Mackinac Island reservations due 4/5/24
Plus... our St. Patty's Day hike (and a story about last year's Mack Trip when I lost everyone)
One Lucky Hike
We hiked in green last week! The weather was absolutely perfect - we got 62 degrees at the start and a ton o’ green. One gal, Ann, showed up in enough green for all of us to wear. We renamed her Shen-ANN-igan. (That was one of my many jokes that fell on deaf ears last night. Hoping for a better reception here.)
I went ahead and pulled out the name tags last night. Sometimes these are met with a revolt, as I DO like to keep it casual. But we had enough new ladies (4 virgs!) and maybe 5 ladies who were on their 3rd or 4th outing. (If they come back for a 3rd serving, it’s Hotel California for them - sorry ladies.) It felt like a lot of new or new-to-each-other ladies, so the name tags were in order. I also use them as a thinly veiled excuse to start memorizing names. I am good, but under the pressure of 21 sets of eyeballs? I have immediate and thorough memory loss.)
We hiked and did our usual stops to change partners every 15 minutes or so. If they group grumbles about losing their current buddy, I know we are in good shape. It means that they met someone new and LIKE THEM. If the exchange is done quickly and without a word, I know we have a ways to go to break the ice. Last night, the new partnerships seemed to cause an uproar - laughter, rioting and jostling. I was quietly delighted.
When we arrived at the boat launch, we saw a bald eagle perched in a tree on the island in the middle of the lake! Jenny, aka SCOUT, whipped out her binocs and let my 49 year old tri-focal eyes feast on the majesty. I love a girl with enough confidence to bring GEAR on a hike.
Next, we stopped at the campground and sat on a picnic table, the lake in the distance. Here, we shared a toast.
I also whipped out my $17.99 eBay find - a vintage GREEN double-billed hat that read “I’m their leader, which way did they go?”
I had never felt better attired.
“We need an Irish toast!” I shouted. Someone googled one. Someone else googled the same one. They then took turns - ShenANNigan and Bologna D - (if you join this group, eventually you get a nickname that you don’t want) - read the Irish blessing - each taking every other line - until ending with the final line said together at a near shout - as we toasted!
It’s these funny little things that unfold, unplanned, that are so fun and funny. I felt like a proud mother hen, my gaggle having fun together.
Proud, that is, until someone whipped out a pack of CANDY cigarettes. OMG WOULD MOTHER APPROVE?
Didn’t matter. About half the group went instantly back to 7th grade and had one dangling from their lips in seconds. I had to laugh. WHAT WAS HAPPENING?
What was happening was a bunch of nearly strangers and budding friendships giggling over the old days of the stupid stuff they’d done as kids. And there I stood in that stupid hat.
Of course my next thought was - PICTURE TIME!
After that, we headed down to the dam and around the little alcove of the lake, as the sun slowly set in the distance. I took a few more (cig-free pics) in the golden hour. We’d never looked younger in the glow of the evening.
Then, two more stops:
1. The Red Pines. I only do the “moment of silence” on night hikes - when we turn off our lights and our mouths and listen to the forest in the dark. But a newcomer - now on her 3rd hike - said, you forgot the moment of silence! I had her trained - or did she have me trained? Suddenly I was ALL IN on the daylight moment of silence. (See? Every member brings something more to the group! Even if she had no clue it wasn’t the usual thing we do on a daylight hike. Thank you, Meg, for the accidental push!). So we stood there under the towering red pines (see pic!) in silence. It had its own lovely appeal. Even Brody, the one man - and dog - with us - was quiet.
2. Christmas Tree Lake. This is a VERY tiny pond along the trail. Someone suggested we take a little detour down to see it up close. (Was that MEG again? Maybe. She needs a nickname.) Then, as we stood there, Paula pointed out a geocache she had just found near the lake a few days ago! She was like a magician, producing a treasure from a tree trunk. One of the new gals scooped off her green shamrock necklace and plopped it in the cache! MiGirl had left her (Irish) mark!
After that, we headed back to the trailhead. We all compared distances. We had everything from 3.2 to 3. 9 miles. Per tradition, I rounded it up to a full 5.
Thank you, ladies, for another great night of laughs, unexpected moments and - zero biffs!!!!! More pics here (including the hat) and at Michigan Girl Bike (& Hike!) Group!
MiGirl Mackinac Island - May 10-12 Reservations due 4/5/24!
Here’s a recap of our 2023 trip, if you are wondering WHAT WE DO!!!
This was truly the first trip I have done since closing GTW- from scratch - and I figured taking everyone to an ISLAND should insure that I wouldn't lose anyone, right? I was incorrect.
1. We gathered women from TC to Mackinaw City on our way north Friday, all in a blur of pink. Just off I-75, I commandeered the motorcoach and demanded our driver find us a spot for an "under the bridge" pic - she didn't bat an eye. Trudy wheeled into a huge parking spot and shuttled us under the green arches of the Mighty Mac, and kindly reminded me to count heads to make sure we all got back on the bus for this random stop. "Of course," I said - although the idea hadn't occurred to me at all.
2. We were supposed to have 49, but a whopping 9 women had something go down the week before that had ruined their trip. I felt horrible for them, but in the moment, I felt worse about my math skills. I had 38 on the bus and 2 who were meeting us at the ferry. That makes 40. Right?
3. So I bought 41 ferry tickets. This was literally a case of throwing money into the wind. It settled on the waves in the Straits as I escorted only 40 women onto the ship. The woman taking our tickets looked sorry for me. “Too many tickets are better than not enough,” she said. I looked at the public bathrooms several yards away and a strike of fear filled my heart. My math skills were fine but in the moment of pink boa, feather-flying chaos, my confidence wasn't.
