Crayons

"Crayon." It's a term we locals use for the tourists who cross the ice, sometimes just assuming it's safe because they saw a video on YouTube, in droves once word gets out that the Straits have frozen over.  Often their colorful, branded gear matches their snowmobile - hence the name "Crayon." You can usually spot the locals by our mismatched, non-snowmobile specific gear, and our scratched up helmets. Hauling kids or supplies in a sled behind the machine? Definitely a local. Our snowmobiles are like our cars - we use them on a daily basis to get to and from work, to take kids to school, and haul trash out to the dump. Crayons often have special gear they only use for recreational snowmobiling. 

When I say "droves," I mean it. This was the pool table at the Mustang during lunch today. (We had a half day of school so a fellow teacher and I went out for lunch.)  This was Astor St, looking up the street from the Mustang door,

and this was looking down the street in the other direction. 

I do not mean to insult them! I promise I explained the lovely folks in the first picture why I wanted to photograph them. (I did have to explain that it was for a blog and not TikToc.) Tourists are great for business, but they do make getting a table as a local a bit challenging. 

Crossing

I'm thrilled that this winter has been much more like the winters of old - snowy and cold. Years ago the boats almost never ran all winter; they typically stopped on the second of January and didn't start up again until the end of March or early April. In the days before Amazon, we stocked up and we prepared. (Some of use still struggle not to stash copious amounts of everything we might need in the basement.)

Given the cold temperatures we've been having, Mackinac is lucky enough to have an ice bridge this winter. (That means the surface of Lake Huron has frozen  between the island and the mainland, and the ice is thick enough to hold the weight of a snowmobile.) Mackinac residents look forward to the ice bridge because it is the only time when our lives aren't governed by someone else's schedule (ferry boat or plane.) Not to mention this year a round-trip plane fare costs $118.00.

Now, do not take my words as a testament to the safety of the ice. THE ICE IS NEVER SAFE. Each and every time Allen and I go out there, we make sure we have information on the current conditions. Are there pressure cracks? Slush holes? Allen and I never venture onto the ice without that information. We take safety equipment with us and follow a set of self-imposed rules to help mitigate some of the risks. We've lived here for over 30 years and we never cross the ice without serious consideration. I DO NOT ENDORSE THE SAFETY OF CROSSING  - IF YOU CROSS THE ICE BRIDGE, YOU DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK.  Now that that's out of the way...

That little blue dot was us as we went to St. Ignace this morning.

I had a doctor's appointment this morning, so Allen agreed to take me over, help shovel out the car, and the run to the grocery store to pick up a few things while I was at my appointment. Visibility was good and we could see all the way across (one of those self-imposed rules.)

Allen was nice enough to drive so I could get a few pictures, plus he had gone over earlier in the week and was more familiar with the trail. This year's ice is not smooth - not at all. There is a great deal of jagged ice causing the path to wind through the roughest patches. The zig-zagging and bumps combine to make for a fairly slow crossing; Allen said our top speed was under 30 mph (about 48 kph.) It was a busy day out there. We saw numerous snowmobiles coming and going.

This picture gives you  good view of ice piled up along the shore, as well as the Christmas trees marking the route.

When the island has good ice, lots of people take advantage of the ability to haul items across. We saw multiple loads of drywall and other supplies heading over to the island today. Hauling things yourself can save a lot of money on freight charges!

How long will is last, you wonder? It all depends; wind, temperature, air pressure, and the movements of the Coast Guard cutter all impact the ice. If we're lucky, we'll be able to cross through the end of March, but tomorrow could just as easily be the last day; only Mother Nature knows for sure. Either way, for those of us who live here, the ice is part of our lives. I'm not posting this as click bait, or an attempt to get views (my blog isn't monetized); I am simply recording this unique aspect of my life as a year-round resident of  Mackinac Island.

A Current Favorite

If you are ever in an elementary classroom, take a moment to notice the books on the shelves. You can tell this book, Alone by Megan E. Freeman, is a favorite. Just look at those corners! Some people might get frustrated by that kind of damage, but not me. Only loved books usually get that kind of wear; that book is well traveled and a current favorite of the girls in my classroom (as is book two: Away.)

In verse it tells the story of a middle school girl who fakes a sleepover and ends up having to survive, alone, after being left behind during a community-wide evacuation. If you have a tween girl on your shopping list, I highly recommend Alone.