This was the first year that we saw mounted police on the Mighty Mac
The walkers heading in the opposite direction dropped
off as we approached the Mackinaw City shore. Since they didn't have to
wait 2 hours or more to get a bus to the start of the walk, they were already
farther out on the bridge.
Some school buses were escorted to the middle of the Mackinac
Bridge where they would be available if people needed to be picked up as
the center of the bridge was closed to walking at 10AM. The turn around
points were slowly advanced to both ends. People could start onto the bridge
as late as 11:30AM, but those last ones would only be permitted to walk
a short distance before turning back to be off the bridge by noon.
Michigan State Police escorting buses to the center of the Mackinac
Bridge
Colonial Fort Michilimackinac
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
The 833' Roger Blough approaching the Mighty Mac - boats were prohibited
from passing under the Mackinac Bridge
during the walk with the exception of commercial vessels with advance
permission from the Coast Guard.
The Mackinaw City shore of the Straits of Mackinac
After a leisurely walk during which we took many photos
and some videos, we received our completion certificates at 10:15. Over
12,000 people had already gone through the south finish line before us.
Getting a certificate of having walked the Mackinac Bridge before crossing
the finish line
"Double Crossers" getting a photo with their certificates from the
north and south ends of the Bridge
After a brief return to our motel room to freshen up and
post to Facebook, answering questions about the walk, we returned to the
foot of the bridge to photograph and talk to the last people coming off
the bridge. Before, during and after the Mackinac Bridge Walk, we spoke
to many walkers to ask about their experiences. With the exception of the
line for the shuttle bus, the comments were uniformly positive. Many of
the repeat walkers said they thought it was the best walk ever.
The Mackinac Bridge Authority estimates that over 25,000
people walked the Mighty Mac this year. They would not provide a list of
the number of walkers in previous years, but a review of news articles
shows the previous 4 years to have been estimated at 30,000, 30,000, 45,000
and 25,000 walkers.
The last three walkers coming off the south end of the Mackinac bridge
