• Saturday-What'sUP September 17 - 08:49 pm

Tracie Kalliainen recently took a bike ride along scenic route M-185, the highway that makes a circle around the outskirts of Mackinac Island. It's a great way to see the island, but I think an easier way to view the same scenery would be to let the horses do the work! Either way you decide to complete that tour, you won't be sorry you made the 8 mile trip. You'll pass by a number of the island's attractions, including Arch Rock, Fort Mackinac, Devil's Kitchen and British Landing. The latter site is a good place to make a pit stop. While there you can stretch your legs, walking around the nature center. Then head to the restroom, grab a drink of water and continue on your journey around the island. Once you arrive back at Mile 0, you'll have the bragging rights that you traveled on the only state route in the entire country not used by motor vehicles!

I'm with you Mary. The horses sound better. I can barely make 3 miles on my bike.

I've traveled that stretch of road on a single speed bike. My advice to anyone planning on biking M-185: "BRING A 12 SPEED!!!" Of course, you could walk......

how does the road crew pave and stripe this road without motor vehicles?

Great question Paul! A horse drawn paver? I stayed on the island a couple of years ago, and one night I saw either an ambulance or a fire truck (can't remember which) drive down the hill and head away from town. I always thought that would have made a great photograph.

I stayed on the island one night years ago and was astonished and delighted to see tens of thousands of bats fly out at dusk and move in great masses up and down the streets eating insects. We stood in the road and let them sweep around us. Just the faintest touch of wind on the cheeks and the sound of small wings. In the middle of the night the emergency siren went off and all over one could hear motors revving and trucks racing to work.

No traffic noise sounds good to me. Also, paving a road ain't travelling it! :)

I haven't been to the Island in years, but I remember seeing I believe 2 or 3 fire trucks (including a ladder truck), an ambulance, and a few other pickup trucks for maintenance duties. I have biked the Island several times and I must agree with DebS, do it with a multi-speed bike!! The inland route past the airport is especially nice; lots of neat geology and history....

Regarding the paving of M-185, it's paved with the same type of equipment used on all other highways. It doesn't need work too often because it has virtually no traffic. When work is needed it's done in the fall when the tourist load is down somewhat. Equipment and materials come over from St. Ignace by barge. I worked for MDOT in Lansing in the Design Division for 30 years. On the rare occassion that designers were needed to do survey work or other information gathering on M-185, there was never a lack of volunteers to go to this beautiful location.

When we fly into the Island, I always choose the last bench in the rig while my wife always chooses the front bench. She usually changes her mind about a mile into the trip into town. I love the horses, but at a distance.......

Sorry, if you real Yoopers visit the Island, visit the Mustang Lounge and ask for Adele. She was a friend of mine during the late 60's and went to the Island and never left. Last time we were there I asked her name and we got caught up pretty quickly. She may even own the joint by now. Very nice lady.......

This bicycle ride is actually very nice. For the most part it is totally flat. Not at all like riding your bike around the City with those crazy hills! :)

My wife and I have been 2 Mackinac Island more than several
times, I think, and the bike ride around the island has been part
of our visit most of the times we've been there. We do want 2
return there again as often as we can. It's quite a treat!