Sunday 11 May 2025--Mackinac Island is about three miles long and a mile and three-quarters wide. 80% of it is taken up by Mackinac Island State Park, which is criss-crossed by walking trails. There's a cycle path around the circumference, about eight miles in length. My bony butt doesn't much like cycling, and my feet aren't up for an eight-mile walk these days, either. But I do want to see some of the island, so I follow the path east around as far as Arch Rock, and then cut along a path through the woods to Fort Mackinac, from where I have this view over the town. The fort was built by the British during the Revolution to control the Straits of Mackinac, and was one of the Great Lakes forts that were not relinquished to the US until the ratification of the Jay Treaty in 1796. In the early days of the War of 1812, the British recaptured it without firing a shot, having taken the undermanned garrison by surprise--the American commander had not heard from his superiors in months, and had no idea that a war was on. It was not returned to American control until the end of the war.

Last night I had a pint in the Great Turtle Brewery, which was okay. This evening I'm in the Draught House, which is a pretty bog standard sports bar, but there's a good selection of beer.