Can I Survive Crossing the Mackinac Bridge with My Girl Scouts?

[pcchris]

Hi everyone! I'm freaking out...

We are taking our Girl Scouts to Mackinac Island in 2 months. I am scared to death of bridges................and of course, anyone who's ever been to the island knows about THE BRIDGE we're going to have to cross. How does a person who's scared of bridges manage to cross this sucker with a carload of 13 year old girls? Another driver isn't an option...any advice? Normally when our family travels, my DH drives, so I can close my eyes when we go over bridges...unfortunately this is not an option for me (to close my eyes...I am driving!) Any advice?

 

[heather9892]

sorry all i can say is drive in the middle lane if there is one and white knuckle the wheel

 

[katie0128]

Take a DEEP breath and then have the girls sing one of the great annoying, repeating songs - you know the ones that end with "same song, second verse, a little bit louder and a little bit worse" and SING WITH THEM!!!! You'll be so busy singing that it should make the drive go faster. My fav song was always "No matter how young a prune may be..."
This might also be a great intro to talking about fears the girls have and how to overcome them... of course, don't have this discussion until AFTER you have made it over and back and don't pass out from a panic attack - otherwise, the great message might be lost!

 

[heather9892]

i like katies response better lol

 

[dianevill]

I think you should sing, "A boy and a girl in a little canoe"!

Really though, I think the advice Katie gave you is great!

 

[katie0128]

Wow! Two people think I gave good advice. Maybe I should print and save this thread to show my kids when they get to the "mom is soooo stupid" phase!
But, pcchris, I feel for ya! I'd be in the same boat if I was heading over the bridge... I HATE bridges and I HATE heights! I can drive on bridges if they aren't too long and aren't the annoying metal grate, but I still hate 'em!!!
So, now let's start listing songs the GS can sing to take pcchris' mind off the bridge...
"Singin' in the rain" - duck style!

 

[pcchris]

Yep...good idea! I don't know that I could stand that for 5 miles....but I'm game for just about anything! So, then my DH starts telling me how this bridge will move like 35 feet from side to side if it's really windy....GREAT! just give me more to freak out about! I think I'm going to look at the website every day from now until then and see if I can psych myself up for this...it's a long drive, capped off with an enormous bridge. Ick.

 

[katie0128]

What is the speed limit on the bridge? I'm guessing it should take less than 10 minutes. How about having them change songs every mile... kinda like a countdown.

 

[pcchris]

website is www.mackinacbridge.org in case you aren't sure of the bridge in question. I'd do a like, but I don't know how. KG may be able to help me with that....he's such a computer guru! Or, someone else might be able to do that too....

It's a MONSTER!

 

[pcchris]

What is the speed limit on the bridge? I'm guessing it should take less than 10 minutes. How about having them change songs every mile... kinda like a countdown.

I think it's 45 mph. Not fast enough to get me over that sucker!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Except that on the Mighty Mac, you want to stay on the OUTSIDE lane. It's concrete. The inside lane is steel grate decking, so your tires sing and your car wanders around the lane as the steel kinda floats the tires.The good news is that the entire span is not quite five miles long (28 feet short of it, to be exact) but the bridge itself is only a short portion of that. You'll be fine - if I can cross that sucker in January, you can do it in July just fine. I just did it about a week ago.I also did the Badger from Luddington to Manitowoc, and I'd almost rather do the bridge.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Oh, it's also the 50th Anniversary of the Might Mac - I remember when it opened and what a big deal it was - and they also have some great shirts.If you're going to the island anyway, why do you have to cross the bridge? You can get ferries to the island from St. Ignace, too.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Oh, another one of my pet peeves - it's pronounced Mac-i-naw, just like the island. People who say Mac-i-nac are just ignorant and grate on my nerves!

 

[pcchris]

Oh, it's also the 50th Anniversary of the Might Mac - I remember when it opened and what a big deal it was - and they also have some great shirts.

If you're going to the island anyway, why do you have to cross the bridge? You can get ferries to the island from St. Ignace, too.

We have to cross the bridge, because we are staying in Mackinac City...thanks to my other fearless leader who decided to plan the whole thing. I would have loved to stay in St Ignace...but she thought it would be more fun to stay in the city. Whatever....

