This is a log of Ron and Shel's trip to Mackinaw Island, MI for our 10th Anniversary celebration!
Sunday 9-5-10
We're off to a nice leisurely start with breakfast at our favorite breakfast place - Kate's Kitchen on North Oak.
KC - stop in Hermann, MO. Bought 4 bottles of Adam Puchta - Adams Choice, Jazzberry, Berry Black and Riefenstahler.
On the way back to I-70, saw a sign for zip lines at Eco Tours. They were booked so we are planning on doing that on the way back. They also have a Halloween thing coming up where you can zip above ground for a mile in the dark. We are pondering coming back for that. Sounds fun!
We saw the Bret Michaels Tour bus heading to KC.
Hermann to Decatur - arrived at 6 pm - Holiday Inn Express in Forsyth, IL.
Ate at Cheddars - very tasty.
Mp3 player has 1515 songs on it, we went through 100 of them so far.
Monday 9-6-10
Free Breakfast at Holiday Inn Express. As it turned out, the clerk from the night before had actually canceled our stay instead of checking us in so we got the nights' stay for free! So nice of them!
On the road at 9 AM.
Travel from Decatur, IL to Mackinaw City, MI. Almost 1000 miles total from KC to here!
Stayed at Econolodge in Mackinaw City.
As we pulled in, we noticed some brand new cabins in front. As we checked in, the manager gave us a "manager special" for $30 more per night. VERY COOL Cabins for $99!
Tunes - about 120 songs on the mp3 player.
Ate dinner at Nonni Lisa's Italian a block North. Way too much food and the breadsticks were deep fried??? OMG. I just had to see how much grease could be squeezed out of one - so I squeezed it with my hand like a dishrag. So much oil dripped out. Yuck! But, the food was good.
Tuesday 9-7-10
Free breakfast at econolodge.
Went to Arnold's Transit for the ferry to the Island. Arrive at the Island at Noon. $24 each roundtrip.
Checked in to the Chippewa Hotel. Happy to see the room was ready at Noon!
Went on the carriage tour of Mackinaw Island. That was about a 2 hour narrated ride around the island.
the wind picked up and it got chilly during the tour.
Got back to the room and took a nap. Very relaxing with the window open, we could hear the horse and buggies clip clopping on the street. Just felt like we were at the the turn of the century - no engine noises at all. The occasional ferry arrival would honk it's horn.
It started to rain.
We went for another discovery tour walk in the rain. Mostly shops. Many fudge shops! Bought a DVD and a couple of books about Mackinaw Island.
Decided to dine at the Pink Pony at the hotel and got to look out at Lake Huron at Sunset.
During dinner, there was a impressive storm that knocked a few sail boats on the lake.
Enjoyed wine bottle #3 - Adam Puchta Berry Black in the room. Fired up the tunes and started this here blog!
Wednesday 9-8-10:
Breakfast at the Pancake House
Rented bikes all day.
Parked the bikes and toured Fort Makinaw for about an hour and a half.
Watched the cannon and rifle shooting demos, toured the barracks etc.
Return to the hotel and hung out in the large outdoor jacuzzi.
Light dinner at the Pink Pony in the hotel.
Played cards and drank the 4th bottle of wine - Reinfeld. Very good!
Thursday 9-9-10
Pancake House for breakfast again - yes, very good!
Checked out of the hotel.
Rode horses via Cindy's Stable. Sean was our guide. Shel rode Fritz and Ron rode Nugget. We got to ride in the woods as well which was pretty cool! 1 hour ride.
Lunch at the Seabiscuit. - Thumbs up!
Ice cream.
Took 2 old time photos (for our eyes only!)
Grabbed our bags and back to Arnolds Ferry to Mackinaw City.
Got our cabin back at Econolodge.
Dinner at the Dixie Saloon in Mackinaw City.
Jacuzzi at Econolodge.
1st Football game of the season on the tube and played cards some more.
Friday 9-10-10:
Travel back to Holiday Inn Express in Decatur, IL. Would not recommend it - staffing needs some help.
Morning Joe (Joseph as McDonalds likes to call it - the billboard said If Coffee is Joe, then this is Joseph.) We liked that!
About 90 tunes.
Saturday 9-11-10:
Woke up and saw the exact video as it was being aired at the same time 9 years ago from NBC as the planes hit the towers. Odd to relive that but it is good to remember. Sadly it was almost the same emotional impact.
On the road again after breakfast, stopped for morning Joseph and McD's, Steak and Shake for lunch and home at 3:30. About 110 tunes.
Route to and from:
70 E. to STL, 55 N. to Springfield, IL, 72 E. to Decatur - 426 miles.
72 N.E. to 57 North to Chicago - 94 E. to Kalamazoo - N. on 131 to Cadillac - 55 E. to 75 N.
Total miles - 1,933 and the RAV got an average of 25 mpg.
