St Mary River

07.25.2010 we reentered the USA at Drummond Island which is on the St Mary River. We had a short wait at Yacht Haven Marina for the custom’s officer. Once cleared, we were able to get off the boat. Tut was happy to be on U.S. soil again. He rolled around in the dirt which is a sign of joy, or when female felines are within view, self advertisement. There were no other cats in the area.

Linda and Dave, Perfect Timing, were at the marina with two of their grand children who we met in Marathon, Florida.

07.26.2010 – day 2 at Yacht Haven

The 1^st stop on our bike tour of Drummond Island was the U.S. Post office. Postage in Ontario Canada includes 13% harmonized sales Tax. It coat $1.13 to mail a post card or a letter. I was happy to pay the U.S. costs to mail a package to our granddaughter. I’ll still complain when I have to wait in line for service but no more

Next we went to the hardware store, clothing shop and grocery. All three retail businesses are owned by the same guy.

Our last stop was a gourmet store. Andrew purchased sorghum and pasties, two items he had searched for throughout the trip.

07.27.2010 we docked at St Ignace Marina. We took the ferry to Mackinac Island which may be the fudge capital of the world. In a ½ mile strip there were at least 12 fudge shops.

No automobiles are allowed the island. You can walk, ride a bike or take a horse drawn carriage to get around. We chose to take our bikes so we could ride the 8 mile coastal trail.

It was hot and humid which enhanced the downtown town area’s aroma of steaming horse excretion and fudge. People crowed the sidewalks while hoards of bike cyclist, with varied degrees of skill, shared the main street with horses.

We started the trail at the finish marker to bike opposite the traffic. Although there were fewer riders on our side of the road there was danger. Hazards included: children racing their parents on the wrong side of blind curves; elderly, on bicycles built for two, losing the capacity to peddle uphill swaying into our path; lane jumping riders using cell phones; people making emergency stops forcing the traffic into our lane; bikers pulling dog tent trailers, dogs trying to escape the trailers, people carting children in overloaded carriers with reduced steerage; and the intermittently spaced manure obstructions.

Mackinac Island is beautiful. The water is two toned, aqua close to shore and dark blue as the depth increases. We past the Grand hotel (featured in the movie Somewhere in Time) and Arch Rock before returning to historical downtown. We had an early dinner at Mustang’s Tavern then rode the ferry back to St Ignace.

Ship carrying bales of hay to Mackinac Island for the horses

Mackinac Island Marina

Mackinac Island Coastal Trail

Me riding my bike

Arch Rock

Me waiting for the ferry on the dock - Mackinac Island

Andrew waiting for the ferry

Downtown Mackinac Island

Grand Hotel

Photo taken from ferry

Ferry Captain watching clearance

07.28.2010 the wind was steady at 20 knots with gust to 30. We stayed another day at St Ignace. Andrew found another pasties shop. We now have a freezer d full of them.