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.
