less time in which to do so.

I finally managed to drag myself to my feet. I cast a longing and spiteful glance at the water--I'd had all sorts of wonderful thoughts of going and putting my feet in it, like I'd hoped to do, but hadn't managed, last year--but then decided not to--it would just mean a few more minutes spent walking down gravel and then up it again, in pain, before going on my way. The shore road was appealing in that I thought it would be more level than British Landing Road, which STARTS with a hill, but the bit of it that I'd already taken around Point Aux Pins told me otherwise--it wasn't nearly as level as I'd thought! Plus it was much longer. I'd just have to skip Devil's Kitchen and go down the middle of the island again. It was the shortest way left.

I resignedly headed toward the road and started making my way up the hill. I had to remind myself to stop and take pictures as I went along because I recalled that I have a tendency, toward the end of my Mackinac Island trips, to stop taking nearly as many pictures as I should--looking at them now I'm surprised I haven't a one of British Landing itself, which shows how miserable and self-absorbed I was! I can summarize my trek down British Landing and Garrison Roads with this: Benches suddenly became my best friends. Every single time I came to an area where there was a bench to be found, I would sit on it, even if I'd just gotten up from one a few moments before. Even if the bench was in direct sunlight. Suddenly there weren't nearly ENOUGH benches. I cherished every one I came upon. (When a bench hadn't been available along the shore road earlier, I'd rested against a boulder for a moment.) Thus I made my way along at a turtle's pace. I found a sign giving distances to various spots on the island and I think it said that it was 1-1/4 miles to town, and a half mile to the cemeteries. I kept counting off distances in my head as I went--"When I reach the cemeteries, I'll be 3/4 mile from town! A quarter mile is nothing. A quarter mile is nothing." This didn't make my back hurt any less but I had to do SOMETHING to keep my fading spirits up.

When I reached the cemeteries I was hopeful of finding a bench, but there were none. Crestfallen, I just decided to sit on the cemetery wall instead. Surely the dead wouldn't mind much. I noticed that there were little ornamental benches INSIDE the cemeteries but I was hardly going in there just to sit down. I took out my by-now battered map and looked at it again. I'd been intending on taking Garrison Road past Skull Cave again--surely there was a bench there?--but I saw that I could reach town quicker if I turned on to Custer Road. I KNEW that Custer Road had a bench because I had a photo of it! Plus this would take me more directly to town via Fort Street, the really steep street that I started with (and nearly killed myself on) last year--only this time I would be going DOWNHILL. Praise God! That would take me straight past Marquette Park and on to the visitor center if I wished, where the bathrooms were. So I got up and pushed on toward Custer Road.

I kept waiting for that stupid bench to show up but it seemed to take forever! Where was it? I knew it existed! I spotted one through the trees, and knew that that was Cupid's Pathway, as I had a photo of that bench too. But still no bench on this road. I was beginning to get very, very, VERY peeved when the bench at last presented itself--at the END of the road, right above Fort Street. Well, at least I'd finally reached it. I sat down wearily and felt sorry for myself for a moment or two until I managed to shake myself out of it and look up at the trees, through which afternoon sunlight was filtering.

"I didn't get to do everything I wanted," I thought, "but I had a good run." And that lifted my spirits enough for me to take a photo. All I had to do now was go down Fort Street and I'd be in town! I stood up, stretched, and reached the top of the street where there was a sign reading "Turkey Hill Road"--that didn't throw me, as I seemed to recall that Fort Street had an odd animal-related nickname (turns out I was in fact thinking of nearby Spring Street, which is nicknamed "Frog Alley")--and I cast a contemptuous look at yet another bench that sat right at the top of the street, mentally telling it, "I don't NEED to sit on YOU!"--before starting to make my way down. I took some pictures of the view.

Then it struck me...where was the Trinity Episcopal Church? And why was my view of the harbor different...?

I slowed to a stop and, perplexed, looked at my map again...and realized that Turkey Hill Road was a DIFFERENT road, and not the one I wanted to take! Sure, it would still get me down to the town--but it was a bit more circuitous, plus it ran right alongside the Grand Hotel golf course, and anyone who regularly reads Skew knows why I don't want to go anywhere near the Grand Hotel property. I'd taken a wrong turn! With a groan I turned and trudged back UP the hill, glaring now at the bench which seemed to be mocking me, and tried to figure out how to reach Fort Street. Turns out I had to go UPHILL a little more before going DOWNHILL. I at last reached the proper street and this time without any feeling of triumph whatsoever, started on my way down. I just barely noticed that I was passing directly by the Governor's Mansion, which I've only ever noticed from afar, and I did have the sense of mind to get a shot before going on.

