Bridge crossing update

Well, where to start. What a site, Almost 1400 tractors in one spot! A line of tractors, well I would say the entire length of the parade route. 8 or 10 miles. 5 mile long bridge, 500 feet in the air, over 300 feet deep water, and by the way i can see how the yugo went over the edge. Large amount of spectators on both sides of the bridge. Not enough room in big bear arena for all the tractors. Parked on lawn, sidewalks aind in the street! Looks like a lot tractor took over town! And most of them marking there spot. Lol. Fred (1951 8n ) left his mark( oil spot) in the parking lot to reserve his spot for next year. Had a blast! What's the record for tractors in one spot? Maybe we can break it next year. Here are a couple of pic. Dale.

Is RFDTV taping it for later broadcast ?

I think so. A lot of drones flying around.

I have seen many on here post about the crossing. What makes this such an exciting deal??? I AM NOT bad mouthing it as the fellows that have done it almost all sing phrases about how they liked it. I am wondering just WHY???

Maybe some thing I would like to do???

I saw the drones too, and LOTS of people watching. I was one of the County Line group that drove tractors 255 miles to get there, and had a ball!

I haven't done it, I will though, but my brother said it gives you a nice chance to check the bridge over fully and enjoy the scenery at a slower pace then usual. He also said they have a real good time the day or 2 leading up to it with everyone else. My dad said there was ALOT of 80-90 year old guys smiling from ear to ear when they came off the bridge. He said he talked to a fella from a southern MI with an Oliver 66 diesel that drove all the way up there, using only 1 tank of fuel!

There are several segments on this link from live coverage on a local TV station.
9&10 News

I think most of the interest is because of the bridges "regional" appeal. The only day you can walk across the bridge is Labor Day, and ~70,000 folks do that yearly. The tractor crossing is the only day you can drive your tractor over it. Since you can only do those things once a year, it makes it somewhat special and unique. The views are also nice. But I find the actual crossing less than fun, because with that many tractors and the logistics of a bridge crossing, it is stop and go most of the way.

J.D.

I was not able to go this year but I have in the past. The most outstanding thing about doing this is the staging area is several miles from the approach end of the bridge and there is a small ceremony before the beginning of the parade where their is a lot camaraderie with fellow tractor enthusiast. Next comes the parade where the entire route except the bridge itself is lined with several thousand people all cheering and giving you the thumbs up.This is such a contrast of most of the time you get a piece of farm equipment out on the road when people will pass you and give you a certain finger for holding them up. You pass through the small town of Mackinaw City on the South side of the bridge and then on to the bridge itself. The bridge for a long time was the longest suspended bridge in the world and is a magnificent work of engineering. The sight from the top of that bridge is spectacular especially on a clear day. On the North side of the bridge you pass through the town of St. Ignace and again you have spectators lining both sides of the street waving and giving you that thumbs up all the way to the load out area or the airport whichever you choose. If there is a sad part of it all, people come from all over the country to do this and never explore all that there is to do in the area. The whole western side of lower Michigan along the lake is one of the most beautiful places to spend time. If you ever can come let some of us here know so we can show you some places you would never find on your own. Tom

J.D. Here are a couple of pictures that I took from other crossings

RFD had a program last year about the crossing. don't know if they did one for this year.

The same Oliver 66 diesel led us in again this year. Have not filled the tractor I drove yet, but the gauge still shows over 1/2 full. Is a good size tank though. We did get wet Tuesday evening, but no one melted. Speedometer/odometer on my tractor showed 130 miles for Tuesday, 91 Wednesday, and 34 on staging arrival Thursday morning. Friday ride was just over 9 miles, 1/2 mile more would have been 265 total. Tractor rides are the best way to see the country, and meet new friends..

Regardless, it was a wonderful day for a ride. And the view from the bridge always makes me want to brag about what a beautiful state I live in. Not that other areas aren't that too, but I think we're special here. I made my first trip the first time in 2008 and I still get a thrill out of it.

What sort of tractor were you running dieseltech?

IH 560 diesel. Not pretty to look at but made the trip fine.

Did you make the trip with a Mr Cody from Ionia? He tried talking my wife into driving one of our cockshutts up there.

It is on my bucket list, but right now I don't have a restored tractor that would 10 mph

There were Cockshutts there, but I don't recall any in the County Line group I was in. Way I understand is each Michigan club is assigned a parking area number, and there were lots of groups! There was one lady rider with her husband and four ladies driving in our two and 1/2 day trip to the staging area.

The only way you could even get me close to a bridge like that is to knock me out and then drag me there. Bridges and I don't get along. I just don't understand the interest in doing it.

I don't care much for them either,but I've crossed that one by car several times. The first time,it was so foggy that you couldn't see 500 feet ahead. I think I raised some blisters from gripping the steering wheel.
It is a pretty impressive hunk of steel though.