Trolls and Fudgies - Oh My!

We continue to learn about the unique spelling and colloquialisms for people and things in this part of Michigan.  For example, it doesn't matter how it is spelled, you say "Mac In Naw".  Yesterday, we spent the day on Mackinac (pronounced Mac In Naw) Island.  We chose the older of the ferry companies, Sheplers, who picked us up at our campground, so we did not have to hunt for a place in the full parking lot.  We wound up taking the 1030 ferry because the 1000 ferry was full.  Twice in the morning and evening the ferry swings west under the massive Mackinaw bridge so you can view it from the water, before the breezy 15 minute trip to the island.

Ferry Captain Shepler on Our Way to Mackinac Island

As many know, Mackinac Island allows no motorized vehicles (except for fire and ambulance), so there are bicycles everywhere (easily thousands--more than residents of the island) that line the streets kind of like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.  It is a lot quieter than Sturgis, however! 

Double Horse Carriage Tour of Island

We took the horse drawn tour around the southern part of the island, through forest state park and historic Fort Mackinac. Rather amazing to realize this island was named our second national park by President Theodore Roosevelt and within 20 years the residents petitioned the state to change the status to a state park. They wanted more control and be able to develop the southern part of the island. They did leave much of the land natural with both hiking, horse and bike trails, though we were warned to stay on the trails due to poison ivy. We toured the historic fort, which changed hands from British to American several times until the war of 1812 and the fur trade was over. There are about 100 hardy souls who live here year-round. The ferries stop in November and though there is a small airport on the island, the residents wait for the lake to freeze solid to snowmobile in winter to St. Ignace (Ig-nus), marking the path with small Christmas trees. That was the point we both knew we are NOT brave enough to try that or spend the winter there!

The east half of the Grand Hotel

A highlight of day was tour through the Grand Hotel, where we enjoyed a light lunch, followed by tea shopping for Pamela, then up to the fifth floor for a drink in the Cupola Bar looking out over the Lake Huron to our south. After touring the massive parlor, rocking on chairs on the longest porch in the western hemisphere (over 650 yards long) and viewing the outdoor swimming pool built for Esther Williams--who said it was too cold when she filmed a movie here with Jimmy Durante), we stopped for ice cream at Sadie's Ice Cream Parlor. Course, Pamela did just a wee bit of shopping too.

One half of the massive hotel lobby -- four times the length of the Empress in Victoria

 It was a pleasant day of walking and riding horse drawn transports, but our watches told us why our feet were so tired, so we caught a late afternoon ferry then ride back to the campground around 1800.

We found out on the tour that tourists to the island are called "Fudgies" because of all the fudge that they buy at the dozen or so fudge shops, including Neil. There are about 300 horses on the island in summer, including taxis, drays that pick up garbage and deliver food and goods and in general do everything that cars and trucks do elsewhere. Most of the horses depart in October to winter at a couple of farms. Imagine bringing in enough hay every week to feed 300 horses!  Much cheaper to ship horses to the hay.

We also learned that the people who live on the Lower Peninsula are called Trolls, because they live "below the bridge".  We took a trip across the Mighty Mac bridge today to the LP to have Neil's hand looked at, visit a Home Depot, and see some sights in Mackinac City.  Neil's hand is doing OK, but we will keep the stitches in for another week or so.

Mackinac Bridge from south at old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

It was interesting to drive across the five mile bridge and see it from the south side of the straits, We appreciated seeing the historic lighthouse on southern side.  People sere swimming on the beach as we walked along the shores. Then, we lingered to watch one of the big ore freighters travel under the bridge from Lake Michigan and head east into Lake Huron.

Mackinac Bridge with Freighter Under It

A Couple of Friendly Labs at the Gas Station

Michigan Camping and Boating Combination

We heard from cousins in South Dakota about the double towing limit allowed and found that is true here as well. We have seen not only the combination above, but a pickup pulling a trailer with a boat attached behind. And, we thought we took up a lot of room in a parking lot! We also added Michigan (UP and LP) to our RV map tonight.  Tomorrow, we will spend learning more of historic and modern Ojibwa culture in St. Ignace and cleaning RV before leaving on Sunday.

Neil with the five parts added for Michigan-lakes and both halves of state

Neil now is a little more assured that he won't have tire issues, since he now has all of the tire implements needed to deal with them. And, we thank you for the prayers, that we do not have a flat!

Neil's Half Inch Drive RV Tire Tool Kit

The UP part of Michigan is fascinating and while we have only touched the surface of all there is to see and do, it will be time to move on Sunday, when we go north to cross into Canada at Sault Ste. Marie. That too will be new territory for us, across the land of Hiawatha and thousand lakes. 

Best wishes from Neil and Pamela