Mackinac Island to our various homes

We left the penthouse at 7:20 am and went to wait for the ferry.

We got the 8 am ferry with plenty of time to spare.  Debbie drove us back to the Traverse City airport.  It took about 2 hours.  We went the faster route.  We turned in the car and then went to try to help Sue check-in.  She did at least get boarding passes for both flights.  We decided to sit and have lunch at the only cafe at the airport. Debbie and I each had a small bottle of pinot grigio with our meals, then we went down to the gate.  They only have 6 gates.  They were able to finally assign a seat for Sue put us all together.  It was not a full flight. No service on the flight, since it was so short.

Traverse City airport

We got to Detroit on time.  Sue had a long wait for her flight.  Debbie and I had to hot-tail it to our gate.  We went from C 8 to A 54. Not too bad.  Our flight was delayed so we really had not needed to rush.  I went to Seattle as well so that I could be with Debbie for the long flight.

The train system in Detroit is cool.

Seattle - each pillar is decorated differently

We arrived in Seattle only a little late.  Debbie headed off to get her car and then she had a several-hour drive home.  We heard from Sue that she arrive in Knoxville and then that she had arrived home, safely.

My flight to Portland was delayed 1/2 hour.  I got back to the Portland airport at 8:30 pm.  George and Rebecca met me.  I was home safe and sound by 9:15 pm.  Debbie had gotten to her home a little before me. 

Sunday on Mackinac Island

Debbie and I headed out to Starbucks for a cup of coffee before everyone else had gotten up.  Then we went out to breakfast at the Seabiscuit.  It was OK, but not great.  Terrible service and the biscuits were as hard as a rock.  They ended out not charging Debbie for the biscuits.

We walked up by the Grand Hotel and when we were close to the hotel we were informed that we could not wander around on the property unless we paid $10.  So we wandered somewhere else.

interesting topiary

After wandering around we headed back to the penthouse and Rachel had a chance to get organized.  Then we headed off to the ferry.  Rachel was leaving on the 12:30 pm ferry.  Andy had come over with Rachel on Friday and stayed at a different hotel.  We met him at the ferry.  

After saying goodbye to Rachel we went to rent a private carriage tour. 

Robert with Sophia & Sonya

a wedding carriage

The Grand Hotel

Another wedding

A lot of cool "cottages"

One of the goals was to see the Friesian horses.  Someone had told Debbie that Mackinac Island was famous for them.  Not true.  Apparently, there is one woman who has a pair of them.  We tried to see them but they were not out of their barn. If anyone has seen the movie Ladyhawke, it is the horse in that movie.

A nice view.  Robert told us many stories.  We found out about why it is Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island.  They are spelled differently but pronounced the same.  It is from the Ojibwe name Mishimikinaak or "large turtle" because of the shape of the island.  They also say that the island is the home of the Great Spirit and the turtle is a sacred figure in Native culture.  The French-Canadians who settled on the island, shorten it and spelled it "Mackinac" (the French pronounce this Mackinaw) and the guy that founded Mackinaw City spelled it how the Ojibwe name and the French sounded to him, "Mackinaw".  

Robert dropped us downtown where we picked a place for lunch.  Robert told us that there were 17 fudge shops on the main street.  We had lunch at Mustang Lounge.  It was very good.  I had a black bean burger.  I think that most of the restaurants on Main St are taverns/bars.  

The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to print boarding passes and to straighten out Sue's reservation.  She had had a schedule change and they had her flying into Detroit, landing at 2:59 pm and then flying out at 2:15 pm to Knoxville.  Argh.  What a mess.  We finally got them to issue her a new ticket.  Then we did more dinking in shops until it was time for dinner.  We ate at Horn's Bar.  Debbie and I split a Shrimp Fiesta salad.  It was pretty good.   

Then back to the penthouse so that we could get packed up and organized.  We need to be out of here by 7:15 am.  

We found a movie we wanted to watch from someone else's Netflix account.  We watched the Black Panther on the big screen TV.  It was enjoyable.   

Today was another windy day, but not quite as chilly as yesterday.  It finally cleared up by dinner time.  

Later on Saturday

I went out to the deck to relax with a glass of wine.  The funny thing was that I decided to take a timed exposure picture of myself.  Got it all set up but when I sat down I forgot that it was a glider.  My wine went flying.  Argh.  Had to go get a second glass of wine.  I sat down more carefully the second time. Later, the others came out and took a picture using my phone.  

After relaxing we decided that it was time to go for ice cream.  We checked out all 7 ice cream shops.  Debbie was looking for chocolate chip ice cream.  They had all kinds of ice cream with chocolate chips and other things but not plain chocolate chips.  Finally, she went for vanilla ice cream with chocolate sprinkles at Moomers.  We all had different flavors.

We watched a bunch of fudge making, but we did not buy any. There are a lot of fudge stores as well.

Then we strolled around some more until it was dinner time. 

18,793 steps before we went to dinner.

This is right by our suite

Rotisserie chicken pot pie.  Very good.

My token wedding party picture. 

We worked on trying to get some pictures to a shared folder and we did other computer things.  Then we decided to watch a movie.  

Enough walking for the day.