Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 19:05:35 -0800

Beyond the brige

Quote from www.mackinac.com:
"Beyond the bridge awaits a land
where creatures great and small
are said to live a different way
an agreement held by all
Where history meets present day
the wheel comes back around
to celebrate on open streets
this land's forgotten sound
As blue moon rises on silver shore
and sparkling currents glide
you'll treasure life beyond the brige"

The mercury was nearly a 100 when I reached Chicago.
Catching up with Madras news and talking to Hema and Nagi,
I finished lunch and we packed off to Lansing. We drove
through pretty landscapes conversing pleasantly, and before
we knew it we hit MSU. Hema and Nagi fell in love.
We gaped at the brick buildings, the bike stands, lovely pathways,
and grand stadiums. Bala was outside waiting for us. He'd
cooked idli, vada, sambar, rice, and curry. We crept into the
cool sheets and dozed off.

A five hour drive through the forests of Michigan brought us to
Gaylord. The cheerful Day's Inn was a welcoming surprise. We beat it down
the Mackinac bridge over Lake Superior and reached the
ferry station. We got the Hydrojet ferry to Hema's delight.
Bala and I shot Titanic pictures on top of the ferry.
We spread our arms to the enormous spray of foamy water behind the boat,
acres of clear water and sunshine.

Mackinac island is a beautiful stretch of land in the lake.  The houses
there are like swiss chateau's (dunno why). The island fudge is
something else! No motor vehicles and gas here. You can walk, bike, or
take the carraiges. Huge horses lug the beautiful carraiges around the
island. Mackianc is an activity place.  Nature trails, lovely
mountain-lake views, hiking and biking give you plenty of stuff to do.
"You either stay here for a week, or a day" said Hema. We wormed
through the pack of tourists gulping icecreams. I wanted to ride the
tandem bikes - a brilliant idea! We decided to tour the island on
bikes. Hema and Nagi set off on one bike. Bala reluctantly hopped on to
mine.  He wasn't sure about riding tandem.

Beside the lake, beneath the trees we drove talking of our
future and making plans. You can see the pebbles at the bottom of
the fresh water lake. The lake is crystal clear. Bala joked that
they've added the pebbles for effect.

A lovely church which made me melancholic, Hema harmonious,
Nagi and Bala indifferent, a carved rock hole in the hills
peering into the waters, Fort Mackinac, woods, clear lake, and fudge
is what Mackinac's all about.

We returned to the ferry back at 8, bushed and ready for
bed. We'd pedalled 7 miles around the island. Our tired
lids drooped into a well-deserved sleep.