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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:04:46 PM EDT
[#1]
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If you are from Texas, you are probably pronouncing "Mackinac" wrong, so there's that. 
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:14:59 PM EDT
[#2]
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Somebody assumes and did not read the thread..... Quote HistoryQuoted:
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If you are from Texas, you are probably pronouncing "Mackinac" wrong, so there's that. Who the fuck does that? 
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:23:11 PM EDT
[#3]
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Of course I didn't read the thread! Who the fuck does that? Quote HistoryQuoted:
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If you are from Texas, you are probably pronouncing "Mackinac" wrong, so there's that. Who the fuck does that?  I is educated just so you no....
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:23:13 PM EDT
[#4]
Many fine lodging options are available on the island.
I would recommend a couple days stay at minimum. ETA: Google Mackinac Island Hotels and you'll find quite the assortment, including pricing. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:30:41 PM EDT
[#5]
Personally, I'd go to Drummond Island. Absolutely gorgeous, not as touristy but still loads to do.
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:33:28 PM EDT
[#6]
Definitely stay on the island! It is amazing how different it is after the last ferry leaves compared to how busy it is all day. Rent a couple bikes overnight and ride to the west side of the island to watch the sunset and see the bridge lit up(FYI: there are a lot of bats flying around after dark) mackinaw city is a nice town much more to see and do than St. Ignace. On the island the group horse carriage tour is fun and informative.
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:40:50 PM EDT
[#7]
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All the historical weather stats I have read show low to mid 80's as record highs in July. Is that wrong? They are showing average daily high in the 70's. My backyard average daily high in July is about 105. I've always taken the ferry (go be poor somewhere else amirite?) and am not familiar with flights into the island. Flying to the island from Traverse City? |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:41:29 PM EDT
[#8]
I used to work at the Mission Point Resort that's on the East end of the Island. It's about 10 mins from the town, so it's quietish. Mission Point has pretty much all the resort amenities, so there is more to do there than go to town, eat fudge, eat food, drink, rinse, repeat. The island in July can get packed, so I preferred to stay down that way. Everything is expensive there, so BYOB. Bring comfortable shoes. Depending on what youre doing, renting a bike might be more cost effective than taking carriages everywhere. Honestly, I would rather go there after Labor Day, because there are less people. The Fort is a must. There are also casino excursions that you can take, if you want to spend money on something besides food and drinks.
As an alternative, Traverse City is just as beautiful, has more restaurants, trips to the distillery, and various winerys. As always, YMMV. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:41:51 PM EDT
[#9]
I used to go to Mackinac city when I was younger and my grandparents still lived in Alpena. They moved to Florida 7 years ago so there has been fewer reasons to get up that way.
Been to the island twice. It’s a neat experience. I envy your summer plans. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:42:52 PM EDT
[#10]
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You could fly into Alpena or Traverse City and then rent a car. It’s something like 2 hours from Alpena to Mackinac City. Unsure how long from Traverse City. Plane tickets into either airport are going to be expensive. You’re better off flying into Detroit and then driving the 6-7 hours up north. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:43:51 PM EDT
[#11]
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a Youl want to take a jacket if your used to 105... We usually go all the way up to lake superior in the up.. They don't worry about a.c. In the hotel till around late June lol We always smile when we see kids run down to the beach on a hot day and scream as they hit the 55 degree water of superior. Quote HistoryQuoted:
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No cars on the island, horse drawn everything. My backyard average daily high in July is about 105. Youl want to take a jacket if your used to 105... We usually go all the way up to lake superior in the up.. They don't worry about a.c. In the hotel till around late June lol We always smile when we see kids run down to the beach on a hot day and scream as they hit the 55 degree water of superior. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:47:33 PM EDT
[#12]
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Blind luck. Looked at flight schedules, the map etc. Said that is bang for buck, maybe we will fly into there?? |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:48:20 PM EDT
[#13]
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This is us. And a hot day is 85. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:53:03 PM EDT
[#14]
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How'd you decide on flying into the Soo? Also, if you're going to be in the Soo, you HAVE to go watch the Lakes freighter locking through. Amazing to watch! Back in 1992, I saw the Arthur M. Anderson lock through. She was the Laker shadowing the Edmund Fitzgerald the night the Fitz went down. I believe the Soo has a boat schedule. Museum is great too! Grandparents took their travel trailer up to St Ignace for the entire summer for many years. I visited The Island many times. 