 

[pcchris]

Oh, another one of my pet peeves - it's pronounced Mac-i-naw, just like the island. People who say Mac-i-nac are just ignorant and grate on my nerves!

Hence, the 2 different spellings...Mackinac/Mackinaw

However, pronunciation is the same...like KG said: Mac-i-naw

It's going to be fun....except that bridge! I have to stop obsessing...I just can't help it!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

It's an old French word that means, "Tourist Trap."The French spelled it Mackinac, but pronounced it Mac-i-naw. The British heard the pronunciation and spelled it phoenetically, Mackinaw. Either way, it's mac-a-naw. After all, you wouldn't say ill-a-noise when you go to Chicago, would you? That state is pronounced ill-annoy which seems appropriate for some reason.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Don't be obsessed about it. It's just a bridge and it's had a pretty good safety record for fifty years.

 

[pcchris]

I printed off your last post, KG....and I'm going to tape it on my dashboard during the trip!!! I knew I could count on you! Thanks!

 

[pcchris]

By the way, nice tree in your avatar...

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

That poor old ugly tree is in Ill-Annoy. I saw it today.

 

[pcchris]

interesting.

 

[dianevill]

Looks like one of the trees in my backyard. I have a really green thumb!

 

[nascarcooker]

I hate bridges too and I always close my eyes. Just look straight ahead and don't look to the sides. Stay on the cement side less noise! Have fun.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Looks like one of the trees in my backyard. I have a really green thumb!

I think it looks like an anorexic cheerleader with her pompons out front.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I hate bridges too and I always close my eyes. Just look straight ahead and don't look to the sides. Stay on the cement side less noise! Have fun.

Since she's driving, I think we prefer that she keep here eyes open.

 

[dianevill]

Yeah, it does. Wouldn't have thought it, but now that you mention it...

 

[katie0128]

Since she's driving, I think we prefer that she keep here eyes open.

I'm sure the scouts would prefer that as well!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

When I die, I want to go the way my grandfather did, peacefully, in his sleep, not yelling and screaming like the passengers in his car.

 

[raebates]

It's an old French word that means, "Tourist Trap."

The French spelled it Mackinac, but pronounced it Mac-i-naw. The British heard the pronunciation and spelled it phoenetically, Mackinaw. Either way, it's mac-a-naw.

After all, you wouldn't say ill-a-noise when you go to Chicago, would you? That state is pronounced ill-annoy which seems appropriate for some reason.

I wouldn't say "ill-a-noise," but I live in Indiana. I hear it pronounced that way all the time. Of course, I hear people talking about "warshing" their cars. I also know someone who was talking about a friend getting a couple of small "geicos." It took everything in me not to ask her what they were doing with two small insurance companies.

I now have an answer for the origin of the word hoosier. It's an old Indian word meaning "people who can't pronounce words properly."

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Most people who say Ill-a-noise are just being a smartass but you might be right about the ones you mentioned. I bet they talk about men getting prostrate cancer, too. That would be cancer of the recliner, right?

 

[raebates]

Of course it is. Years ago I learned that it does no good to correct these people. They either get snippy or act like they have no idea what I'm talking about. Wait. Maybe it's not an act.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Adding "R"s in places there aren't any usually goes along with dropping them were there are supposed to be Rs. My grandmother used to say warsh and Sheborgan, the name of a city on the west shore of Lake Michigan, just south of Manitowoc. (There's a Cherboygan on the Michirgan side, too.)That seems to be a trait of folks of English descent that came through the state of New York and it seems to get passed from generartion to generartion. My mother, thankfully, didn't pick it up.

 

[raebates]

My dad and his family put "oirl" in their vehicles. Having grown up in central Indiana, I have a great fear of mispronouncing words. When I read I look up unfamiliar words for their pronunciation, not their definition.

 

[chef131doreen]

Can you ask any of the other scouts mons or dads to drive ,don't forget you have to go over it to come home too. I can be a hard thing to do so if you say to them For the kids sake I need another driver I'm sure some one will help you out.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I hate bridges too but I have to be the driver (control thing). White knuckled all the way across.

BUT we just visited the Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain and I loved that bridge. (by the way I am not afraid of heights - LOVE parasailing - I am clostrophobic) Go figure. My son who has no problem driving or riding over bridges and "makes fun" of me when we do absolutely did not like swinging bridge at all.

