We have had a strange year, and the year is not over yet, but my Bride decided that I needed to have some getaway time, so we went to the northern part of the lower peninsula of the State of Michigan.  I guess we both needed a change of scenery, so what better way than a quick trip to Mackinac Island, where time does stand still.  We took a hovercraft from the mainland to the island with the Mackinac Bridge to our left, and as we got closer, we could even see the longest porch according to Guiness at the Grand Hotel.  The island has no automobiles, except for emergency vehicles, so horse-drawn carriages, bicycles (and I guess there is now some debates going on as there are some E-bikes that are getting the locals riled) and the old trusty shoe leather.  As we walked, we passed Fort Mackinac up on a bluff still protecting the island from enemy armadas.  We also passed an art museum, the Butterfly house, many Bed and Breakfast establishments, hotels, stores, restaurants, taverns, a couple of marinas, and many private homes.  According to the last census, there is a year-round population of 867 hardy souls.   

We took a leisurely walk to the far end of the downtown district and went to Mission Point which started out as Mackinac College created by Rex Humbard and was a non-denominational Bible school.  The dormitories are now used by all the seasonal help that work in all the different businesses on the island, and the actual school, became a resort.  We walked down to Bistro on the Greens, which is downhill from the resort and overlooking the Straits of Mackinac on a small par-three putting course, which in the evening is illuminated and fun.  The Bistro has some bar food and drinks which is more than adequate, as the island is for good times.  My Bride wanted a Margarita, which I think made the Gods send a swarm of bees to the Bistro while we were there.  Actually, I think the bees are part of the locals, they just got more concentrated as more food and drinks were being served.

As for me, someone had to have a glass of wine for the sake of this blog, so I had Battuello Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, St. Helena, Napa Valley 2024.  In 1906, Matteo Battuelo arrived at Ellis Island and eventually found his way to St. Helena in Napa Valley, originally farming grapes, prunes and walnuts.  By 1912, he was successful enough to have his wife join him and they farmed and raised two children. After over a hundred years and the fourth generation, the estate has expanded, and the family is thriving.  The wine is from estate grown fruit grown sustainably, and eighty cases were produced.  Fermentation and aging was done in Stainless-Steel tanks to maintain freshness.  The soft pale golden yellow colored wine offered notes of apples, melon and honeysuckle.  On the palate this medium-bodied, well-balanced wine displayed grapefruit, melons and citrus ending with a short-count finish of fruit.