We left Drummond Island & cruised through the upper part of Lake Huron to historic Mackinac Island (which marked the 1/2 way point of our “Great Loop Trip – 2800 miles) where we were fortunate to dock just below the old fort & right next to downtown. The fudge smell wafted down the hill. It really is a special island with only horse drawn vehicles, horses being ridden, bicycles & people walking through old town. The first night we dined at the Grand Hotel, the largest summer hotel in the US with the longest porch in the world. First time for a coat & tie since Lyford Cay in the Bahamas. Friends Bruce & Brian joined us the next few days & we all enjoyed the island together. From Mackinac Island we cruised under the Mackinaw Bridge into Lake Michigan. We had calm seas & cruised into Harbor Springs, known as the “Palm Beach” of the north. In the glory days of the Michigan auto industry, it is said that “70% of the wealth in America summered in Harbor Springs and the summer “cottages” are still there to prove it. The next day we went on to Charlevoix, MI (actually Alan’s birthplace), one of our favorite Michigan summer resorts. It has a great harbor with all the shops, parks, restaurants & pubs within a few blocks. The seas have been calm & the weather perfect. Actually we talked about the fact that, in 3 months of this journey, we had 1 day that we decided to stay put in port & went on again the next day. We feel so fortunate!