All About Summer

Thank you for joining us for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge where Joyce gives questions to ponder and then share with fellow Hodgepodgers.

1. What's something on your August calendar you're looking forward to? Or dreading if that's easier to answer.

 Our handsome son, John will celebrate his 57th birthday on the 22nd.  He is our first-born and only son of whom we could not be more proud.  He is a faithful and devoted husband, father and grandfather, but most importantly a man-of-God and strong in his faith.  He and Michelle will celebrate 31 years of marriage on the 13th.  They are a blessing!

2. August 5th is National Oyster Day...do you partake? How do you feel about pearls?

I do not eat oysters but do love my pearls.

 

3. Tell us about a time when you felt like 'the world was your oyster'. 

I personally have not felt like that in a very long time; however, I do feel that way about my grandchildren and greats.  My grown grands have nothing but bright futures ahead of them as they grow in their chosen professions, and as they face the daily challenges of marriage and parenthood.  Who knows what lies ahead for my soon-to-be eight great grands.  I pray God's direction, protection and blessings on each of them.

4. Trip Advisor lists seven islands in the US that require no passport (for US citizens). If you're answering today from outside the US you'll still need to produce yours. An-y-way, have you been to any of the seven? Let's pretend you get an all expense paid trip to one this month...which one do you choose and why? 

Catalina Island California~Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts~Mackinac Island Michigan~Key West Florida~South Padre Island Texas~or Kauai Hawaii

We have driven around on Padre Island, Texas, but did not stay there.  The only island on the list that we have actually visited is Mackinac Island in Michigan.  We have been twice and loved both experiences.  At this point, I don't have a desire to see any of the others, free or otherwise.

Our favorite place to stay is Mission Point - 2017

A favorite memory was cycling the island and enjoying all the sights close-up - 2017

The Grand Hotel as seen from the ferry 2024

5. Sylvia Plath is credited with the following- 

"August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time."

Agree or disagree? In other words, how do you feel about this month?

Disagree!  In the south, August can be the hottest summer month.  Here in Texas, there is rarely a day below 100 degrees and no rain.  We don't see "the best of summer gone" until October.

In other words, I dread August and try not to plan any outdoor activities.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

The first Wednesday Hodgepodge of August, 2014, I wrote the following:

"Ahhhh, the summers for us southern country kids of the 40's and 50's were wonderful lazy days spent playing and imagining; creating and pretending; getting into trouble and having to select your own personal switch; spending time with friends; picnics; fishing.  I loved not having homework, but instead doing creative projects that Mother and Daddy always seemed to provide.  Yes, life was good!"

A Trip to Mackinac Island

I don't know about where you live, but it is 100 degrees here and I am more than ready to go where its cooler.  And prettier!

While in Northern Indiana visiting family, Dick and I took a little time for the two of us.  Mackinac Island has been on our bucket list to visit ever since our son moved to the Midwest.

It is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and a 5.5 hour drive from our son's house.

 I will try to not make this a tour guide for you but it will be a photo overload for sure.

Our first stop was Mackinaw City.  Whether spelled "Mackinaw" or "Mackinac" it is always pronounced with a "naw" at the end.

The highlight here was the old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, built in 1890 and closed in 1958.

 The views from the tower were amazing.
There is a very interesting museum on the bottom floor that tells the maritime history of this area.

What we most looked forward to though was crossing the Mackinac Bridge.

 Considered by many to be the "8th wonder of the world," this bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere and the 5th longest suspension bridge in the world.

 It is 7,400 feet of 4-lane roadway suspended over the Straits of Mackinac - Lake Michigan to the west and Lake Huron to the east.

This amazing 5-mile structure unites the lower states to the Upper Peninsula.

Our first night was spent in the quaint little village of St. Ignace where we boarded the ferry the next morning for Mackinac Island.

We chose the early departure time in order to take the tour under the bridge which gave us spectacular views.  It also meant getting to the island early enough to have a whole day to tour.

 The ferry ride was only about fifteen minutes over beautiful Lake Huron.

This was our first view of where we would be spending the next three days and nights. 

 Mission Point Hotel would be our home away from home.

Our hotel was within walking distance, so as our luggage was being delivered, we decided to spend some time just walking the streets and becoming acquainted with the place before checking in.

