Checking out the area

June 13 – We woke up to rain and were glad we did not plan to take the ferry to Mackinac

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

Island today.  We decided to kind of “wing it”.  I cooked up a batch or sausage that will last several mornings and after breakfast we stopped first at the Shepler’s Ferry dock and bought tickets for tomorrow morning’s ferry at 9:30.  That one takes you under the bridge and is a mini tour kind of trip. 

Then we found the Great Lakes Lighthouse Association shop and office and got the stamps for the lighthouses we visited yesterday and 2 that we will see on the ferry ride and 2 that we planned to see today.  My book is filling up slowly but surely!  By this time the rain wasn’t so much but the air turned cold and windy!  We crossed over to see the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and there were lots of Canadian geese that you have to watch where you “walk” and the truck was covered with lake flies that look like mosquitoes but they don’t bite.  A bunch got in the truck and they just light on the ceiling.

McGulpin's Point

We drove out to McGulpin’s Point Lighthouse which was nice and tucked back in on a high knoll.  It has a guest house you can rent right beside it.  We didn’t go up it or tour the keeper’s house as the rain was clearing and we wanted to have lunch and then go to Colonial Michilimacknac.  It’s a reconstructed 18^th century fort and fur trading village.

Since we didn’t get to have Lake Erie perch in Ohio, I wanted fresh perch and we were told that any of the places that sell seafood will have perch.  We went to Scalawags right on the main street.  They were finishing up feeding a bunch from a tour bus so we had to wait or sit out in the wind and cold.  It was a bit pricy for lunch but we got the perch basket with 4 pieces of fish, fries, slaw and hush puppies.  It was very good except I always want drawn butter for my hush puppies and this wasn’t a drawn butter kind of place.

Once corner of the fort

It was starting to drizzle again as we left and headed for Michilimacknac.  The gift shop and ticket office are located directly under the bridge.  We bought a couple of souvenirs and then our tickets to the fort.  The walk along the shore of the straits was so cold and windy, there were white caps cresting on the water.  I was walking as fast as I could!  Once in the fort it was better but I kept trying to get on the side of

Re-contructed buildings inside the fort

the buildings that resisted the wind.  The gardens in the fort were very well maintained and the displays were quite impressive.  Most of the buildings had period dressed staff to answer questions and give demonstrations.  Summer crews have been excavating the fort for over 50 years and continue to find artifacts that now number over 2 million.  Some are on display and the rest are in storage.  There were not a lot of people there as the weekends and after mid-June things pick up in the area.

Before heading back over the bridge Bill wanted to check the hardware store for a lock we need on the hitch.  They had 2 sizes so once he confirms which is the correct one, we plan to stop there tomorrow and get it.  We stopped at Dairy Queen but they don’t have hot coffee beverages so we HAD to have ice cream instead! 

Wawatam Lighthouse

Back over the bridge!  We stopped at the Visitor Center in St. Ignace and found that the Wawatam Lighthouse is in the Marina in St. Ignace and I got my stamp from them and then we went to the

Marker for Father Marquette
where he is buried near the
cultural center

lighthouse for photos.  Last stop of the day was the Ojibwa Cultural Center and went through it before landing back at the RV.

The weather turned really nice for the end of the day.  Hope it lasts for tomorrow! 

I put a load of laundry in and worked on my postings.  We had pea bacon, Waldorf salad and the leftover noodles and gravy.  Quick and easy as well as pretty tasty.  There was just rhubarb cobbler left from last night for us both.

It just dawned on me as I was reviewing names, places, things we did today:  Some things are spelled Mackinac and some are Mackinaw but in either case it’s pronounces NAW not NAC.  I don’t get it!