Mackinac Island

When I was a young teacher in about 2003 in Weatherford, Texas at Tison Middle School, we celebrated the holiday season with a Secret Santa gift exchange. Sheila Richardson drew my name. She was a beautiful lady, an amazing teacher, and the wife of a newly injured veteran navigating a whole lot of changes to her situation and a lot going on. She chose some of the most thoughtful and wonderful gifts I have ever received making me, as a shy first year teacher, feel extra special. If you see me in winter wearing the red hat, scarf, and gloves set, thank Sheila. She gifted me a book called "Michigan" that contained four short romance stories set in beautiful Michigan settings. Not my normal type of reading material, but I love that book and have read it hundreds of times since then. It perfectly captures the feelings that filled my young heart while igniting a wonder about the beautiful places described in each story. In one instance the characters take a day trip to Mackinac Island, a place with no cars. In the book, they rent bicycles and ride around the island while enjoying treats and beautiful views. I've always been curious about it, so today, I set foot there myself.

After a quick breakfast of leftover pizza and car snacks, we checked out of the hotel, moved our car to an open area of parking lot, and walked across the street to the ferry terminal. We enjoyed a 30 minute boat ride crossing under Mackinac Bridge allowing us to technically be on both Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Despite the summer sun, the ride felt cool and windy and we arrived refreshed. Setting foot on the island the sounds and smells overwhelmed our senses, in a not necessarily pleasant way. Bike vendors, restaurants, horse drawn carriages, and candy shops all competed for space in an area mobbed with tourists being spit out by crowded ferries. Delivery drivers on bikes and a horse-drawn trash wagon filled the tiny street where "use the sidewalk" was shouted at anyone who dared fall off the burgeoning path. Tourists seemed lost and meandered around trying to get their bearings. Disappointment hit me realizing that this idyllic paradise I had been imagining had turned into nothing more than an overpriced carnival-like attraction. 

I had promised the kids brunch so we set out down the street in search of pancakes. Once restaurant after another overflowed with long waits, and no sign of the food we desired. We reached the end of the street tired, overwhelmed, and hungry. I had resigned myself to the fact that we'd need to put our names on a list and wait for not-breakfast foods if I wanted to satisfy the kids hunger. I pulled out my phone to see the options and realized that just past the ferry dock sat a small place called Pancake House. It appeared to be exactly what we were looking for, but we had turned left and it sat 50 yards to the right or the unloading ramp from the ferry. 

We wended our way back through the crowded street taking care not to step off the sidewalk and arrived to find it open, and crowded, but not full. We were seated immediately at a comfy booth where a friendly waitress assured us that we could indulge in chocolate chip pancakes until 2pm when they closed. The kids all ordered them while I opted for an omelette. After fueling up with tasty breakfast goodies, we set out once again to explore the island. I suggested a carriage ride, but the kids begged for bikes. We ducked into the visitor's center where we found clean bathrooms, cold air conditioning, and some great advice. 

We continued a bit further down the street to a bike rental shop that was a bit out of the way, offering better prices and a calmer area in which to test out a new ride before embarking. I last rode a bike in about 1993. I've gained quite a bit of weight as well as back and knee injuries since then. Most folks who know me know that I'm not exactly steady on my feet or great with balance, so I entered this venture with a good deal of skepticism. Not wanting to disappoint the kids, who were begging for bikes, I approached the shop to ask about the options. A short time later we left the shop with Amyrlin and Troy on a tandem bike, Bailey atop a kids mountain bike, and me standing beside a shiny three-speed tricycle with a big basket. I loved the idea, and it looked cute, but fear washed over me at the thought of actually riding it over these uneven, cobbled, and hilly paths. 

I looked at my eager kids and knew I had no choice to climb on and hope for the best. Tentatively I tried to mount it and realized that I wasn't sure I could even get onto the seat. "Do you want me to help you, Mommy?" one of the kids asked. Embarrassed I declined the offer. With some creative maneuvering I managed to step over the middle of the bike where I at least positioned myself to climb aboard. After a few attempts I managed to get my butt on the seat and off we went. Terror gripped me those first few yards, but surprisingly the bike did not fall over, collapse, or stop moving. In fact, it rode smoothly and the wind felt nice in my hair. I dared to move my feet a bit and the pedals responded gaining speed as I rolled along. 

We rode slowly, with lots of people passing us, but we were doing it. I was doing it! After years and years, the saying held true that once you learn to ride you never forget. It's an 8.2 mile ride around the island and I certainly doubted my ability to complete it, but as we got going it felt more and more possible. We stopped at some scenic spots to take pictures, but skipped the climb up to arch rock because it involved a steep crowded staircase. The island's beauty amazed us and we enjoyed picturesque lighthouses, towering trees, rocky beaches, and the sound of lapping waves. We met a family from Texas at the playground of the small island school where we stopped to play and marveled at what life must be like on such a small island. When we arrived back at the rental kiosk, I didn't want the ride to end. We decided to continue a bit further to reach a small lemonade stand we had seen on our ride.

After the lemonade, Amyrlin and Troy decided to make another lap while Bailey and I visited some shops. We ended up doing a fun impromptu photoshoot with Bailey posing around the island while I snapped away. We did eventually visit some shops and Amyrlin and Troy rejoined us after their ride. We sampled fudge, ice cream, and candy and picked up a few t-shirts before returning to the ferry and boarding for the ride back to reality.

When we arrived back in the land of cars, we climbed into Big Blue and hit the road for the 3 hour trek to the Upper Peninsula. We crossed the Mackinac Bridge which is a giant suspension bridge and marveled at its size and construction after going under it in the morning. We ate a quick dinner at a Subway before narrowly missing the last zip line ride of the day at a small adventure park. I'm still mad that I failed to plan that one better! We rested in the car after our busy day making a mostly uneventful trip to Gwinn, Michigan where we checked in to the Model Town Inn for the night.