There are no motorized vehicles allowed on the island, so all transportation is either horse-drawn carriage or bicycle.  We did both.                                     

 I loved the architecture dating back to the Victorian era.

It was the Victorians who made Mackinac Island one of the nation's most favored summer resorts. In the post-Civil War industrial age and before automobiles, vacationers traveled by large lake excursion boats from Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit to the cooler weather of Mackinac Island. To accommodate overnight guests, boat and railroad companies built summer hotels, such as the Grand Hotel in the late 19th century. Victorians, like all travelers, loved to shop for souvenirs, and thus all the Mackinac shops.

The most famous souvenir these days is its famed chocolates.  There are at least seven different chocolate shops on main street.

In the 1890's wealthy Midwestern industrialists who wanted to spend more than a few nights on Mackinac built their own summer cottages on the east and west bluffs. Soon a social life including tennis, hiking, bicycling, examining the local natural wonders happened, and at the turn of the century, a new golf  course brought in even more tourists.

 It happened to be the Lilac Festival the weekend we were there.  I have never seen so many beautiful lilac bushes and trees.

We finally arrived at our hotel, Mission Point.

It is situated at the far point of the island away from the hustle and bustle of the main street.

 We loved every minute spent at this beautiful retreat.

After getting settled in our room, we took a carriage back to Main Street and ate dinner on the veranda of a delightful Italian Restaurant in one of the oldest hotels on the island.

  There was a very private outdoor hot tub on our deck, so guess where we unwound at the end of each day.

Day 2, we took a carriage ride around the interior of the island.  These are a few of the views.

 And our carriage arrives.

All of the island is now owned by the state of Michigan and is a state park.

These are views of Arch Rock.  With natural corrosion, it is predicted this will be gone by 2020.  Sad.

 

Look closely at the road below this cliff, because that is the path we will take the next day on bikes.

 St Ann's Cemetery where local residents have been buried for centuries.

This is only one of five cemeteries in the world where the flag is always flown at half-staff.

Fort Mackinac as seen from below.  We elected to visit from an above approach.

The town and lake below was a spectacular view from this vantage point.

  

Market Street

During the peak of the fur trade this street bustled with activity.  We were told that each July and August Indians, traders, and trappers by the thousands came here with furs from throughout the Northwest.  This was what brought the Europeans to the island.

In 1817 John Jacob Astor's American Fur Co. located its headquarters here.  Records show that furs valued at $3,000,000 went through the Market Street offices in 1822.  After 1834 the trade moved westward.  Shortly thereafter, thousands of Indians were removed from this area.

We were told that there are no postmen on the island.  The post office is a daily gathering place for the residents as there is no home delivery.

The Governor's summer home.

 A selfie showing the many lilac trees on the cliff in front of the Governor's Mansion.

 

 This was our first view of the famed Grand Hotel and it is indeed grand.  We couldn't wait to get a closer look.

This was a wonderful day and we topped it off with a delicious dinner at our hotel overlooking Lake Huron and Round Island.

Day 3 was probably the most fun day of the trip for us.

 In spite of aching knees, we decided to take a four-hour bike ride around the perimeter of the island.  Our bike trail also took into the interior of the island.

 It was amazing!

 These are some of the permanent residences.

 A cyclist's view of the Grand Hotel.

We loved being on the grounds of the Grand Hotel and seeing this amazing building from this vantage point.

 One of the greenhouses

 

Lilac Trees everywhere.The time flew and we were having such a wonderful time, we decided to go back around the point passed our hotel to enjoy the water view and listen to the surf a little more.

Then, to rest our rather tired legs, we spent a while on our veranda enjoying a cup of tea and watching the sights below.

That evening was our final night so we celebrated by going to the Grand Hotel for an elegant dinner.

Everything is truly grand at the Grand!

 We enjoyed listening to this harpist after dinner and touring the art gallery.

The next morning, we very reluctantly boarded our ferry that took us back to reality.

Thank you for taking this very abbreviated trip with us to Mackinac Island.  If it isn't on your bucket list, put it at the top.

I look forward to sharing some of the interesting things my camera lens found here (without dialog) in the near future.

Linking with Amaze Me Monday

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