Lily, A Dog's Life Aboard Moondance: Marvelous Mackinac Island, MI

Mackinac Island, MI State Harbor Marina August 12-16, 2016

We left Drummond Island around 8 AM with rain showers all around us. It was a very grey, calm day with incredibly green waters when we first took off, but eventually they just went kind of dark grey blue like the sky. Mom hadn’t slept well again, so dad sent her and me down to the salon to take a nap. I had a lovely nap while mom was reading. Didn’t see much on the way over except the car ferry at De Tour, MI and a few fishing or speed boats and of course, a lighthouse/light or two…

Lonestar and 4th Quarter were able to go into their slips immediately upon arrival while we had to wait for our slip to clear. It’s a really busy harbor with lots of water action thanks to all the ferries running in and out. So we are rocking and rolling, but it helps mom and I to sleep so we don’t mind at all.

After we got hooked up and M & D got cleaned up, they took off for a walk down Main St. Unless you have been here before it is hard to describe the smells on Main St. It’s a combination of horse excrement, fudge, and popcorn…Kind of like being at a state fair!

In case you haven’t been here before there are NO CARS/TRUCKS (ambulance & fire trucks only), so all heavy work is done by horse or manpower. It’s funny to see the carriages pulled by these massive draft horses, with a following cart of luggage. To not overwork the horses, they trade them out all the time…They really do look well cared for! (They have more vets on the island than doctors to care for the 600 horses that are here in season. Out of season, they only keep about 20 for the 500 residences who stay here full time.)

M & D ended up with Lonestar & 4th Quarter at the Pink Pony for Happy Hour and listened to a wonderful musician/singer that covered music from our eras. Then, they moved on to Millie’s Bar and Grill. They all had terrific meals there…Dad had a Yooper’s Pastie and really enjoyed it! They all split up and went their different ways…Lonestar and M & D wandered into Doud’s, a grocery that has been here since 1884…very well stocked for a small place! They strolled along the waterfront as they walked back to the boats…The private Victorian houses along the waterfront are really something to see; especially with their spectacular landscaping. It was cool enough that one even had smoke coming out its chimney. What’s incredible is they're mostly summer cottages. Lord knows, what their other house(s) look like!

Mom and I crashed early despite all the partying up and down the docks. Dad said he heard Taps played! Maybe tonight we will be able to participate.

Dad took me out this morning and we went to a coffee shop, but they wouldn’t let me in…guess we aren’t in Canada anymore. It was nice though, they came out to serve us. M & D are heading out for brunch with Lonestar and let me sleep.

M & D returned to let me out and give me my afternoon snacks. Mom was thrilled to get a massage appt., so she left dad and I here. It’s not raining, but windy and drizzling a bit. Mom felt bad for a wedding group that were trying to get photos taken outside by the waterfront.

Three looper couples are heading over in front of Chasin 80 for docktails at 5:30. We met a Canadian looper couple, Carol and Bill on Tiger, a PDQ power catamaran. Mom and dad brought me along for dock cleanup duty. What fun and we were able to watch a wedding on Pink Pony’s outside patios…an added bonus since they also had a terrific band playing!

Mom decided to wash me this AM. I thought I smelled fine, but she disagreed. M & D took me outside to dry off before they took off for their Carriage Ride around the Island. They returned in the afternoon and told me about it. It turns out 80 percent of the island is a State Park. It was originally the second National Park after Yellowstone before they decommissioned the fort in 1895 and decided to combine the fort and park into the first Michigan State Park. M & D have both been to the Fort before so they didn’t go through it this time.

It was a picture perfect day here and the last one for most of our looper buddies. We had a docktails with them last night. While we were on the dock we saw Draken Harald Hårfagre, the largest Viking ship that is sailing from Norway to America land at another dock. When docktails broke up, dad, mom, Steve, Kevin & I walked over to see it…pretty interesting!

Afterwards M & D stopped for an ice cream cone and mom was really generous with her sharing! Delicious!

In between showers we saw our loopers buddies off this morning…we should run into them in MI again! M & D ate lunch in while waiting for the last shower to pass by before their 8 mile bike ride around the island…There is really a lot to see and do here once you get away from downtown! Mom was back in less than 10 minutes, not a good knee day despite her massage. So she, dad & I enjoyed a short walk (after dad returned from his ride and rested.) Spent the rest of the afternoon and evening on the flybridge with our spectacular views and breezes…

De Tour Ferry with lots of cars waiting to board at $75 one way unless you have the season pass

De Tour Lighthouse

Two of the ferries bringing people to the island from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, MI

The Pink Pony Bar with Syl and Steve in the foreground

Steve and Kevin checking out Doud's Market, love preserved stores like these

This service company dates back to the 1880's. It's how they get trash and big items moved around

Our team of Belgians on our way down the hill. Most of the draft horses they buy from the Amish.

She didn't have her beautiful orangish red sails up as they came in

The women on board the Viking ship that was only here one night.

It's on it's way to the Great Lakes Tall Ship Festival

Our view as we walked back from viewing the Viking Ship. Check out that gorgeous wooden Chris Craft.

the Pearl Mist is the sister ship to Victory I that we saw in Little Current, Manitoulin Island, Ontario

Carol & Billy Lowther, on Tiger, a PDQ and new Canadian looper friends

Our views from our marina dock...spectacular!

Two houses to the right are private residences for the summer...

Another private residence and hotel

Look at the tiny dog going along for the ride

Boat dogs are the best!..here's Skylar, he kept quiet except if there was another dog

Main St. looking down to the Pink Pony

Missionary Bark Chapel that we didn't remember from past visits

Post Office that has never sent a letter. You have to come here to pick up your mail.

Courthouse and Police Station, We haven't seen a policeman with a gun yet...

The landscaping is just incredible at the B & B's and Private Residences

Kevin & Steve said we missed an incredible, professional music service at this church yesterday morning

the Grand Hotel's fancy carriages with the matching Percheron's pulling it

All the graveyards had to be moved outside of town and up into the hills. Needless to say, not everyone got correctly moved and reburied...Supposedly, lots of paranormal activities here...