Unbelievable...Mackinac Island, Michigan

I found America's best kept secret (at least to us)...Mackinac Island in Michigan. Years ago I saw the movie, "Somewhere in Time," and thought the grounds and hotel were absolutely gorgeous and I wondered where the movie was filmed. I recall thinking it was filmed in Canada. I was nearly right. At the tip (north) of Michigan is an island...the place they filmed "Somewhere in Time." However, I was absolutely correct about how gorgeous the island and the Grand Hotel would be - we felt as if we had indeed stepped back in time. There are no automobiles allowed on the island - so everyone gets around by bicycles, walking, horses, or horse drawn carriages. We took our bikes across with us on the ferry and spent one night at the hotel. It is expensive, but we found an internet special because this is considered late in their season. The price is still expensive, but it was worth it. The room included an elegant five course dinner and breakfast the next morning. I was a bit surprised that the hotel staff - especially in the dining facilities - were not very friendly. However, the friendly guests made up for the business-like hotel employees.

Originally, we were to take the ferry across to the island on Saturday. The weather was dreadful - raining, unseasonably cold, and windy. Knowing how lucky we have been with our weather during the past two months, it was actually expected. Still, I prayed that at least the sun would peek out during our stay on the island. The Grand Hotel allowed us to delay our arrival by one day, arriving on Sunday. All day Saturday continued with the rain and winds...pounding and drizzling until Sunday morning - when we woke up to a beautiful sky-blue day. This was more than we could have ever asked (or prayed) for...the ride over to the island was smooth and relaxing. The first thing you notice about the island is the beauty...the second thing is the result from the hundreds of horses that work on the island...the scent "road apples." I have to say that this was the only negative related to the island (the street cleaners work hard to keep the roads tidy, especially since the rest of us are on bikes and walking).

We took the island carriage tour - visited the Butterfly House - and rode our bikes around the shopping and hotel area. We then had a wonderfully prepared formal dinner (dress code applies), and then watched the Esther Williams movie filmed at The Grand Hotel in the 1930s "This Time for Keeps." The movie was very sweet and entertaining, but the seats were very uncomfortable. Ken shifted throughout the movie. Today, we had breakfast, walked around the grounds, checked out of the hotel (I hated to ride away...yep, on our bikes), and then bicycled around the island (8 miles). The riding was primarly on flat, lush green land and beautiful victorian style homes to one side and the deep blue lake to the other side - with sun and a gentle breeze making it seem as though we were in a controlled movie set ourselves. As hokey as it sounds, it was a perfect day...until we had to leave. We will be back one day.

It is late as I write - and my brain function is working off empty. More tomorrow on my thoughts as we close our last week on this incredible journey. We will spend our last few days in our very own backyard - Indiana.

Nite~ Carol and Ken