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Posted: 5/20/2018 8:59:26 PM EDT
[#15]
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If one is to do that they must get a burger at West Pier. Preferably the one pound variant. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 9:06:22 PM EDT
[#16]
Ironically enough last week I was working on the island, I much prefer the vacation trip to the island rather than the work trip
Use Sheplers Ferry to get across, $26 for a straight shot from St Ignace or roughly $50 if you take a "cruise trip" around the lighthouses or under the bridge. Definitely check out the fort, buy some Fudge, eat at the Pink Pony! And stay on the island for one night if you can swing it. I would recommend two days on the island and whatever else split between St Ignace or driving up the coast in the UP. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 9:10:35 PM EDT
[#17]
If it's just you and the bride, look into the B&B's on the island. Could save you quite a bit.
In the UP, the Pictured Rocks, Munising, Miner's Castle, Whitefish Point/Shipwreck Museum and the Soo Locks are all well worth seeing. When the wife and I were talking about the Edmund Fitzgerald she dug out a photo she took of the ship passing through the locks in '74. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 9:15:22 PM EDT
[#18]
Doesn't matter where you go - all awesome. If checking out da yupe eh, don't try to cross the bridge in a Yugo.
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Posted: 5/20/2018 9:17:44 PM EDT
[#19]
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There actually two forts on the island. The big fort is the main attraction but you used to could walk to the original fort, which was little more than a 360 degree berm. Quote HistoryQuoted:
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One of the most beautiful places I've ever been Second to Pictured Rocks in the UP If anyone here has a chance to go, do it It's gorgeous in the fall ETA picture of me at the fort two summers ago https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/464598/4E65AF96-C8D6-4FEC-9AD7-556253C41FE1-550380.JPG could walk to the original fort, which was little more than a 360 degree berm. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 9:20:35 PM EDT
[#20]
Star line ferry
Shepler's Ferry Ferry's run from both sides Mackinaw and St. Ignace. Check the cruises on each site as well as the schedules. Shepler;s is the boat I go over on, they have certain times where they'll go under the bridge. I go over on Shepler's because my Mom's cousin used to do legal work for them. No discounts unfortunately. Coming from the Soo you might as well head south on I 75 to whichever side you want to boat over on. --------------------------------------------------- Fitzgerald shipwreck museum About an hour ten west of the Soo. An hour or two would probably cover it, not a big place at all. From Sault Ste. Marie: Follow I-75 south to M-28 west. Take M-123 north to Paradise, Michigan. Once in Paradise, continue north on Whitefish Point Road for 11 miles to the Whitefish Point Light Station. All roads are well paved and maintained by the State/County. Travel Time = approximately 1 hour, 10 minutes ------------------------------------------ Considering you're flying into Sault Ste. Marie (the Soo) take the boat tour through the locks and into Canada (no passport as you don't dock or get off the boat). Look hard over at Canada and you can see the Bushplane building. -------------------------------- If you do bring your passport and go over to Canada, try the Bushplane Museum. For real, it's pretty cool.  Canadian Bushplane Museum - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario ETA: Try the broiled whitefish and a pasty for dinners. ETA2: Watch the video for some things I've written about and more.  Sault Ste. Marie: The City Where Michigan Was Born |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 9:25:25 PM EDT
[#21]
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Many fine lodging options are available on the island. I would recommend a couple days stay at minimum. ETA: Google Mackinac Island Hotels and you'll find quite the assortment, including pricing. Don't get me wrong, Mackinac Island is one of my favorite places in the world. We went there every summer when I was growing up and those are some fond memories to be sure. But it's not very big, and aside from the historical sites and a bike ride around the island, everything else is the same fudge shops, t-shirt shops, and gift shops, over and over again. If I were you I would do a few days of northern Michigan and just include the island as a day trip. Go to Sleeping Bear Dunes, Lelanau, Petoskey, and all that other stuff as well as the island. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 9:37:36 PM EDT
[#22]
Don't judge the upper peninsula off of Kinross
. Soo locks kicks ass, west pier for a burger, and don't forget the Merch on a late weekend night before you leave the Soo. The best islands are Neebish, Drummond, and Sugar. You are welcome.
