Mackinac Bridge Walk

Drew and his girlfriend Teagan decided to spend their Labor Day walking the Mackinac bridge, as she had never done it before, nor has she even seen the bridge! They were able to borrow Jayden's camera to take pictures while they were there! For Drew, this was a nice trip down memory lane, and for Teagan, it was checking off an event she never thought of doing before in her life, as she didn’t know that the Bridge Walk existed until Drew brought up the idea of spending the day up north. Just a few weeks after Drew took her, she brought her best friend from her small town in Indiana to revisit and share the experience of up north Michigan!

Up first: The cold morning drive, leaving at 3am to make it north before they shut down the walk!

The Drive North
		The sunrise as Drew and Teagan drive north, heading towards the Mackinac bridge...


		A view of the expressway.
		Another shot of the sunrise...
		...and anther shot of I-75.
		The ship at Sea Shell City in Cheboygan that Drew and his brother and sisters would play on when they were kids.
		Drew taking pictures of him and Teagan while he drives and she sleeps in!
		Heavy traffic heading towards the Mighty Mac!
		...and down to one lane they went (only making traffic worse…).

Finding parking this morning was an absolute joy, but they eventually found a spot, starting the long day ahead of them! In the morning when they left, the weather app said it was supposed to be a windy 50 degree day, but that backfired on them as it was in the low 80’s with
nothing but sunshine, which is beautiful, but they were certainly not dressed for the warmth. Drew also said that this year was the worst sway
side to side on the bridge he had ever felt, as both he and the crowd seemed to struggle to walk straight!

2025 Annual Bridge Walk
		Teagan flipping the Peters Family salute to Drew on their walk to the bridge.
		Some sight seeing on the way to the bridge...

		A look down the middle of southbound I-75 as Drew and Teagan head towards the bridge.
		Another look on down the southbound side of the highway.
		Mackinac Island off in the distance from the foot of the bridge.
		A U.S. coast guard boat off to the west side of the bridge.
		Turn around point number 1, new since Drew (or any of us) last walked the bridge.
		A shot of the upper peninsula from the bridge.
		First expansion joint crossed!
		The Michigan State Police on their horses!
		Teagan overlooking the straits down into Lake Michigan.
		Drew and Teagan were slowly getting closer to the first tower...
		...and a little bit closer!
		A couple shots of the water down through the grates...

		Coming up on the south tower...
		...getting really close now!
		A look down through the grates at the bottom of the tower.
		Looking down towards the north tower, inching closer to the halfway point of the walk.
		A shot from the middle of the bridge down towards the north tower.
		It was at this point in the walk that they started turning people around. To do that, the people walking north started to have to cross over to head back south.
		Another shot of the U.P. from the bridge.
		Drew and Teagan heading back towards the south tower.
		A "Where's Waldo" couple on the bridge.
		The massive crowd at the turnaround underneath the south tower!
		MSP telling the crowd to stay out of the inner lanes as they were used for bus/police traffic.
		Some parasailers on the Lake Huron side of the bridge.
		A look back towards Mackinaw City.
		Another MSP trooper on a horse, but this one has braids!
		A funny sweatshirt!
		Another pretty shot of the MSP troopers an their horses!
		Approaching the finish line!
		Getting a little closer...
		...and they made it! Drew and Teagan at the finish line!
		A selfie of Teagan and Drew while they were on the bridge.
		A certificate they received for completing the bridge walk presented at the finish line!

		One last look at the finish line!

After Drew and Teagan walked the bridge, he wanted to relive some of his childhood memories by checking out the city and recreate some his dads camera shots from throughout the years!

Mackinaw City
		A shot of the bridge from the beach on the lower peninsula!
		A couple pictures from underneath the bridge...

		...and one alongside the Mighty Mackinac bridge.
		Despite the cold water, there was a guy swimming in the water!
		A few pictures of the bridge and some other scenery walking down the coast line...



		A pink Mustang for Jayden!





		Walking through the shops of Mackinaw Crossings - some things haven’t changed!

