I got up early this morning to see a Mackinac Island tradition– a formal ride. The people who live on the island gather on the East Bluff with their horses to toast those they lost that year. Then they ride through the island to the west bluff and do another toast to honor the dead and to close out the season. It was lovely to be a part of a local Mackinac Island tradition. My ‘landlady’ Trish told me about it when I checked into Voyageur Inn last night; as she showed me my apartment, Trish pointed out her horse Grey in the stables across the lane. Trish and her mom are lifelong Mackinac residents and in addition to the Voyageur Inn they also own and run the Bogan Lane Inn.
It is an awesome day on the island. I am glad I woke up early and dragged my butt up the stairs to the East Bluff. After watching the islanders ride off, I went up to Anne’s Tablet then I back tracked and walked along the East Bluff over to Manitou Trail. As I walked I heard reveille sound from the fort and then shortly after, the boom of the cannon. The sharp blast from a ferry made look down to the Arnold dock to see all the people arriving for the day — it’s going to be a busy day on the Island. I could hear the clanging of the buoy in the straits the closer I got to Manitou Trail. I stood at the trail head and took it all in…and debated on if I should walk its steep ridges. I decided that Manitou was too much before breakfast so I once again walked by all the pretty houses and gardens on the bluff to my stairs down to Bogan Lane.
Jacquelyn's Space 
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