Photos: Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Trip 2008

Linda and Chris participated in their 17th annual and consecutive Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Bridge Walk over Labor Day weekend 2008. It was also Rachael's third consecutive walk. This year, Linda & Chris invited their close friends, Kyle & Andrea, and their seven-month old daughter, Addie, along for the fun. Greatly simplifying the whole trip was Kyle & Andrea's procurement of another family member's minivan, which made travelling with four adults, a toddler and a young baby much easier.

Jump to: Sunday, August 31, 2008 • Monday, September 1, 2008

Sunday, August 31, 2008

The Bessert-Dewey-Kalm Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Bridge Walk 2008 Minivan
The Bessert-Dewey-Kalm Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Bridge Walk 2008 Minivan. Not the sportiest of roadtrip vehicles, but not only did it allow the two couples to share gas costs, but it made it much more convenient for everyone to stick together on the trip. Many thanks to Kyle and Andrea for procuring the wheels for the trip!

Chris with Rachael in her new child carrier.
Chris with Rachael in her new child carrier that was purchased a week before the trip. In her first two Mackinac Bridge crossings, Rachael was carried by Chris in an infant front carrier. But being almost 30 pounds at 2-1/4, she needed a larger carrier. The sunshield was quickly dispensed with after this photo was taken, however...

Addie in her new child carrier on Kyle's back.
Addie in her new child carrier on Kyle's back waiting for Andrea and Linda to return and start our hike.

Kyle and Addie awaiting the start of the hike at Wilderness State Park.
Kyle and Addie awaiting the start of the hike at Wilderness State Park. Kyle also made quick work of that apple...

Wilderness State Park trail map sign at the trailhead.
Wilderness State Park trail map sign at the trailhead. Chris noted the boundaries of the park were recently expanded and additional trails had been added. It's hard to modify a trail map made out of wood and mounted outdoors, though.

Monarch butterfly caterpillar on a leaf.
Monarch butterfly caterpillar on a leaf that was spied by Kyle just prior to our hike at Wilderness State Park.

Linda with a quick smile before we start our hike.
Linda with a quick smile before we start our hike.

And Andrea with her own quick smile moments before our hike.
And Andrea with her own quick smile moments before our hike.

A few minutes into the hike, Chris and Rachael pause for a picture.
A few minutes into the hike, Chris and Rachael pause for a picture. Of course, Rachael had to give her usual "photo smile"... she's really going to hate her parents when she grows up!

Linda and Rachael pose for the camera along the Red Pine Trail in Wilderness State Park.
As we took a pause during the hike, Linda and Rachael pose for the camera along the Red Pine Trail in Wilderness State Park.

Rachael also took the pause to do her own exploring up the Red Pine Trail.
Rachael also took the pause to do her own exploring up the Red Pine Trail.

Andrea and Kyle (with Addie on his back) along the Red Pine Trail in Wilderness State Park.
Andrea and Kyle (with Addie on his back) along the Red Pine Trail in Wilderness State Park.

Linda took over the carrying duties with Rachael for a portion of the hike.
Linda took over the carrying duties with Rachael for a portion of the hike.

The hiking crew: Linda with Rachael in the carrier in front, followed by Kyle with Addie in her carrier, then Andrea in third place, followed by photographer Chris at the rear.
The hiking crew: Linda with Rachael in the carrier in front, followed by Kyle with Addie in her carrier, then Andrea in third place, followed by photographer Chris at the rear.

Linda and Rachael started a game whereby Rachael would watch for then reach out and touch the painted blue trail blazes.
Linda and Rachael started a game whereby Rachael would watch for then reach out and touch the painted blue trail blazes on the trees along the Red Pine Trail.

The crew hiked up the Hemlock Trail and stopped to rest at the top of Mount Nebo, the highest point in Wilderness State Park.
After a jog along the Nebo Trail, the crew hiked up the Hemlock Trail and stopped to rest at the top of Mount Nebo, the highest point in Wilderness State Park. Mount Nebo was home to a Department of Conservation fire lookout tower built in the 1930s. It was later dismantled, leaving just the cement foundation.

Kyle, Andrea, Addie (on Andrea's lap), Linda, Rachael (on Linda's lap), and Chris.
Left to Right: Kyle, Andrea, Addie (on Andrea's lap), Linda, Rachael (on Linda's lap), and Chris.

Andrea, Addie, Linda and Rachael pose for another photo.
Still resting atop Mount Nebo in Wilderness State Park, here Andrea, Addie, Linda and Rachael pose for another photo.

Linda and Rachael atop Mount Nebo.
Linda and Rachael atop Mount Nebo.

Kyle, Andrea and Addie resting on Mount Nebo.
Kyle, Andrea and Addie resting on Mount Nebo.

Rachael sitting on one of the remaining large concrete foundations of the former fire lookout tower on Mount Nebo in Wilderness State Park.

Rachael sitting on one of the remaining large concrete foundations of the former fire lookout tower on Mount Nebo in Wilderness State Park. Here she's enjoying some apple juice. It's hard work riding on her parents' back, you know...

Rachael trying to look like she's sad to head out down the trail again from our rest stop.
Rachael trying to look like she's sad to head out down the trail again from our rest stop.

Linda again took a stab at carrying Rachael along the rest of the Hemlock Trail and the Nebo Trail at Wilderness State Park.
Linda again took a stab at carrying Rachael along the rest of the Hemlock Trail and the Nebo Trail at Wilderness State Park.

A view of the Hemlock Trail in Wilderness State Park.
A view of the Hemlock Trail in Wilderness State Park.

Chris has taken over carrying Rachael again as we head back toward the minivan at the trailhead.
Chris has taken over carrying Rachael again as we head back toward the minivan at the trailhead.

Rachael in the carrier on Chris' back as we hike along Wilderness Park Drive returning to the trailhead.

Another shot of Rachael in the carrier on Chris' back as we hike along Wilderness Park Drive returning to the trailhead.

 

Jump to: Sunday, August 31, 2008 • Monday, September 1, 2008

All photos taken Christopher J. Bessert and are all property of and copyrighted by Christopher J. & Linda M. Bessert. All Rights reserved. No photo shall be used without prior written permission.

This is a little website set up by Chris & Linda, Rachael's proud new parents, in response to repeated requests for photographs and the latest information on how Rachael is doing. As many of you know, Chris & Linda welcomed their daughter into the world six weeks early in late June, so the birth and first few weeks of Rachael's life have been a bit less than "usual."