Mackinac Day Four

August 21, 2025

The horse-drawn wagon was ready to transport us to breakfast at 5:50 this morning.  I told Paul to bring me some toast.  I don’t like breakfast before 9 or 10.  Our rooms at the lodge were actually suites with a kitchenette, a small living room, and I even found a Murphy bed behind what looked like closet doors. I brewed a pot of coffee and enjoyed a hot shower and a few minutes of time alone. I like people, especially the group we hang out with on these bus trips, but at heart I’m an introvert who needs a bit of down time too.  And no food before I’m fully awake and preferably after a cup or two of coffee.

When Paul got back from breakfast he had a toasted bagel, plenty of cream cheese, and fresh pineapple and cantaloupe slices.  He said he didn’t ask for anything except a raw bagel but the kind woman serving breakfast (another sister from the lodge-owner clan) insisted on getting it all ready for me.  These really are the kindest, most serving people we’ve met so far on this trip.  Their furnishings were not the latest or most stylish but immaculately clean.  Their concern for our comfort was far more valuable than designer décor.  I would highly recommend their establishment to anyone.

We stopped in Leland, Michigan, a quaint little fishing village, for lunch.  Many of the old buildings remain but they have been transformed into touristy eateries and shops.  We were behind schedule so Lori, our tour escort, suggested we eat ASAP and hit the road again.  The place was crowded with tourists so finding food quickly would be a challenge.  I saw a young couple seated at a waterfront table, unwrapping their very large sandwiches.  I asked where they bought those and they sent me to a hole-in-the-wall (literally) called The Cheese Shack.  The line was so long we waited a half hour, grabbed our food and ate on the bus. They were mighty delicious though. And the wait was enjoyable. Warm sunshine, beautiful views, and plenty of people to watch.

We stopped at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park for a 1.5 mile hike to see the dunes.  Rising over 400 feet into the sky at the edge of Lake Michigan, the white sandy cliffs were a stark contrast to the dark trees bordering them on the land sides.  The trail wound through thick trees, up hills and down, with an occasional glimpse of the water down below.  A few of our group stayed on the bus but most of us trekked through the forest to see what we could see.  I allowed myself half the allotted hour to move toward the goal, leaving enough time for the return trip.  With my uncooperative knees, I wasn’t able to make the whole hike but still enjoyed what I did manage.  I pondered the passage of time and the way it ravages us physically.  A short while ago I would have plowed up and down those hills with plenty of stamina and time to spare.  Now I was forced to pace myself, grit my teeth, and tell my grinding joints to shut up and move.  It really is irritating and I’m going to have to decide how to fix the problem.  As soon as I have time.  And I reminded myself that my troubles are minor compared to so many others.

We pulled into The Shack, a church camp in White Cloud, Michigan around supper time. Unlike any church camp I’ve ever seen, this is a large collection of beautiful log buildings on the banks of a small lake.  State of the art kitchens, well-appointed bedrooms, gazebos, docks, chairs to sit, paths to walk, flowers everywhere, everything geared toward peace and rejuvenation. A delicious hot meal was waiting for us and banana splits were promised before bedtime.  All of us agreed we could stay here for several more days but tomorrow we head toward home.  Tonight though, it’s time for cards and camaraderie.