Mackinac Island, MI

Pam and I returned to Mackinac Island, MI for our 10th wedding anniversary. Hard to believe it's been 10 years already...each of us swears it's been longer!

We left home Monday morning expecting good weather ahead, except for some headwinds and a chance of showers near the Great Lakes. The flight across the Appalachians was smooth & uneventful.

The weather started to go downhill in central Ohio, so we had to stop in Marion (KMNN). We were 50 miles short of out planned stop, but we overheard reports of lightning ahead, and the XM Weather on the Garmin 396 confirmed things were getting ugly. While we waited 3-4 hours on the weather we gassed up ($4.07/gal) and borrowed the crew car to go into town to get some lunch.

Eventually we were able to move on, just west of Toledo and northward into more weather. We ended up stopping for the day in Midland, MI (3BS), which is where Pam and I met eleven years ago! We topped off again ($3.79) and put the plane in an open hanger before the wind and rain hit again.

Tuesday dawned with decent weather in Midland, but it was lower to the north. By mid-morning we decided to go take a look. We made it as far Houghton Lake, MI (KHTL) before we had to stop for a couple hour wait. Not much going on here. We just checked the weather via the 396 every once and a while. You can see the changing leaves in the background.

By mid afternoon, the weather over the northern half of MI improved and we were off again for the short flight to Mackinac Island. Here we are approaching the island from the south.

Mission Point is on the southeast end of the island.

You're suppose to avoid over-flying the town, etc. There is a $10.50 landing fee and $10.50 fee per night tie-down fee. No touch and goes allowed, and there is no fuel. Despite all that, the airport (KMCD) itself is pretty nice. The only transportation into town is by horse drawn carriage ($6.50/person).

We ate at the Village Inn Tuesday evening. We each had the famous Planked White Fish. Here's to 10 years!

Unless snowmobiles are in season or you have a plane, most people get to the island via the ferry.

The sun sets on the Mackinac Bridge.

There are more than 300 horses working hard on the island during peak season. Autos are not allowed.

The Little Stone Church hasn't changed too much since we tied the knot there ten years ago. However they were tearing up the sidewalk for some reason, so we couldn't go inside.

We stayed at the Cottage Inn. Quiet, cozy & wireless internet; what more do you need? When we return to Mackinac, we'll stay here again.

We rented bikes to go eight miles around the island. A nice ride, even with the stiff breeze!

On Thursday it was time to head for home (departure video below). It was a cool and smooth ride for the first 150 miles. But south of Saginaw Bay, the clouds moved in and the winds picked up, as forecasted. We made it to our planned stop of Bluffon, OH (5G7). Winds were gusting better than 20 knots, but as planned, they were down the runway. We topped off ($4.35/gal), borrowed the crew car to grab lunch and spent a couple hours watching the weather to the south. By late afternoon, we decided to try to get as far south as we could. We ended up making it to Bolton Field (KTZR), southwest of Columbus, OH before we tied down for the night. Relying again on the kindness of strangers, we borrowed the crew car to drive several miles to a hotel and a great dinner at Salvi's Bistro.

Friday dawned clear, cool and breezy in Columbus, but the low weather remained between us and home. We set out again, but stopped in Postmouth, OH (KPMH). I was stuck here in 2003 with Len, returning from OSH.

After borrowing the wireless internet access in the pilot lounge, and studying the weather some more, we departed to the southwest (away from home) on top of a broken layer. According to the satellite picture, this would eventually become more scattered and we can cut back east, across the mountains, then we could go back underneath the cloud deck for the final sprint home.

Shortly after wondering if the clouds would ever go scattered, they finally did and we headed east.

The last 40 miles was at 1000 AGL, dodging showers. Gusty cross winds at 8A7 made me work until the very end of the roll-out!

Over the course of the five day trip, we put 10 hours on the plane and covered more than 1500 NM. Overall it was a fantastic trip shared with a fantastic person. The weather put us to the test, in more ways than one. But through it all, Pam was a real trooper. Thanks, Deere & happy anniversary!!

Here's a little video of our departure from Mackinac Island.