4. Check-in time was 4pm at the Chippewa Hotel. By 4:30pm no one had called to say they didn't have a room or a roommate. I felt victorious, 40 it was! Let's go for that night hike, ladies, shall we?
5. Our goal: To see sunset. Our plan: Well, I had several in fact. But I changed the route until the unthinkable happened - a handful of us scaled no less than 5,000 steps to get to an overlook that was TOO FAR AWAY - and we found out later CLOSED - as we stood in the woods with the SUN GOING DOWN behind a FOREST. A fail? Only if you wanted to see the sunset. If you wanted to see a group of ladies shouting, running and trying to find our way to the edge of a bluff in the darkening night with buggies and bikes whizzing by, MiGirl 100% delivered. How many sunsets have you seen vs. that? This is what bonds a group, in hindsight.
6. We gathered again the next day for a bike ride around the island. We started with 24 women - and even got most of them in a group pic. But by the time we got to Arch Rock, it was down to me and 1 other gal. I had lost them ALL. But keeping track of a headcount of 2 - I started to grow bold with confidence.
7. Alas, the final morning I got up by myself and headed out for a solo bike ride and caught sunrise - it was beautiful! Counting heads was finally fail-proof.
8. Finally, it was time to leave. With utmost confidence, I counted 38 heads and lined us up to board the ferry. With a frantic but casual wave, Micki, who was helping me with the trip, stopped me…. “Um, don’t we need 40????” A hushed whisper as the ferry bobbed at our feet.
9. Imagine her utter surprise when I announced with a newfound ferocity that it was indeed 38 - because 2 women had left early on a different ferry to get home to a Mother’s Day brunch. Micki was in awe. “I never doubted you,” she said. And we both started laughing! Indeed - I finally had it together - just as the weekend drew to a close!
10. All in all, it was a wonderful weekend and we all got home in one piece. I think.
Overall, there was Pink Ponying, hiking, biking, general girlfriend glad-handing and lots of laughs. We all went home relaxed - and we had the most beautiful weather we could hope for even in the summer there - 75 and sunny! Can you believe that luck. Mother Nature must have miscalculated that number on her end!! HAHA!
OK!! Our 2024 trip is May 10-12, 2024 - visit www.michgirl.com for rates. I am doing a spring sale on my last Main Street 2 Queen Deluxe room - this room overlooks Main St. (you'll awaken to the clopping of horses going by!) - Double rate was $679 each but spring sale - $649 each for double (2 women) - I have 1 left! It’s cheaper yet if you bring a posse of up to 4 women. I also have a couple suites (with living rooms!) overlooking the harbor. YUM!!!!
Email me at kandace@michgirl.com to saddle up!
Ok, ladies, I am working on the 2024 OMGs (Original Michigan Girl Members!)! Please sign up soon if you’d like a button, member glitter sticker and MiGirl decal as a member.
Here’s more on the pricing:
$5 hikes, bikes & snowshoes throughout the year.
Non-members pay $15 for their first outing to try us out, during which they will be spellbound.
MiGirl 2024 Member Button, Glitter Sticker (yes, glitter) and Decal.
Discounted Member pricing for special events (Ex. $10 off MiGirl events like curling, cycle pub, Christmas lights bus tour, that time we saw a racoon downtown.)
Laughter at all events, even during times of crises.
Complimentary hydration included, which will be completely dehydrating.
Community and connection with women in Michigan, the best kind!
If you biff it – pictures first, rescue second.
All of the above plus:
FREE bikes, hikes and snowshoes!
On short list for the privilege to help pop corks at events.
A punch in the upper arm as a thank you for going a step above.
Rescue first.
Join Michigan Girl here to support what we are building together!!
MiGirl MOM WALK - May 19 - featuring the “Pieces of Our ❤️ List!” (you can walk for anyone - not just moms, fyi - anyone you love!)
My mom would be wildly impressed with the idea of serving fuzzy navels to 150 women at once - her favorite drink. Written about here:
Please join us on Sunday, May 19 from 11am-1pm at Timber Ridge Resort in TC. I will read the names of our "Pieces of our Hearts" list out loud again for the opening ceremony. The list is emotional and beautiful and a complete and total honor to share with you and those you love and miss. My voice always wobbles - as it should.
The walk is 1 mile. There will be wineries, food vendors, music and more! In the last two years, we have raised $5k for Smith Family Breast Health Center.
This year’s sponsors already includes Bonobo Winery, Jimmy John’s, Rove Estate, A. Papano’s Pizza in Kingsley, Moomer’s ice cream, Ace Hardware and Susan Soffredine Rauser - State Farm Agent.
You can get your tickets here! (Be sure to include a name for the <❤️> list!) Pricing is $55 for members and/or if you buy 2 or more tickets. It's $60 for non-members. Thank you, ladies, for sharing your special someone with us all at this event each year! If you would like to sponsor (in-kind or cash sponsorships start at $250), please email me at kandace@michgirl.com.
MiGirl Event Updates
Mackinac Island MiGirls Weekend - May 10-12, 2024 - 14 seats left on the bus!
MiGirl MOM Walk with heart! - May 19, 2024. Tickets here!
Michigan Girl Chicago Weekend - Nov. 8-10, 2024 - OVER 1/2 FULL! 19 seats left on the bus!
XO,
Kandace, Maple (boasting a new record of 4 socks delivered at once) & Ellie
Kandace Chapple
Michigan Girl, owner
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