Mackinaw Trip - Friday 08/21

Friday morning was sunny after overnight rain storms in Petoskey for the start of the trip through Bay View and then to the 'Tunnel of Trees' on the way to Mackinaw City. M119 is a narrow road that runs near the edge of lake Michigan with a 20 mile long drive mostly in a canopy of tree branches, thus named the 'Tunnel of Trees'. Once at the end and still 45 minutes from the Baymont motel in Mackinaw City a cry went out for a break. This was answered by the only station in Cross Village, with what turned out to be a single restroom. A number of the group took advantage of the stop, but fortunately all 33 didn't as we were on a time crunch to get to the Mackinac Island ferry. We made it to the motel, and then to our appointed ferry trip as we had reservations at the Grand Hotel set up by our trip leaders Paul & Londa for the luncheon buffet. Getting off of the ferry we took horse drawn carriages to the hotel. Once there we were treated as a special group with some pictures taken and then seated in the dinning room for their huge buffet. The meal that one is able to create is just to great to imagine and describe everything on the multiple buffet tables. Many said it was truly the 'best they ever had', plus the views from the dinning room are worth going to see. Once done with the meal, everyone was on their own to check out the hotel, walk or ride back to the downtown area and then do shopping as they wanted. A number walked and enjoyed the sights plus the shopping opportunities. As the afternoon progressed everyone got a ferry ride back to the mainland and then back to the motel. Once rested up, the members then gathered in the parking lot to give their cars a sprucing up in readiness for the car show on Saturday. This included several of the members giving Keith's blue C7 a wash and prep for the show. With everyone on their own for the evening dinner a number ordered pizza or other meals to be eaten at the motel, while others checked out some of the local restaurants. The long day ended with many heading to bed early as Saturday will be another busy day.
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