In the Yoop--Upper Peninsula, Michigan--St. Ignace to Mackinac Island

Our next destination was the Straits State Park Campground in St. Ignace, Michigan, just across the "Mighty Mac", the five-mile long bridge that connects the Upper Peninsula to mainland Michigan. The Mackinac Bridge was built in 1957 replacing ferry only transportation up until then crossing the Straits of Mackinac which required ice breaking ferries in winter.

Crossing the "Mighty Mac"

We could see Mackinac Island from the bridge.

Our state park camp site. We have power but no water or sewer. Community water faucet is in the foreground, and the restrooms and the nearby showers are very nice and kept spotless. 

Once settled in, we took a bike ride throughout this large campground and found nice overlooks of the bridge along the way.

From the park beach

Up early the next morning, we wanted to catch the first ferry over to Mackinac Island. We called Shepler's Ferry when they opened at 7:00 a.m. and asked about their free shuttle hoping to avoid taking the truck out and their $15 parking fee. A driver picked us up 10 minutes later at the campground ranger station, and we found out quickly he was originally from Alabama. He was stationed in Traverse City in the U.S. Coast Guard many years ago and never left after he got out. 

The shuttle buses lined up for service. They pick up at all the local campgrounds and hotels.

The streets were empty when we arrived so we rent straight to the bike rental station (ebikes are not allowed so we left them at home). We cycled through Main Street then on to the 8.2 paved trail that circles the entire outer coast of the island, stopping and enjoying sites along the way.

Had we known at this point how crowded it would be later, we would have enjoyed this part first before heading to the trail.

Deliveries by horse and cart. No autos allowed on the island at all.

Start of the nice, paved trail

Beautiful scenery and calm on the leeward side of the island.

We stopped at the Arch Rock site and walked up the 207 steps to the top to view this interesting formation and enjoy the lake views.

Very glad we were diligent at the gym before our trip.

Lake kayakers in the water behind the arch.

Back down at the bikes, we continued on the trail.

Looking back up at the Arch.

We rented 9 speed step through street bikes. 

I'm still amazed at the clear water and the beautiful colors.

Devil's Oven formation.

The windward side with waves. Chilly northwest wind blowing, but the sunshine was warm.

The Grand Hotel

Fort Mackinac

Market Street

Beautiful mansions on Main Street

We intended to bike through the town streets viewing the scenery, but it was all very crowded with people, bikes and difficult to pass horse drawn carriage, not to mention dodging horse droppings all along the streets. We turned the bikes in, had a nice lunch at the Yankee Rebel Tavern, did a little souvenir shopping, then headed to the ferry dock. Ferries leave every half hour during the day and every hour in the evening until 10:00 p.m. The same Alabama native took us back to the campground and even offered to drop us at our camp site, but we declined as it wasn't a long walk back.

Heading back to St. Ignace through the Mackinac breakwater.

The Grand Hotel from the ferry. 

Happy Campers

The Native American history was well covered with plaques along the way as well as the European arrival stories. The straits of Mackinac were valuable as a trading route before and after European arrivals causing involvement in many war skirmishes. We also learned that Mackinac is pronounced Mackinaw because of its French heritage. The C is silent in the French pronunciation. 

It was an enjoyable and interesting day with glorious weather. We relaxed the rest of the day at our campsite.