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Posted: 5/20/2018 9:59:20 PM EDT
[#23]
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You could fly into Alpena or Traverse City and then rent a car. It’s something like 2 hours from Alpena to Mackinac City. Unsure how long from Traverse City. Plane tickets into either airport are going to be expensive. You’re better off flying into Detroit and then driving the 6-7 hours up north. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 10:15:52 PM EDT
[#24]
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It's only a 4 hour drive from Detroit Quote HistoryQuoted:
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You could fly into Alpena or Traverse City and then rent a car. It’s something like 2 hours from Alpena to Mackinac City. Unsure how long from Traverse City. Plane tickets into either airport are going to be expensive. You’re better off flying into Detroit and then driving the 6-7 hours up north. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 10:16:09 PM EDT
[#25]
rent a bicycle for two and ride around the entire island, it's only about 10 miles around and an easy beautiful ride. You could spend maybe one full day there or maybe a day and a half but after that you pretty much seen it all.
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Posted: 5/20/2018 10:23:06 PM EDT
[#26]
Try to go after Labor Day. It gets very crowded with a variety of tourists.
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Posted: 5/20/2018 10:23:16 PM EDT
[#27]
Bike the island
Go to Fort Go to Grand Hotel Have lots of vacation sex |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 10:24:31 PM EDT
[#28]
I hate the Wolverines, but the state is fucking awesome.
Grand Hotel FTW, painful ass drive from Grand Rapids. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 10:29:28 PM EDT
[#29]
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Try to go after Labor Day. It gets very crowded with a variety of tourists. Many fewer "day tourists", and as well, hotel rates drop after Labor Day. An aside. My father worked at The Grand Hotel back in the 1940's putting himself through college. His job was to sweep The Grand's massive porch twice a day. Mornings he would go from one end to the other, and, repeat same in the afternoon. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 10:34:04 PM EDT
[#30]
I live in south west lower Michigan and visit the island about every 3-5years. I highly suggest staying at Mission Point Resort. I like the suite with a private hot tub. Make sure you have good hiking boots and breathable clothing. Also make sure you stay on a Sunday night. The Island is dead once the last ferry leaves(around 9pm), and and it's like walking in a ghost town. Send me a pm and I'll text pictures.
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Posted: 5/20/2018 10:35:13 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Try to go after Labor Day. It gets very crowded with a variety of tourists. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 10:43:24 PM EDT
[#32]
The wife and I live in Northern Michigan (moved from Texas in 2015), and we go to the island a couple times during the summer. We always stay at the Chippewa since that's where we honeymooned several years ago. The Murray Hotel is in a great spot right in the middle of town, and the Orange Creamsicle fudge in their lobby shop is ridiculously good. The carriage tours are good for a first time visitor, but I'd recommend getting an island map and exploring it yourself on bike or foot. It's amazing how much quieter it is once you get off the main drag.
What part of July will you be up here? There's so many festivals going on during that time you could really experience what summertime is like Up North. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 10:49:52 PM EDT
[#33]
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The Sault Locks were a cool thing to see too! It’s at the east end. You can have a walleye basket and watch the freighters go past. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 10:59:06 PM EDT
[#34]
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No cars on the island, horse drawn everything. |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 11:14:54 PM EDT
[#35]
Drive up to Whitefish Point and spend some time at the Shipwreck Museum. I was there last week, the UP is beautiful!!
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Posted: 5/20/2018 11:15:02 PM EDT
[#36]
We spent 4th of July there in the UP this past summer for my wifes 40th HS reunion. High Temps were in the low 60s to low 80's for the 10 days we were there. We rofe motorcycles all over the UP and Mackinac was on our last day agenda but bad weather made us decide on Pictured Rocks boat tour instead of getting trapped by severe storms on our motorcycles 150 miles from where we were staying in Little Lake. Very welcome break from the mid 90's to 100s plus 100% humidity here at the same time period. Plan on going back for a 45th reunion! The UP is awesome as long as it's the 2 summer months they experience!
