Slow Boat

Like the Olde West, but with a lakefront view

The French priest and explorer Jaques Marquette founded the St. Ignace mission in 1671.  In 2010 the place has the look of a western cowboy town, don't you think?

It's probably just the architecture of the period; much of the West was settled in the second half of the 19th century, which is when St. Ignace was enjoying a bit of an economic boom, as the railroad came in.  

There were even ferries that took train cars across the straits of Mackinac.  The enormous ferry dock is still there on the waterfront, overgrown with weeds.  Today the main economic drivers seem to be tourism and a Native American-run casino six miles up the road.  Popular snacks at local restaurants: smoked whitefish and "pasties." (We tried both)

We stayed three days in St. Ignace, waiting out the weather.  Each morning the forecast said, "Wind 20 knots, waves 4 to 6 feet," which is more than a canal boat can handle! Thursday morning we were up at 6:00 AM to take advantage of a good forecast.  As the sun rose we were creeping out of the harbor; the moon, just past full, was high in the western sky.

A few miles down the coast we came to a landmark for the region--and a structure that marked another turning point in our voyage.  As we sailed under the famous Mackinac Bridge, we officially left Lake Huron to enter Lake Michigan.

Next step: Holystone the decks

So based on these pictures you might think we have suddenly been teleported to Jamaica.

Actually, we stopped in yesterday at Mackinac Island, Michigan. (Pronounce it Mack-i-NAW,  not Mack-i-NACK, or else they'll know you are from away.)

The limestone substrate and shallow waters combine to create this tropical effect, with turquoise water and white beaches.

Another cool thing: The island's been a tourist destination since just after the Civil War, and back when the automobile was a novelty, the town fathers decided to ban it. Cars are STILL banned, and residents and tourists get around on bikes or in horse-drawn carriages. (Pix on next page.)

No guesses on the "What IS It" challenge from July 24, eh?  Should I give the answer?

That piece of machinery with all the crazy wheels actually is called a "crazy wheel," and it's a kind of braking system for logging sleds that areloaded with timber.  A cable was attached to the sled so that, as horses pulled the load downhill, it didn't go crashing forward and mow the horses down.  The cable wrapped around the wheels to generate the braking action.

Here's an easier one, also from the Lumber Museum in Blind River.  Yup, it's a hammer, but notice it has a number on the pounding face.  This hammer is never used for pounding nails; it IS using in logging.  So, what IS it?