We were up at 5:00 am and over to the bus loading area by 5:30 am. A bus ride across the bridge and we're ready to begin the 5 mile hike back to lower Michigan by 6:00 am.
Of course, so were a few thousand other folks.
We had an hour to "kill" but it passed quickly.
While we waited for the start of the walk, we just happened to strike up a conversation with some strangers. Turns out they live in Niles, Michigan (where we had our bicycle shop around 1980) and had actually purchased a Fuji bicycle from us. Said they still have and love the bike...small world.
So Governor Snyder said a few words and kept the politics of the election season out of the event. It was just a thanks for coming, now let's go.
So we're off on our hike at precisely 7:00 am. There was a SE breeze with a temperature of just over 60°.
For the first mile or so, it was a little crowded.
But then we hit the grating and many wouldn't walk over that surface. So it thinned out considerably.
Kathy kept up a torrid pace.
I was shocked she walked on the grating. She won't step on a metal expansion plate on the dock but looking through to water 200' below apparently isn't nearly as traumatic. Seems the absence of people in her path rated higher than the phobia of falling through to a watery death.
Worked for me.
TV crews were at the top of the south tower filming the event. I'm sure to make the 6:00 pm newscast.
Passing the south tower, we were on the down slope.
With the end in sight.
We finished the walk in about 90 minutes. There were a couple locations that had a bus parked for those that didn't feel they could finish. It was shocking to see some youngsters (grade school age) that didn't feel they could do this after the first mile or so. That's really sad. On the other hand, there were plenty of seniors pushing their walkers across the span.
Anyway, we did it. It's a worthwhile activity. The organization that has been created to do the bridge walk is remarkable. Absolutely no waiting (other than the starting time) anywhere. They contract with schools throughout northern Michigan for bus transportation. There are literally hundreds of buses here and traffic control everywhere. It was amazing.
Finished with the walk, we took a spin through the crowded main street where I purchased my bridge walk t-shirt.
Hey, I put in 5 miles (2 1/2 uphill) to earn wearing that shirt.
Then back at the boat, it was time for nourishment as Kathy gets busy in the galley (boat speak for kitchen).
I helped with the microwave sweet corn (someone had to set the timer).
BLT's, potato salad, sweet corn and watermelon. That was good after a morning hike. We knew the 40,000 folks walking the bridge would inundate the restaurants here so had planned to eat in today.
After lunch, we saw the skies begin to darken.
A check of the weather and it appears we're going to get a little moisture.
A little at first.
A lot at second.
So we took a nap and watched a little TV while the storm blew through.
After the storm we strolled through the Crossing and the place was deserted. It appears that Mackinaw City closed for the season while we napped. The transformation is almost scary. Several stores were closed up by 5:00 pm. So goes a tourist town.
We walked down to the shore and looked out over a Straits with nary a ferry boat.
Haven't had a view like that in a couple months. There's always a boat in transit somewhere between here and the island.
And another look at this morning's hiking trail.
To look at it, the bridge looks much longer than it seemed to be while walking over it.
Have to pack up and head south tomorrow. Winds are blowing now and forecast to continue for a day so we're done boating for the weekend.
The season is definitely winding down.
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