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

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Discussion Overview

The thread centers around a participant's anxiety about crossing the Mackinac Bridge while driving a group of Girl Scouts. Various participants share their personal experiences and coping strategies for dealing with bridge-related fears.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses fear of bridges and seeks advice on managing this while driving a group of girls.
  • Another participant suggests driving in the middle lane and gripping the wheel tightly as a coping mechanism.
  • One participant shares that singing songs with the girls could help distract from the fear of crossing the bridge.
  • Several participants mention specific songs that could be sung during the crossing to alleviate anxiety.
  • Another participant notes the importance of staying in the outside lane for a smoother ride.
  • One participant recalls their own dislike of bridges but shares that they managed to cross the bridge in winter.
  • Another participant mentions the bridge's safety record and encourages not to obsess over it.
  • Several participants discuss the pronunciation of "Mackinac" and "Mackinaw," sharing their thoughts on local dialects.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on how to cope with the fear of crossing the bridge, with some participants suggesting singing as a distraction while others focus on practical driving tips. No clear consensus emerges on a single approach.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects personal experiences and fears related to driving over the Mackinac Bridge, particularly in the context of managing a group of young girls. Participants share a mix of humor and concern regarding the experience.

Who May Find This Useful

Participants in the consultant community who may face similar fears or challenges when traveling with groups, particularly in contexts involving children.

pcchris
pcchris
Silver Member
Messages
3,464
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?
 
sorry all i can say is drive in the middle lane if there is one and white knuckle the wheel
 
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!
 
i like katies response better lol
 
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!
 
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!
 
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  • #7
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.
 
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.
 
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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!
 
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  • #10
katie0128 said:
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.
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I think it's 45 mph. Not fast enough to get me over that sucker! :eek:
 
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.
 
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.
 
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!
 
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The_Kitchen_Guy said:
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.
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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....
 
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  • #15
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
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!
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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!
 
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.
 
Don't be obsessed about it. It's just a bridge and it's had a pretty good safety record for fifty years.
 
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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!
 
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  • #19
By the way, nice tree in your avatar...
 
That poor old ugly tree is in Ill-Annoy. I saw it today.
 
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  • #21
interesting.
 
Looks like one of the trees in my backyard. I have a really green thumb!
 
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.
 
dianevill said:
Looks like one of the trees in my backyard. I have a really green thumb!
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I think it looks like an anorexic cheerleader with her pompons out front.
 
nascarcooker said:
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.
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Since she's driving, I think we prefer that she keep here eyes open.
 
Yeah, it does. Wouldn't have thought it, but now that you mention it...
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
Since she's driving, I think we prefer that she keep here eyes open.
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I'm sure the scouts would prefer that as well!
 
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.
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
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.
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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. :rolleyes:

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."
 
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?
 
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