The view of the church and harbor righted itself and I passed downward by the fort. I saw that McGulpin House was open for once--my family is related to the McGulpins--with a park guide standing at attention outside the door, but I didn't know if I had to pay to get in or not and it looked kind of boring, plus it was late, so I just took a picture and kept going. I went to the bathroom at the visitor center but decided not to buy any of their books, and headed for Main Street. It was by now almost six PM. Ma got out of work at six, and told me to try to take the six o'clock ferry home. I told myself, though, that it wouldn't hurt her to wait a tad, and it wouldn't hurt to take the six-thirty ferry. Early in the day, before heading out of town, I'd seen that the Haunted Theater was open, and it was still open now--I'd kind of entertained thoughts of working up the courage to go in there by myself (I'm not afraid of the theater, just afraid of going into a funhouse by myself--an adult, in a funhouse!--embarrassing!), but was just too tired. I located the Lilac Tree Hotel and went inside to the Island Bookstore. This was another stop I'd wanted to make, but by now I didn't care much and I was in there only long enough to see that they didn't seem to have any books on Indians where they'd had them before, and their Michigan and island books were all the same, before departing and heading for the ferry docks. The Shepler's docks, as it turns out, are the LAST along Main Street so I had to walk a bit...then there was no clear way across so I had to slip between two parked carriages, eyeing the gigantic horses just inches from me nervously as I went. I reached the BENCHES on the Mackinaw City side of the line and slumped down in exhaustion. More and more people were lining up, both here and in the St. Ignace line, but no ferry was in sight. I could only assume that I'd missed the six o'clock one and would just have to wait for the six-thirty, though my clock said it was due in about fifteen minutes. I didn't mind sitting and waiting, because it involved SITTING!

For once I managed to get a few photos of the goings-on in the harbor itself, such as the ducks swimming about, and the ferries coming in. I didn't get photos of two HUGE BLUE FISH that slowly swam by underneath us...when I described them to Dad he said they were probably mullet. They sure were eerie looking; I didn't know the harbor had fish. When our ferry arrived and I trudged down to let the employee tear my ticket, I held out the end he had to tear, as I knew he'd just hand back the main part of the ticket to me anyway, but he tugged the entire thing out of my hand, tore off the end, and handed it back anyway. o_o Some sort of policy...? Anyway. I took a seat belowdeck on the same side as before, in the hopes of getting a good view of the bridge, and after switching seats to get one with a cleaner window I managed to get a few photos of the harbor and the water--they turned out very good--the water is so green and beautiful. And on the way back across, even though the sun was glaring and water was spraying everywhere, I did try numerous times to photograph the bridge--I guess the photos turned out better than expected, if you don't mind your bridge being half obscured by sun and spray. *shrug*

When we reached Mackinaw City and I got off, Ma was already there, and I exclaimed, "Sorry I'm late--but I barely made it back to town!!" I didn't even stop to go to the bathroom as I usually do--I just wanted to get home. And I wolfed down my poor smushed sandwich on the drive back. Who cared if the thing had been transported through 80-degree weather for an entire day; food poisoning be damned. When I got home I did take some antacids just in case and I'm still alive, so I guess I did just fine!

WELL...that was my 2007 Mackinac Island trip. Do I still have plans of going in the fall to catch the colors? Unsure; I guess I'll see. At least I wouldn't be walking around nearly as long! The visitor center was a bust for info so now that leaves the library and maybe the newspaper office. I don't think I have the courage for either of those yet...I don't know...maybe some other time. *sigh*

There will be a lot of photos, mostly pretty but uninteresting ones of woods, coming, but not for a while yet as I'm currently slowly uploading my railroad tracks pics to DA and can do only a few a day. Stupid limited dialup hours.

This has not been proofed in the least. I haven't the patience! And I wonder if anyone will have the patience to even read through this. Just imagine that your brain is my back and maybe you'll get it.