The day before I left Michigan, we took the Mackinac Bridge to the Upper Peninsula just to say we did it. We had dinner on the other side - at a casino! I had never been to a casino before. Oh, my overwhelmed little heart. Sorry if you are a casino type, but that place was like a bad dream! I envision hell to be like that. Sensory overload attacking from all sides.
This coming Monday, the 53rd Annual Bridge Walk will take place on the Mackinac Bridge - the bridge that links northern Michigan with the Upper Peninsula. The Mackinac Bridge is the 3rd longest suspension bridge in the world.
While on the bridge
The middle lanes of the bridge are made of grating so that the wind can blow through. We were stopped, due to some bridgework being done, so I opened the door and took this photo of what was below us. That's Lake Huron through those holes. Looking down gave my stomach the willies.
I just read this on Wikipedia: "On September 22, 1989, Leslie Ann Pluhar died when her 1987 Yugo plunged over the 36 inches (91 cm) high railing. A combination of high winds and excessive speed was initially blamed. Later investigation showed the driver had stopped her car over the open steel grating on the bridge's span. A gust of wind through the grating blew her vehicle off the bridge." [emphasis is mine]
Glad I didn't know THAT while we were stopped on the grating!
This is the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Rooms there range from $405 - $625 a night - for a SINGLE! Oh, give me two of those!
I took the photo as we left the island on the ferry. The movement and the spray caused the effects. I didn't take the color out - don't know where that went.
Mackinac Island doesn't allow any motor vehicles, except snowmobiles in the winter. The only forms of transportation are feet, bikes, or horse and buggy. I kept thinking that I was on the Truman Show or something. The silence was surreal and I kept waiting for the noise to commence. Even though it would take this city girl a few hours, I think I could get used to the peacefulness.
Utah isn't the only place to find arches. We viewed Lake Huron through this arch on Mackinac Island.
Lisa and I laughed and laughed. Five days of exercising the mouth and belly muscles.
It was great.
Thanks for sharing more pix of your trip. What a beautiful place. I've never been on that bridge, and after reading what you found on wiki about the gust of wind tossing the car - maybe won't feel the need to go. What a hotel!! Good to now you laughed a lot!
ReplyDeletep.s. I was on the George Washington Bridge once which is 300 ft. shorter than the Mackinac Bridge. The friend I was with told me to look to my left if I wanted to see Manhattan. I just wanted to see the end of the bridge!!! Smalltownville has no bridges. Eeeek! You're brave!
ReplyDeleteWow- if the wind could blow a small car over the side, it seems like pedestrians would be blasted over the sides pretty regularly!
ReplyDeleteA casino? I'm not a casino person at all though I have to confess that I have gambled (a very small amount) at an establishment in Las Vegas and at The Casino in Monte Carlo. (Just to say that I had on such an occasion as this!)
ReplyDeleteThe chips on the tables at Monte Carlo were for HUGE amounts of money and the people the most miserable I've seen.
G.G., I think that only one person blowing off in the last 50 years indicates we all are facing good odds of getting across the bridge alive. And I'm still glad that I found out about the blowing AFTER my ride.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend northern Michigan for one of your road trips. It's a beautiful area.
Thomas,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that people walk on the bridge other than during the annual bridge walk, which would probably be canceled if the winds were strong. The bridge is about 1 1/2 miles long, and once you're on, you're committed. I was just reading about the walk there that is taking place today. They said the walk will take two hours and there are no bathrooms until you get to the other side.
But then, no one said you couldn't pee through the holes in the grates if you had to...
Ahhhh, Dancing, you are no longer a casino virgin. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I didn't see any happy faces at the casino I visited, either. I felt like I was in ZombieLand.
Great photos. That's really scary about the bridge. Hopefully that problem is fixed now!
ReplyDeleteCarol: I've been to the Upper Peninsula, but not to the area where you were. From where you were, I was on the Canadian side of the water! I hae always wanted to see the Grand Hotel, though!
ReplyDeleteA & N,
ReplyDeleteJust in case, I think every car crossing over the bridge should carry three passengers. Or a big hunk of concrete! ;-)
G.G.,
ReplyDeleteI heard that the hotel charges people $10 just to walk on the walkway around it. We didn't do that, but instead walked on the driveway for free...
OH, your photos are a trip in themselves. Thank you! I'm so happy you had this wonderful visit with your friend. Thanks for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing in my trip via my photos, B.E.!
ReplyDeleteWhat a journey you've taken me on this morning! I love the picture of the hotel... the colour would have spoilt the effect.
ReplyDeleteI love bridges... I don't really know why. The newest bridge in my area is the Millennium Bridge..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateshead_Millennium_Bridge
Mackinac Island reminds me of Sark.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sark
My brother used to live in Jersey on the Channel Islands and Sark is nearby. We hired bikes for the day but I loved seeing the horses with buggies clip-clopping along! I think I could stand than slower paced lifestyle... Thanks for sharing Carol.
That's one impressive bridge, Daffy! I love that the designers were so innovative!
ReplyDeleteToo bad there aren't more places like Sark and Mackinac Island. I think the quiet, slower lifestyles would help the mental states of most of us (after many people got over their addictions to speed).