I traveled, a lot. Not huge vacations, but lots of little small really fun vacations. And then there was Mackinac Island.
It started with a visit from my aunts: Jeannie and Shannon. Since our trip to Nebraska to attend a cousins wedding several months ago, I have wanted to take a road trip with Jeannie and Shannon. Well, in the course of 3 days, I got two road trips!
We started off the week with a day trip to Waynesville, MO to see Melissa, get out hair cut, get our brows waxed (Jeannie will never be the same) and get our toes painted. We filled our bellies at the El Jimadore and we took the aunts up the big big hill to Melissa's house.
The next day (after work for me and day in St Louis for Mom, Jeannie and Shannon) we went to Merimac Caverns.
Jeannie, Mom, and Shannon
The next day - day 3 - we took a day trip to the Lake of the Ozarks where Jeannie became a honorary blaster for the day and we hung out with Jason.
Rock in the air! Not too high but the rumble we felt under our feet - awesome! My husband has the best job!
Good Job Jeannie!
The Aunts went home exhausted and amazed at the hills we have in Missouri - in Nebraska they just go over the little bumps, no need for explosives.
I got it in my head that if Jason got to go to Texas on vacation to shoot fish without his girls (me and Haley), Haley and I should be able to go somewhere. I have wanted to visit Mackinac Island, MI for at least 3 summers. I first heard of the island when Amy Roloff and her family went on Little People, Big World. I was fascinated by an island where no vehicles were aloud. Then last year Mike Rowe and Dirty Jobs did more than one episode from the island. So I went on a few websites, ordered a free brochure, mapped out a few driving options, and put it whole idea in my someday pile.
When I mentioned this trip to my husband, he shot it down right away. Not because he didn't want to go (he sort of thought it was ridiculous to go on vacation when you have to ride a bike or walk everywhere) but it was because he couldn't go - he suddenly was blessed with more work and unable to take off anymore days with the tight deadlines. When I mentioned the conversation to my Mom - she said 'Doesn't mean we can't go!' God Love Her!
Plans were made, reservations confirmed, and we were off. We left on a Monday and traveled to Indiana to visit with my sister-in-law Stacy. We had never been to her house in Indiana and they girls were way over the top excited to see each other. (the girls being Haley and Alli)
We were breaking up the long drive a bit by staying overnight at Stacy's. They were very good hosts, Stacy even put with me and my love of NASCAR and took me into town to see the Indianapolis Speedway. And that's all we did was see it - the track was closed, getting ready for the upcoming race. But I was there:)
Everyone went along:
don't they look thrilled!
After driving down some questionable streets ( and giving the kids a bit of city culture ) we went back to Stacy's for dinner and then some swimming.
The girls were going to sleep in the playroom together but after all the lights were out I heard Haley in the hallway searching for me. Poor girl checked every room but the one I was in:) Then it was up early the next day and off to Michigan!
Stacy and Brad were very gracious hosts and even invited us to drive back through on the way home and stay another night. Small problem with that plan...BIG race at the track that weekend, I might have snuck out in the middle of the night to stalk Junior against my will. And then I would have gotten lost, would have had to call Stacy, would have had to explain WHY I was wondering the streets of Indianapolis in the middle of the night. Safer just to stick with the original plan of heading back through Chicago.
Bright and early we packed, ate a few bites of breakfast, gave hugs all around and headed north. I do have to report than my little niece Sara actually talked to me - for 2 days - most she's talked to me her whole life. I usually just get the evil eye and she hides behind Stacy. Big moment for me. She stopped the day we left after I made the mistake of pointing it out to her.
Tuesday was LONG day FULL of driving and feeling like we were NEVER going to get there! We were out of Indianapolis only about an hour when all traffic came to a complete stop for about 30 min. We were a sight in our car - all 4 of us ( me, my mom, her friend Jeannie, and Haley) had out a book and was reading. People were getting out of their cars and walking out along the median to check it out. Several people were tossing a football around - it was surreal. The further north we drove, the further into the forrest we drove. It felt like we were heading into Forks and Edward or Jacob were going to jump out of the trees at any moment. Then I realized it was too sunny - we were safe from Vampires anyway:)
After several stops at gas stations - this one was my favorite:
Still want to send this one into Jay Leno! Haley got creative in her seat - she made a tent:
And then at about 5pm we finally rolled into Mackinaw City MI and found our Hotel:
We had a balcony and view of the lake.
We checked in, Mom changed our room (it wouldn't be a check in with Mom if she doesn't change the room) and we got ourselves ready to go to the island. Mackinac Island!
There is only one way to get there - ferry. No cars aloud on the island. All road traffic is bikes or horses. You want a taxi - it's a horse drawn carriage - so much fun! I loved every inch of that place and want to go back to explore some more!
We headed to Shepler's Ferry and waited for the next boat:
Haley was fascinated that you could see the bottom of the lake when you look over the dock. She doesn't get that kind of view on the Missouri River. Of course, she found fish swimming right away. She had the eye for it, gets it from her dad. They can both be pointed fish out and I'm like 'where, what, huh?'.
You can inside the cabin or up on the top - guess where Haley wanted to be:
That's the Mackinaw Bridge in the background - largest suspension bridge - five miles long.
More on our Summer Vacation tomorrow.....
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