• Monday-What'sUP September 10 - 08:16 am

Exactly one week ago today, folks were walking and/or running across the Mackinac Bridge for the 56th annual Labor Day Bridge Walk. Philip Odum was on hand and snapped a number of photos for us to enjoy, making us all feel like we were there…minus the morning chill in the air and the actual walk, of course.

Philip captured the excitement from the 7:00 a.m. start of the event, along with the smiles and fun, many of the participants have with their unique headgear and even a costume or two.

The highlight of the crossing this year, though, had to be the Burns Harbor freighter passing under the Bridge, as the walkers were passing over it. Talk about unique experiences, that's pretty much at the top of them, at least it would be for me.

It's said that this is Michigan's greatest free event, with anywhere from 40,000 to 80,000 people participating in the five mile walk across the Mighty Mac. The Bridge Authority reported that there were approximately 33,000 walkers/runners this year, which far exceeds the 68 folks who participated in the very first Bridge walk, during its dedication in June of 1958.

For additional information and photos from previous years, including 1959, check out this link: www.MightyMac.org.

Always a good time........ even if its cool and
windy!

Thanks for the great shots!

Wonderful pictures. I've only done the bridge walk once, but the
freighter would have been a thrill for me too, Mary. We're back in
Toronto now, so I really am "Kosk in Toronto" once again. My
computer is working too, so I'll be able to check Pasty Cam on a
regular basis.

Thanks for posting these for all to enjoy..earning my very first certificate and sore feet..and noting that the bridge is part of the north country trail and the 5 mile bridge section is only walkable one day out of the year that being laborday..the burns harbor truly was my hilite waiting to get some shots of her..as she passes under the mighty mac.of course just to note I crossed the bridge at midnight to go to whitefish point in hopes of northern lite shots which never happened so for the day I crossed the mighty mac 6 times that day..certainly a record for me..

Great pictures! I enjoy crossing the Mac everytime I make the trip, as long as the steel belts are humming and there's a CD spinning! LOL

Great pics. Looks like a fun time for all the walkers! I love the costumes!

My 5th Bridgewalk.

Went up for our 5th time this year but my kids convinced me that the weather conditions weren't good enough to do the walk so we drove over. We were on the bridge when the freighter went under so we weren't too far away from Philip during one of his trips.

Hi
The last time that I did the bridge walk, on the 50th anniversary, I was able to look down on a freighter going underneath--way cool. That Labor Day, they also had a group who SWAM the straits.

Some day I'll get there. Looks like good times!

Some day I'll get there. Looks like good times!

Neat pix!!
We saw the Burns Harbor one day while visiting the Island ~ blew its horn as it passed. Impressive!

Looks like a party complete with party animals!