De Tour to Pack-in-Awe

Early morning this past Tuesday in DeTour Village (the Upper Peninsula of Michigan), Mike shared with the Marina Office that he needed a ride to Sault Ste Marie (Michigan side) to pick up a rental car (many, many calls were made to find a rental car and finally found one at a "Precision Auto" shop...Welcome to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!).  One of the more experienced in the office suggested, "Walk to the bar and see who's there; it's too early for them to be drinking (serves breakfast) and one of them might be willing to drive you."  After checking out the bar (no success), Mike walked to the IGA grocery store, reviewed the business cards on its bulletin board, made a couple of calls (1.  A lady who will clean your house, provide home care and/or take you on errands; and 2. A guy with a snowblower), and two hours later, was on his way to The Soo in a dump truck!! (The dump truck driver who blows snow in the winter months is a father of a volleyball-playing daughter who had a sports checkup that afternoon.) 

In rough waters and a southeast wind gusting to more than 25 mph and 3 marina staff on dock ready to catch our lines, Velsignet arrived safely in DeTour Village on Monday at 4:30 p.m.  Weather reports indicated Velsignet would be staying put (winds) in this village (population: 321) until Saturday.  With time to spare and an invitation by Southern Cross, we drove to Mackinaw City (60 miles) and spent 3 days exploring Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island with our dear friends (Mackinaw or Mackinac:  Both are pronounced the same way--"Mack-in-ahh").

We returned to Velsignet in DeTour Village Marina yesterday afternoon (Returned the car rental to The Soo: No bus services on Friday + No response by either Lift or Uber drivers + Sympathic Precision Auto owner Steve = Ride back to the marina by Precision Auto staff person).  Last evening we were among 16 Loopers at the local bar and grill for excellent introductions, conversation and dinner.  ["Hallelujah" (Barbara and ?); ""Band Wagon 3 (Australians!)"; "On Missions"; "Honey Queen" (From Savannah, GA); "Living in Awe" (Hal & Daneen--son lives in Little Canda, MN, just north of St. Paul); "Marooned" (Warren & Kristin); and "Rumbo" (John & Petti have a distillary in Wisconsin!)]   With weather reports indicating calm winds and smooth waters, our alarm clock went off this morning at 5:30 am for a 6:25 am departure.  Our destination for this evening:  Charlevoix, MI (a 100 mile run, the longest day-run we've attempted so far!)

We woke up to prepare to leave DeTour Village, MI before sunrise this morning.  Unlike the past 4 days, the water and winds were calm and inviting.

We arrived at Mackinaw City and Southern Cross (Penny and Dave) on Tuesday around 5:30 p.m.  We enjoyed an Italian Dinner at a nearby restaurant, "Nonna Lisa's"--the interior was extremely unique with its bentwood furnishings and animal mountings. 

Because of rainy conditions, we waited until Thursday to take the ferry to Mackinac Island.  Motor vehicles are prohibited on Mackinac Island; people get around by walking, biking or horse power.  If you look closely at the photo, you'll noice that instead of parked cars along the downtown street, there are parked bikes. We brought our bikes to trek around the island's 8-mile perimeter (on the only highway in the US that doesn't allow cars to drive on it)

This is Fort Mackinack which played a role in the War of 1812 and also the Civil War (for Confederate prisoners-of-war).

We enjoyed a tour of the island by a 3-hour off and on carriage ride.  The drivers were informative and entertaining.  This photo is of our first ride by horses "Mason" and "Ree"  (Masonry!).

Temperatures have cooled down in the past 2 weeks around the Great Lakes.  While it was a pleasant sunny day, it was windy and the temperatures warranted jackets.

This is the famous Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.  We expected The Grand Hotel would be a center of Island activity.  On the contrary, the Grand is one of many, many hotels and bed and breakfasts one can enjoy a slower pace of the quaint town and serene natural environment of the island. P.S.  We didn't step a foot at The Grand Hotel.  We thought we would, but discovered so much more to the island such that our day there flew by!

One of the stops we made was near The Grand Hotel stables.  This is a country store made of recycled windows.

Inside The Grand Hotel stables is an antique carriage museum.  These carriages were used by the rich and (sometimes) famous and served as much as a social statement as our cars might today.

Penny took this picture of Mike and Brenda in front of the iconic Arched Rock on Mackinac Island.

A view of the Arched Rock without any distractions!

Another photo inside The Grand Hotel stables and antique carriage museum.

We appreciate the close friendship we've developed with Penny and Dave on Southern Cross, and enjoyed every minute of our days with them.

Before taking off early this morning, we've a checklist to get through to make sure Velsignet is ready for cruising and we know where and how we're going to take her!  We are grateful to be back in the United States where we once again have excellent cell phone reception and the abilities to access unlimited internet data and stream programs.

Lake Huron was glassy this morning.  Once we get to the Mackinaw Bridge, we'll be in the Great Lake of Lake Michigan!

We're on big water with big barges!

Even in big water, we rely on markers that guide us to safe passage.  This is a DeTour Passage marker as we enter onto Lake Huron.