The Ferries are Running!

Look! It's the Huron! What a welcome sight! (She hasn't been running for over a month.)


The Huron is only making a few trips a day, but it makes a huge difference to Mackinac Island. Great Lakes Air has been our only way to get off island (and I'm so thankful they exist!) Everything- from mail to Doud's stock of groceries- has arrived by plane. Flying is more expensive. Residents of Mackinac Island can buy a yearly ferry pass, which is a huge blessing!


In the afternoon, I went to the Mackinac Island Courthouse and voted in the Michigan Primary. (Mackinac County votes were split 666-667, not that Michigan delegates are by counties... but it shows how evenly split things are). Afterward, I went to the school so my toddler could enjoy the playground while we waited for school to get out.








A gray and foggy day:





There was enough snow for snowmobiles! ...At least for those living up in the village. The wind hasn't let much snow stay on the roads at the Mission Point end of the island, so I've still been biking.





Fun with facepaint when we got home:


In the evening, our apartment was vibrating. This means a big boat is passing. It wasn't a freighter, but the US Coast Guard!








It's nice to see boats in these waters once more!





Lovely!





How does a guy lose his winter boot? (My hubby joked that it must have been aiming for Boot Island, which is northeast.)








A panoramic shot of Mission Point Resort (playing with an iPhone app called DMD):

Location:Mackinac Island

Tire fixed!

Our burley's tire has required air daily for the past month. I used the bike pump this morning and dropped my daughter off at preschool.


Then I called Jim from Mackinac Wheels (which is closed for the winter) and he was able to fix it! WooHoo!
These pictures were taken while biking to Mackinac Wheels to drop it off.


I love the sunlight!


Of course, my toddler initially had no interest in walking from there. So we utilized the piggyback ride. Eventually, she wanted to walk (in a thoroughly pokey manner), and I had plenty of time to take pictures. The birds were noisy!






Lots of little bird prints!


This stick traveled almost all the way home!


The clouds were moving along and lovely!





I pulled out the double stroller while the tire was getting fixed so I could fetch my preschooler.

I pass these views four times a day, four days a week (so these may be familiar shots on my blog):





I was able to retrieve my bike with its fixed burley tire on the way home. My oldest did not really want to help, but it was difficult to walk my bike (with my youngest in the burley) and the double stroller simultaneously. I'm sure I looked pretty ridiculous while I attempted to manage both. She helped anyhow, thank goodness! (It's hard to steer though!)


Ferries run tomorrow! It seems everyone was smiling a little bigger today- ferries are another level of freedom!

Location:Mackinac Island

Our Last Sunday at Mackinac Bible Church

Our home church is in Cedarville, but we've been attending Mackinac Island Bible Church while the ferries aren't running. In the summer, they meet in Mission Point's Theater. It's a whole different world here in winter, though, and the church meets in the living room of Pastor Ken's home. It reminds me of the early church of Acts 2, meeting in a home (only there's a couch, folding chairs, dining room chairs, coffee, worship music from an iPod...) It's special!
This is on our way home after church- we biked there, but the roads got pretty icy. (Don't worry, we never do this while biking!)


And this is why the Island rejoices:



There was never an ice bridge this year, but at least the ferries are running about a month earlier than last winter!

Location:Mackinac Island

Snowy & Wet at Marquette Park

Friday afternoon, I took the girls to Marquette Park. They were ready to play outside!


The slides were wet, but they certainly didn't mind!





(I took a ton of slide pictures because the girls wanted to!)














Some of the views near the playground area:








Then the girls did something they haven't done much- they headed for the statue of Father Marquette:


They loved it!


A little rest:


I don't think she's as excited for pictures at this point:





This cracked me up! (notice the little one hanging off the side)


Views from the center of Marquette Park:


Fort Mackinac:


Downtown:


Docks:


Wrapping up at Marquette Park:(See how wet she is?)





Heading home!


They were soaked but happy!

Location:Mackinac Island