mackinaw city, michigan

The Mackinac Bridge

We made a wise decision yesterday when we pedaled to St. Ignace. It did rain this morning, as forecasted,  and we would have been pedaling in the midst of at all. After loading our vehicles, we headed east fairly early. After crossing the Mackinac Bridge, A. K. A. Mighty Mac, into Mackinaw City, we did what
everybody would certainly do on a day off . . . we went to a laundromat. The Captain's Quarters is a cool little laundromat, if laundromats can be described as cool, and it was close to being empty at the time. That changed from empty to overpopulated in our time there. The prices to wash and dry require many, many quarters which probably contributes to the laundromat's name. But . . . you can't make it too tough for me to complain.

Additional information you really need to know . . . The Mackinac Bridge connects Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas. The Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere with 7,400 feet of roadway suspended in the air over the straits of Mackinac. Total length of the bridge, including its approaches, is approximately five miles. (Thought you'd want to know that.)

You probably would want to know this about Mackinac as well: The French spelled it "Mackinac" but pronounced it "Mack-in-AW." The British spelled it "Mackinaw" and pronounced it "Mack-in-AW." So . . . whether it's Mackinaw City or Mackinac Island, the Mackinac Bridge or the Straits of Mackinac, Fort Mackinac or Fort Michilimackinac on the mainland . . . it's pronounced "AW" on the end.

Back to the rest day . . . we met Phil and Gale at the Dixie Saloon for an early lunch and then Margaret and I came to The Lamplighter Motel. Phil and Gale went to the RV park for the rest of the day.

The Lamplighter Motel is owned and operated by Jennifer and Terry Davis. They have owned this motel for twenty-five years and it sure looks like a great place to spend some time. It's off the beaten path of tourism but close to everything you'd want to visit. Terry and Jennifer do a great job making folks like us feel welcome. We talked awhile about just about everything, including Terry's heart emergency surgeries. Jennifer credits the Lord with Terry's recovery. I also met Jennifer's brother, Tom who, with his wife, is visiting from California where he is a real estate broker near Silicon Valley. Tom is also a rower . . . I mean ocean rowing, out there in the big waters. He coaches too. Tom asked about my Young Life t-shirt and, as we talked, I found out that he is familiar with and has served with Young Life in the past. Tom, Terry, and Jennifer are the kind of folks we've been meeting all along the way. America is full of them and they are the encouragers who help keep us rolling down the roads to the Atlantic. Thank you, Lord.

Since this is a rest day . . . a picture is worth a thousand words:

The Lamplighter Motel Office

Sign in hardware store in Mackinac City. I got my pocket knife sharpened for $3.00! Can't beat that! I also got two scoops of chocolate peanut butter ice cream at Kilwins.

Mackinac Bridge. That's a mighty long bridge.

"Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."