Mid October 2018

October 11 2018  Marie and I went on an adventure to P. J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon County. 

We walked at the northern section, past the campground, along Little Black Creek.  The creek flows into Lake Michigan at this point.  Usually on the beach, the creek has some twists and turns before entering the big lake, on this day it headed straight into the lake. 

  Looking to the north with Little Black Creek meeting Lake Michigan

      Looking to the south

     Looking west at Lake Michigan, it was very windy!

 We found the old wood bridge replaced by metal.

We tried to follow the trail back along the creek, but it was flooded in places!

 That is the trail in the center of the picture with the creek on the far right!  We were able to go part of the way but then the water was just too deep for our boots.

 
The same day we stopped at Black Lake Park also in Muskegon County.

 This is Little Black Lake, the same water that flows through Hoffmaster and into Lake Michigan.

 

 Some fall color, but things were still mostly green.

 The next day was off to Crockery Creek Natural Area with Mike.  Some color here too!  October 12

Mike and I celebrate our anniversary in October, (41 years!) and for the last few years we have visited Mackinac Island to mark the occasion.  We stayed at The Inn on Mackinac built in 1867.  

Most of our stay on the island was very windy, cold, with rain and snow.  We did manage to do a long hike along the Tranquil Bluff Trail, and some even longer bike rides.

The island can be reached by private boat, by ferry, by small aircraft, and in the winter, by snowmobile over an ice bridge. The airport has a 3,500-foot paved runway, and daily charter air service from the mainland is available. In the summer tourist season, ferry boat service is available to shuttle visitors to the island from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.

Motorized vehicles have been prohibited on the island since 1898, with the exception of snowmobiles during winter, emergency vehicles, and service vehicles. Travel on the island is either by foot, bicycle, or horse powered carriage. Roller skates and roller blades are also allowed, except in the downtown area. Bicycles, roller skates/roller blades, carriages, and saddle horses are available for rent. An 8-mile road follows the  perimeter of the island, and numerous roads, trails and paths cover the interior.  M-185,  the United States only state highway without motorized vehicles, makes a circular loop around the island, closely hugging the shoreline.  Mackinac Island is about 8 miles in circumference and 3.8 square miles in total area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 We took one last ride around the island before hopping on the ferry to head home.  The clouds moved in and a strong wind kicked up.   

 

This is the ferry as it came to the island from Mackinaw City (about 8 miles).  The Mackinac Bridge is approximately 5 miles behind the ferry.  On this day, at 12:30 in the afternoon,  the dark snow clouds obliterated the view of the bridge.  It was a wild ride on the ferry that afternoon, however a rainbow appeared while we crossed Lake Huron!  Even with the not so perfect weather, we very much enjoyed our trip.

In mid October, the fall colors were not yet at peak.  Still we did see some color and many plants still flowering.  I would say a pretty nice Autumn season.  Thanks for stopping by.

Mackinac Island - Michigan

Mackinac Island is located in Michigan, in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. 

Mackinac Island is about 8 miles in circumference.   An 8-mile road follows the island's perimeter, and numerous roads, trails and paths cover the interior.
More than 80 percent of the island is preserved as Mackinac Island State Park.

A unique local ordinance prohibits the use of any motor vehicles on the island. The most common means of travel are foot, bicycle, or horses. Certain exceptions include emergency vehicles, snowmobiles in winter, and golf carts for on-course use only.  Most tourists come to the island by ferryboat.

Mackinac Island is also famous for the many fudge shops on the island. The island has a very large industry making fudge in a traditional manner, creating them on cold marble slabs.
Mackinac Island is a fun place to visit every few years, especially in the off season.

Mike happened to see a special coupon for the Harbour View Inn back in July, so we picked out two nights in October to spend on the island. 

We started near Grand Haven, Michigan and spent a night at the cabin in Manistee County.  The clouds were great with lots of blue sky.  There was beautiful scenery along the 265 mile drive.

We ended up having four of the best days, weatherwise, that you can get in October in Michigan. 

Barn along the way...

We chose Star Line Ferry, with their Hydro-Jets that produce a distinctive 35' roostertail spray, to cross 8 miles from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island. 
We did bring our bikes, it's $8 to bring them on the ferry and about $6 to$8 PER Hour to rent bikes.  If you are able to bring your own bikes, you can save a good bit of money and you have the convenience of transportation whenever you go somewhere.

 Round Island lighthouse

This is where we stayed, Harbour View Inn.  We had a nice room, very clean, and a yummy breakfast was included each morning. 

Harbour View Inn

We rode our bikes around the island twice, stopping at all the interesting places along the way.  We walked the British Landing Nature Trail, the Lakeshore Nature Trial, we pedaled to the interior of the island to find Eagle Point cave, we saw Arch Rock, Fort Holmes, and visited the U.S. Post Cemetery.

Looking up at Arch Rock

 Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island

Our nineteen year old bikes, refurbished by our son. 

 U.S. Post Cemetery.

The best part of our bike ride was cutting across the island on the British Landing road, it goes down hill, and it was late in the evening so no people were around.  We flew down the road topping off at 23.6 mph, that was fun.

Both nights, there were beautiful sunsets.

 Sunset from Mackinac Island looking towards the Mackinac Bridge.  The colors in the sky were so vivid and beautiful it was difficult to turn away and ride back to the inn.  So I have many pictures of sunsets.



  

One night the sky looked like it had been highlighted with a pink marker. 
We took a late afternoon ferry to Mackinaw City where our car was parked and drove all the way home.  This was a great trip.