What is the proper way to pronounce the word “Mackinac”?
The French Pronounced it “aw” but spelled it “ac”. The British heard it pronounced “aw” so they spelled it that way. Whichever way it is spelled, it is always pronounced “aw”.
Lasagna, 45 minute drive north & a quick 20-minute power nap after finishing marathon #33 – and I’m boarding an early afternoon ferry to Michigan’s Mackinaw Island. Berthed downtown on Main Street, bought a carriage tour ticket & hopped aboard within 5 minutes of arriving on the island. BAM – awesome timing (next tour not for 2 hours).
Traffic on Mackinac Island is limited to bicycles & horse-drawn carriages – automobiles prohibited…pretty cool, huh?
Targeted a visit to Mackinaw & its Grand Hotel because of a sappy 80’s movie starring Jane Seymour & Christopher Reeve, “Somewhere in Time”. Re-watched the movie last week online before marathoning in Michigan.
Don’t think the love story itself drew me in – it was the ability to go back in time & live another era. What would life have been like if I were placed in the early to mid- 1800’s in the American West? Hmm.
Mackinaw’s Carriage Tour hit all island highlights. Started downtown, rode past residences built in the 1910s & ‘20s, the Governor’s ‘Summer Residence’, and – the Grand Hotel.
Built in 1887, the Grand Hotel still looks much like it did a century ago. There are newer hotels with modern facilities on the island – but give me history & creaky wood planks any day. Nothing rivals the Grand Hotel’s long wrap-around wood porch, overlooking the Straits of Mackinac (Lake Huron). Spectacular.
Tour resumed at the island’s working stable (Surrey Hills) where we switched carriages & travelled thru Mackinac Island State Park, stopping briefly at Arch Rock (rest break for the horses).
Tour concluded at Fort Mackinac, built by British troops during the Revolutionary War. I hopped off at Fort Mackinac & walked the trip remainder, down historic Market Street, past “Somewhere in Time” gift shop & multiple fudge stores.
Beautiful day.
Ferried returned, hotelled the night across from Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.
Early 230am start for the trip home – 4 hour ride to Grand Rapids, 8am Denver flight.
“Come back to me” – Elise McKenna, ‘Somewhere in Time’
I’ll come back to Mackinaw & the Grand Hotel.
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- early afternoon ferry to scenic Mackinaw Island
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- Mackinac Bridge, Lake Michigan
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- bicycle or horse-drawn carriage — automobiles prohibited
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- carriage tour down Main, thru historic Downtown, to the Grand Hotel
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- Arch Rock, Mackinac Island State Park
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- Straits of Mackinac (Lake Huron)
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- British outpost, Fort Mackinac
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- lighthouse sunset (moon visible)
“Somewhere in Time”
Early Sunday rise – pumped, excited – vacation highlight: downtown to Lake Union for an 8am 
seaplane departure to San Juan Island on the US-Canadian border. Prop plane loaded, looped Seattle’s city lake, speed increase & UP…on our way. 45 short minutes later, circled once, water landed in Friday Harbor WA. Awesome ride, super convenient.
Weather plays a HUGE role in life in the Northwest. Cool temps, dense fog, steady mist, drizzle. Our day? Sunshine, all day long. Couldn’t ask for better weather 🙂
Pier walk, short jot into town, breakfast at Cask & Schooner, tour check-in.
Boarded MV Sea Lion; charter advertised “over 90% whale sightings”. Sign me up! First Orca adventure – killer whales, wolves of the sea. These massive mammals hunt in packs, often toying with their prey before flesh tearing into dinner. Intelligent, majestic, SeaWorld giants – but don’t be fooled, these giants are meat-eaters. Social creatures migrating up-n-down the Pacific Coast – Washington, BC & Alaska (summers), Baja California (winter).
WHALE! Not one whale, but an entire pod. SPECTACULAR!
Trademark black-n-white markings – just out there in the wild – no words.
Our boat briefly crossed into Canada, following multiple family pods hugging the northern shoreline in search of seal. Stunning landscape, tree line, glacier-fed bays, ocean channels, snow-capped Mount Baker. Incredible scenic wonder.
Whatta day, whatta adventure. ‘Catch the Whale Plane’ – highly recommended.
Free Msg! Welcome to Canada. Dial +1 & 10-digit# to call US. Global Data: $2.05/MB. Turn data services off in device settings or use Wi-Fi to avoid charges. Sent from my iPhone
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- downtown Seattle to San Juan Island in under an hour
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- water landing in scenic Friday Harbor
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- next stop, breakfast
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- 3-hour whaling adventure
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- family pod of orcas
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- W-H-A-L-E
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- Boundary Pass, between Gulf Islands Canada & San Juan Islands USA (background, Mount Baker)
Orca Adventure (clip 1)
Orca Adventure (clip 2)
5 days ago, ran/walked/crawled my worst marathon in Casper Wyoming.
Mentally re-grouped, today Seattle bound. Surprising long 3-hour flight, greeted by Washington state’s towering Mount Rainier. double WOW! [Someday I’ll bag this peak – on my bucket list 🙂 ]
Struggled initially with public transport (no rental car this trip), but eventually made my way to the NFL Seahawks’ CenturyLink Field (for bib pick-up). After the Broncos’ humiliating 2014 Super Bowl loss, couldn’t imagine souvenir shopping. HOWEVER, pleasantly surprised to see Seattle’s Sounders share store space with the Seahawks. One of MLS’ premier soccer teams – dropped 20 & scored a new beanie.
Hooked up with Ash & Tom (arrived a day earlier), toured the city via harbor cruise – SUPER fun – then ended the day at Seattle’s infamous fish-tossing Public Market.
Crazy hippie vibe in Seattle, sport a unique accent (Alaskan/Canadian tinge) – and is a city of hills. Folks warned ’bout San Francisco being hilly…no such disclaimer for the Emerald City. Yikes!
Woke early Saturday, 6am monorail to Seattle Center – caught my first close-up of the Space Needle. Would have to wait post-marathon for a ride UP 🙂 Hung out nearby in the Armory with a thousand new friends, awaiting an 8am start.
Corral start: lotta people, lotta corrals – BIG crowd, majority half-marathoners (combined start). Only my 2nd Rock n Roll event, Las Vegas RnR was HUGE — 44,000 participants.
Almost 10 minutes before I actually crossed the Start Line – but from there, a different attitude. Sunshine, cool temps – maybe Seattle’s hippie vibe – whatever the reason, this was not Casper.
Separated from the halfers early & worked our way south to Seward Park. GREEN. Biggest difference from Colorado, everything’s leafy, lush & GREEN here.
Crossed the mile-long expansion bridge to Mercer Island at mile 18; struggled with strong crosswinds [on the bridge] but reenergized to music blasting in the tunnel before mile 19 (& mile 22).
Paced sub-4 until the mile 23 bridge return to Seattle. Hills – bring ‘em on. I eat hills for breakfast.
Casper Marathon, I derailed/everything fell apart – mental, physical, top 10 worst. Today approaching Seattle’s Space Needle, I felt STRONG. Love this city. SUCCESS: state #32 marathon FINISH.
Next stop (WaMu Theatre), Jurassic World premier – my post-marathon movie treat in 3D.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon
June 13, 2015
Bib Name City, State Time
8057 K R Haga Louisville, CO 4:15:26
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- Mount Rainier greeting
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- marathon bib pick-up at Seahawk’s CenturyLink Field
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- downtown Seattle skyline
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- Seattle’s infamous fish-throwing marketplace
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- Haga family lookin’ fly as we tour the harbor — at Argosy Cruises
