June 27, 2006
A Weekend Away
Written by Margo Maguire in Jaunty PostMy husband and I just came back from a long weekend on Mackinac Island. This is a pretty little island in northern lower Michigan (I know - sounds weird, but it’s right at the tip of the mitten) in the straits between the upper and lower peninsulas. The island is a quiet place - no cars are allowed, except for emergency vehicles, which don’t come out too often. There are lots of bicycles and horses (and for anyone who writes historicals, you need to think about the unequalled smell of horse p*ss. Manure is one thing, but the other is overwhelming! Luckily, they do hose down the streets when necessary).
My sister-in-law and her husband recently bought a house on the island, and invited all my husband’s siblings and their spouses for a visit. It’s a large house, so there was plenty of room for the twelve of us. I was a bit dubious about going - heck, what is there to do in such small quarters? The island is only about 8 miles around, and the one town - right at the docks - is Tourist Hell.
On Friday, Mike and I took a 3-mile hike through the woods along an escarpment high above the lake. This was through an area I had never visited before, because when we came in years past with our kids, we always took our bikes and did the ride around the perimeter of the island.
The next day, I needed to do some writing, so I sat on the big wraparound porch that overlooks the water, drank my coffee, and got my pages done. Then Mike and I took another hike. We started without a plan - he wanted to show me a building that was stained the way he thinks we should stain the cedar shakes of our house - so we walked down there and ended up taking most of the perimeter road.
After about 6 miles, we took a detour into the center of the island, all uphill, until we got to the old cemetery. There were lots of 19th century graves, and a compound that was once an old British fort. I guess there was a big battle fought here during the War of 1812 (utter stupidity, judging by the graves). Then we found a backwoods trail that led back to my sister-in-law’s house. All in all, we must have walked about 10-11 miles. Then we showered and walked another couple of miles into town to go to dinner and back.
We left Mackinac on Sunday, but not until we’d found another trail to take - that was maybe 5 or 6 miles. The weather was great for hiking - like maybe 75 degrees and breezy. At one point it started to drizzle, but that didn’t last. We took the 3:00 ferry and headed back to the car and listened to the last Harry Potter book on CD all the way home. It was a great weekend and I wish I had pictures, but the batteries in the camera were old and so that didn’t work out … But here’s a link to some pictures that are better than any I would have taken 
http://www.photosonmackinac.com/mackphotos/?Main=2&Cat=Summer+Scenes&CategoryID=14&sID=&uID=0
OK, so here’s the kicker. Yesterday morning, I checked my weight and I’d gained 2 lbs. over the weekend. My husband LOST 2 lbs! I ask you, how fair is that? We all ate the same stuff, and I gotta say, I never get this much exercise. Sure, I walk 2 miles every day, but come on!
I cannot win :-(.
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Kimberly Logan Says:
Oh, Margo, I know you probably don’t think this is funny at all, but LOL! Isn’t that the way it always goes? I firmly believe that all males are in on some nefarious plot to make sure that women gain whatever weight men lose. I’m not sure how this occurs. Maybe through osmosis or a deal with the devil. Obviously they have figured out some secret we know nothing about.
Jenna Petersen , Jaunty Guest Says:
Yeah, Michael sneezes and he loses three pounds. If I didn’t eat for a week, I’d gain five. So unfair.
Shana Says:
Margo, I’m so jealous! I looove Mackinaw Island. I remember going to the Grand Hotel when I was a kid. Beautiful pictures!
And throw the scale away! I bet you feel great and are toned after all that exercise. That’s what matters
Shirley Karr Says:
LOL! Yes, that’s always the way it is — whatever weight he loses, she gains. Look at it this way: you probably gained muscle from all that walking, and muscle weighs more than fat does. The real question is, do your clothes feel like you gained? I’m dealing with that. Since I increased my workout schedule a few weeks ago, the scale has actually crept up a pound or two, but my clothes fit more loosely.