You got lots of good advice here. My only comment is that millions go over the bridge every year so "it must be safe" - I tell myself that every time...

 

[PampMomof3]

Hey Chris, I walked that bridge with my GS troup when i was like 8. I had no problem doing it then but in my teenage years started really hating bridges. When we visit my sister in GA we have to go over a really big bridge to get to Jekyll Island and another one called The 9 or something like that. (9 is stuck in my head for whatever reason). (I have yet to go down to the keys and do that bridge) Well, Anyways, my dh REALLY wanted to walk the Golden Gate when we earned the free trip and I was very reluctant. Well, I'm very proud to say that I DID IT!!! I felt so good and believe me, I'm not a face your fear kinda gal!

My one piece of advice would be to NOT look over the sides, concentrate on the road and tell the girls of your fear. I think they'll be proud of your accomplishment.

Good LUCK!!! YOU CAN DO IT!

 

[chefjeanine]

Chris,

You may be able to have someone drive your car over for you. . .or get a car to escort you if that would make you feel more comfortable.

My husband is not a bridge fan and we drive across every year. Last year was the first time we didn't switch drivers before crossing. I was very proud of him.

Who ever told you to stay on the outside lane was correct. . .that will keep you off the open grate which can be even more unsettling.

Go as slow as you want to. . .I rarely travel at 45 mph and the people behind you can just get over themselves. They won't have to follow you for long.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Another alternative...go to Manitowoc and get on the SS Badger to Luddington, then drive to Mackinaw City from there. (We sometimes refer to it as "The Polish Love Boat.")It'll be a little more expensive but it's another adventure and also cut a couple hundred miles off the drive. The crew of the Badger does a lot of things on board that cater to the young cruiser.There's also the Lake Express ferry from Milwaukee to Muskegon but that's even more expensive. Click on the ferries to be taken to their websites.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

The SS Badger...
http://www.ssbadger.com/images/gallery/Home-page-ship.jpgThe Lake Express...
http://www.lake-express.com/images/home-photo.jpgDistance from Milwaukee to Mackinac City by highway: 371 miles
Distance from Milwaukee to Mackinac City by SS Badger: 301 miles
Distance from Milwaukee to Mackinac City by Lake Express: 275 milesAnd remember, with either ship, you DON'T have to drive across the bridge.

 

[pcchris]

I asked my other leader about that...she said it would be too expensive to do it that way. (the SS Badger). She actually thought it was funny how I was freaking out about the bridge. (she thought I was joking, until I told her otherwise!) Now she feels bad, but our troop's finances are going to be pretty close to depleted with this trip, so the ferry is not an option....too bad I don't have the extra money to pay for it myself. Hmmm....maybe I need to book more shows so I can pay for it that way! LOL!!!

 

[katie0128]

Girl Scout Fundraiser... specifically for the trip!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

The operators of the Badger would probably give you a pretty good group rate, too!It would also be educational - I loved all the trips I made on the old Pierre Marquette 21 and Pierre Marquette 22 when I was a kid - smuggling contraband oleomargarine into Wisconsin!

 

[katie0128]

you renegade, you

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I was just a widdo kid. My brother and I were packed into the back seat of The Old Man's Buick with the luggage - the trunk was full of cases of oleomargarine!

 

[chefann]

My mom has an issue with bridges, too. What she's found is that she's actually better when she's driving because it gives her a feeling of control over the situation. Hopefully, that will help in this case, too.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

When my dentist suggested a toll bridge, I went to find a new dentist.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Feeling better about this yet, Chris?

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, because I hate bridges too, but we just returned from "up north", and the outside lanes were closed on the bridge - so everyone had to use the "Grate" lane. I CANNOT drive over a bridge. I've tried, and I can't do it.
I have been told that you can stop at the bridge authority, and request an escort, and someone will actually drive your car over the bridge for you.

I just sit very low in my seat with a good book, and pretend I'm in my happy place!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Go back in three days and the lane configuration will be completely different. Chris isn't going for 6 weeks yet, so it'll all be different by then, too.

 

[pcchris]

Feeling better about this yet, Chris?

Just got back from a nice 3 day getaway...and no, not really feeling better about it!! I hope the outside lanes are open by August...

My DH told me about the "escort across the bridge", so I'm thinking about that, too!