lighthouse with flashing beacon


Lighthouse Cruise Mackinac Straits East

Old Mackinac Point

I chose an August (2001) weekend for a lighthouse journey. We returned to Mackinaw City (My Favorite), this time for a lighthouse cruise. The weekend also happened to correspond to the North American Lighthouse Festival.

We arrived on a windy Friday but luckily were not scheduled until Saturday. On that Saturday morning Jim headed for the coffee and I turned in the vouchers, then we waited in line to get on the ferry, all before the sun even came up. I am not normally an early riser, but it was worth the 6:30 time.

We had an Eastward route on the Straits, and with the sun rising, the light made very interesting photos (Round Island, 14' Shoal, Cheboygan Crib Light, Mackinac Cutter, Poe Reef, Round Island Passage, Bois Blanc). Before going east we went west to the Mackinac Bridge and stopped directly beneath it. That is one view we may never see again!

The best part was having the narration through the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keeper's Association (GLLKA) and slowing down whenever possible for great photo ops. By the time we returned to land we still had a full morning left for the Festival. We are looking forward to "cruising" again.

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