Mackinac Island-Oh The Fudge!!

 The entrance to Main Street Inn and Suites was in an alcove almost directly across from the Shepler's Ferry dock on the island. As we finished a few quick pictures, we crossed the street and checked in. In a little tiny lobby, we were greeted cheerfully by a lady behind the counter and the man who had collected our suitcase from the ferry. As soon as he knew our room number, he was off to put our suitcase in the room. 

We found our room on the third floor which smelled freshly cleaned which always eases your mind in a pandemic. The room was quaint and featured a loveseat and cushioned wicker chair. We didn't take a lot of time to settle in. The sun was shining and who knew how long that would continue.

Outside the temps were a little chilly but the sun warmed you a bit. We noticed most people were out on the sidewalks with masks on. I couldn't decide if it was because it kept your face warmer or just saved having to put them on again to go into stores or restaurants or the fudge shops. Oh the fudge shops!

As we walked down the street, even with masks on, you could smell the fudge. I wondered if the exhaust fans purposely vented out to the street kind of like how the smell of popcorn lures you into a movie theater or a popcorn stand at the fair.

 [Later we would be told there were 17 fudge shops and in examining the history of one of the fudge shops, yes, originally they did vent purposely to the outside.]

I wanted to get a good picture of the Mackinac Bridge and of the Grand Hotel so we walked along the boardwalk that led out of the main area of town and along the shore. I got a couple of shots of the bridge but the Grand Hotel was up higher and mostly hidden from our view by trees. 

Round Island Lighthouse

There were two lighthouses that sat outside the harbor of the island. We had passed them on the way in. Now we found a sign that told of the historic value of the one. The Round Island Lighthouse was built in 1895 by Frank Rounds and was first lit in 1896. William Marshall was the first keeper of the lighthouse and served there until 1906. The beacon was automated in 1924 and the Coast Guard took over in 1939 when the care of all lighthouses fell to them. In 1947 it was decommissioned and 
threatened with demolition. It was saved when it became a part of the Hiawatha National Forest. In the 1970s, when weather took a toll on it, preservationists rallied and saved it once again. In 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historical Places. With the help of the Boy Scouts the lighthouse is looking more like its original building. 

The second lighthouse, the Round Island Passage Light is also a historical landmark having been established  in 1948 as part of a project to better map the navigation of the Great Lakes. 

The clippity clop of two draft horses signaled the arrival of shipping packages to be delivered, among them several familiar Prime smile boxes. I'm not sure how fast Prime deliveries are on the Island. The horses take their time. Life seems a little slower here.