Mackinac Island Bicycle Tour

After a short night of sleep, we woke on Sunday morning (20 July) and headed into the arena for breakfast. Tables and chairs for about 125 people were set up at one end of the hockey rink. We were running a bit late so most of the riders had already loaded their plates and started eating their cheesy eggs, biscuits and gravy, cereal, granola, and fruit. Many were finished eating, but there was plenty left for us. We were the last ones to finish breakfast (something that would happen frequently over the next few days).

After breakfast we zipped up the tents, loaded up the bikes, and road to the ferry terminal to catch a ride to Mackinac Island. The Shepler's ferry terminal was just a few blocks from the Little Bear East Arena. We had purchased a ferry ticket for each person (6) and each bicycle (3) when we registered for the MUP, but we had to buy three more bicycle ferry tickets because bicycles require one ferry ticket per seat!

Abbey took this picture of the ferry:



Here we are waiting at the ferry terminal. Our blue Burley Rumbas, and Grandma and Grandpas very cool, sparkly chameleon, fat-tire Burley Rock-n-Roll.



We were sort of horrified at the way the bikes were just piled into the luggage area of the ferry. Potential for damage was high, despite their promise of "no scratches." But it was kind of cool that the ferry workers found themselves inundated by bicycles, with more than 20 bicycles crammed into the gear compartment of the ferry. Of course, since Mackinac Island is car-free, the ferry personnel ought to be used to transporting bicycles.

Abbey snapped this cool picture of rental bikes on the island:



This building with bicycles on the wall was located at the ferry landing:



Lake Shore Road runs around the perimeter of Mackinac Island - it's about eight miles in length. It's also called M-185, and is the only state highway in Michigan on which it is illegal to drive a car. How many state highways in the country are car-free? It was great, although we were witnesses to a bicycle crash. Nobody was seriously injured.



We road around the island for a few hours, including the perimeter road and some of the interior roads. It's very hilly, forested, and fun riding. For those who don't have a bicycle, there are the horse-drawn carts all over the place. We didn't need one, but we did have to contend with them on the roads. And lots of horse poop.



We walked around the touristy streets, had lunch at a little old cafe, and ate some of the famous Mackinac Island Fudge. It was fun. And if you are into history, there's an old fort you can tour, and all sorts of related interesting historical stuff.

Back on the mainland of St. Ignace, the kids and I attempted to take a swim on the beach, but it was chilly and windy and the water was too full of debris to make for good swimming or wading, which was a little disappointing. So we jumped on our bikes and pedaled through St. Ignace to a little diner for dinner. We had grilled veggie sandwiches and garden burgers and more fries than we could possibly eat. While we were there a heavy rain began to fall. We watched it wash our bicycles while we ate dinner. We pedaled back to the arena through chilly air and wet streets, to discover that one of the windows in Grandma and Grandpa's tent had been slightly open and some rain found it's way to their pillows and sleeping bags. Their stuff was a little wet - or maybe quite wet, I'm not really sure - but they didn't complain too much. I hope they were comfortable that night. At least there was no wedding party!

There was a MUP rider meeting that evening, where Fred, the Tour Director, went over all the maps and tour info. The LMB Executive Director, Rich, also gave a fun and informative presentation. It's always fun to hear Rich talk.

After that, it was showers and toothbrushing and off to bed. Get to sleep! The ride starts tomorrow!