Jim and I decided to take a lighthouse trip over Labor Day weekend (2000).
We left on a Friday night with the destination of Traverse City, about a half
hour away from where we would leave for the boat day-trip in Leland through the Manitou Island Transit. The boat
Mishemokwa had two levels, with the downstairs
being enclosed except for the very front. Lots of groups of people, families
or friends (or both) were going, many for the holiday weekend. Some, like us,
were on vacation but were just going for the day trip. Some of the people were
traveling to the island for the first time (also like us) while others made
this trip annually, or at least as much as possible. It was interesting to see
how heavy people packed their backpacks, etc. For those camping on the island,
it would be a rustic experience so the backpacks were stuffed. Even for the
day trip we had to bring lunches since once we were off the boat no food or
drinks were available. Jim carried the lunch cooler with bread and lunchmeat
and our waters.
After 1.5 hours we made it to South Manitou Island. We were given .5 hour for
eating lunch, then we went on an open-air tour. Open air simply meant pickup
trucks without the tops, and benches were placed for seating. Two guides each
drove a filled truck. We visited Lake Manitou
in the middle of the island, a farmhouse being rebuilt
along with a summer kitchen, a cemetery
full of families who were once residents of the farming community there and
a schoolhouse with an actual inside bathroom.
The bathroom was built inside because when the children used the outhouse there
was a problem with cattle running the building down.
The tour ended back near the docks, which left just enough time to visit the
lighthouse. A park ranger was leading the
tours. She stopped at each level of the winding staircase so we could catch
our breath and she could relate some history or answer questions. Jim declined
the tour, but kept a camera with him so he could take a photo of me at the
top, 100 feet up! When I finished the tour it was time to return to the
boat dock.
During the return trip Jim spent most of the time at the front watching the
water. I decided to stay inside except for taking photos of the other lighthouse,
the North Manitou Island Shoal light, located in the Manitou Passage. The Shoal
Light replaced a structure previously located on North Manitou Island.