Tons of pictures and video in an AAR I did on this trip on the Harley Forum https://www.hdforums.com/forum/road-trips/1186758-michigan-up-lake-superior-aar-will-be-pic-video-heavy.html |
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Posted: 5/20/2018 11:19:01 PM EDT
[#37]
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You could fly into Alpena or Traverse City and then rent a car. It's something like 2 hours from Alpena to Mackinac City. Unsure how long from Traverse City. Plane tickets into either airport are going to be expensive. You're better off flying into Detroit and then driving the 6-7 hours up north. |
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Posted: 5/21/2018 3:09:59 AM EDT
[#38]
If you just want to take a nice drive, US-2 west of St.Ignace runs along the north shore of Lake Michigan, and there's lots of open beach. Fayette on the Garden Peninsula is an old iron ore smelting town that has been restored and preserved as a historical landmark.
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Posted: 5/21/2018 4:38:50 AM EDT
[#39]
Suck it up and do afternoon tea at Grand Hotel one day.
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Posted: 5/21/2018 4:46:31 AM EDT
[#40]
Been there a few times. This video nails it.
 Pure Michigan: Mackinac Island |
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Posted: 5/21/2018 7:18:07 AM EDT
[#41]
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Humidity will teach you that the difference between Texas 105 and Michigan 80 is not as vast as you think. Quote HistoryQuoted:
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All the historical weather stats I have read show low to mid 80's as record highs in July. Is that wrong? They are showing average daily high in the 70's. My backyard average daily high in July is about 105. |
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Posted: 5/21/2018 7:39:28 AM EDT
[#42]
Do yourself a favor and rent a car in Mackinaw City and do a day trip driving from Cross Village to Petoskey via Lake Shore Drive.
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Posted: 5/21/2018 8:02:39 AM EDT
[#43]
Been a bunch of times. The island is nice, but can be crowded and there is limited attractions there. All worth seeing/doing.
But, if you're going to come all that way, don't miss out on the other stuff that's not too far. I'll jot some stuff down this evening when I have time. UP is one of my favorite places. |
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Posted: 5/21/2018 8:33:13 AM EDT
[#44]
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It took 6 hours from Downriver Detroit area to Alpena when I did it (lived in Alpena 1991-92 as a newspaper reporter). I must have had that on the brain. Quote HistoryQuoted:
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You could fly into Alpena or Traverse City and then rent a car. It’s something like 2 hours from Alpena to Mackinac City. Unsure how long from Traverse City. Plane tickets into either airport are going to be expensive. You’re better off flying into Detroit and then driving the 6-7 hours up north. |
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Posted: 5/21/2018 8:35:28 AM EDT
[#45]
One of the most peaceful vacation spots in MI. A place to relax and do what you like.
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Posted: 5/21/2018 8:36:52 AM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Do you want horseshit because that’s how you get horseshit. |
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Posted: 5/21/2018 8:37:31 AM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Correct. Sadly, I've lived in MI my whole life, and have never been there. 
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Posted: 5/21/2018 8:57:49 AM EDT
[#48]
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Been there lots of times as a kid. Fort Michlamackinac is a cool tour. Fort Mackinac isn't actually on the island, it's on the lower peninsula and was also cool, but less impressive as a tour. The fudge is great and the Grand Hotel is beautiful. The drive from any airport I'm aware of is extremely long, and there isn't much to see in the summer. |
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Posted: 5/21/2018 9:35:04 AM EDT
[#49]
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Not even once. Never heard of it...for real. The bridge is neat and the fudge is really good. Take lots of pictures for us! EDIT - Brevity. |
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Posted: 5/21/2018 9:49:24 AM EDT
[#50]
Stay at the Grand Hotel if you can (and it's not booked up) Barring that, you can still go there strictly for lunch wearing informal dress. Mackinaw City (south mainland) is where you want to pick up either the Arnold or Shepler ferry to get you ovet to the island. Old fort Mackinaw is also there. From time to time the wife and I still go there. Used to hang around there every middle weekend when I was in the Nat. Guard attending summer camp in Grayling. Be advised that the streets will be crammed with people on bikes during the busiest parts of the season. You can rent bikes there as well. Also horse drawn tours around the island. Fudge and pasties are what you will live on while there...Enjoy!
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