This is where the day really started to get rough for Drew, as he missed his family and wished they had been there to walk the bridge with him just like old times. Thankfully Teagan was there to be his rock and supported him through an incredibly emotional day. As they made their way across the bridge in the car this time, they went and visited a few different areas and landmarks that he remembered from his childhood...

The Drive South
		Making the drive across the bridge...

		Drew and Teagan made a stop to eat lunch at this viewpoint!
		Drew and Teagan were now in the downtown St. Ignace area, sitting under a gazebo looking out towards Mackinac island.
		Another shot of Mackinac Island.
		A pirate ship?
		A couple views of the Mackinac Bridge from inside Straights State Park...

		Drew taking unwanted pictures!!



		Teagan slipping down a trail...
		...and getting back up while hiking through the state park.
		down on the beach looking out towards the bridge again but from the north side this time!
		Drew up on the rock he and his family used to take pictures on when he was little! (little #2)
		Drew taking in the sights...
		...and trying to keep the emotions in check.
		A couple of the pictures that Drew took while atop the rock...

The Drive North

The sunrise as Drew and Teagan drive north, heading towards the Mackinac bridge...

A view of the expressway.

Another shot of the sunrise...

...and anther shot of I-75.

The ship at Sea Shell City in Cheboygan that Drew and his brother and sisters would play on when they were kids.

Drew taking pictures of him and Teagan while he drives and she sleeps in!

Heavy traffic heading towards the Mighty Mac!

...and down to one lane they went (only making traffic worse…).

2025 Annual Bridge Walk

Teagan flipping the Peters Family salute to Drew on their walk to the bridge.

Some sight seeing on the way to the bridge...

A look down the middle of southbound I-75 as Drew and Teagan head towards the bridge.

Another look on down the southbound side of the highway.

Mackinac Island off in the distance from the foot of the bridge.

A U.S. coast guard boat off to the west side of the bridge.

Turn around point number 1, new since Drew (or any of us) last walked the bridge.

A shot of the upper peninsula from the bridge.

First expansion joint crossed!

The Michigan State Police on their horses!

Teagan overlooking the straits down into Lake Michigan.

Drew and Teagan were slowly getting closer to the first tower...

...and a little bit closer!

A couple shots of the water down through the grates...

...getting really close now!

A look down through the grates at the bottom of the tower.

Looking down towards the north tower, inching closer to the halfway point of the walk.

A shot from the middle of the bridge down towards the north tower.

It was at this point in the walk that they started turning people around. To do that, the people walking north started to have to cross over to head back south.

Another shot of the U.P. from the bridge.

Drew and Teagan heading back towards the south tower.

A "Where's Waldo" couple on the bridge.

Some parasailers on the Lake Huron side of the bridge.

A look back towards Mackinaw City.

A funny sweatshirt!

Approaching the finish line!

Getting a little closer...

...and they made it! Drew and Teagan at the finish line!

A selfie of Teagan and Drew while they were on the bridge.

A certificate they received for completing the bridge walk presented at the finish line!

One last look at the finish line!

Mackinaw City

A shot of the bridge from the beach on the lower peninsula!

A couple pictures from underneath the bridge...

...and one alongside the Mighty Mackinac bridge.

Despite the cold water, there was a guy swimming in the water!

A few pictures of the bridge and some other scenery walking down the coast line...

A pink Mustang for Jayden!

Walking through the shops of Mackinaw Crossings - some things haven’t changed!

The Drive South

Making the drive across the bridge...

Drew and Teagan made a stop to eat lunch at this viewpoint!

Drew and Teagan were now in the downtown St. Ignace area, sitting under a gazebo looking out towards Mackinac island.

Another shot of Mackinac Island.

A pirate ship?

A couple views of the Mackinac Bridge from inside Straights State Park...

Drew taking unwanted pictures!!

Teagan slipping down a trail...

...and getting back up while hiking through the state park.

down on the beach looking out towards the bridge again but from the north side this time!

Drew up on the rock he and his family used to take pictures on when he was little! (little #2)

Drew taking in the sights...

...and trying to keep the emotions in check.

A couple of the pictures that Drew took while atop the rock...