When the name of a city is made up of three separate words, a person wonders what they mean: "Sault" means "waterfall or a rapid in a river:". "Ste." is the abbreviation for "Saint". The noun "Marie" is a reference to the Virgin Mary, in whose honor the town was named by Jesuit missionary and explorer Father Jacques Marquette, in the 1600's. The city is located on St. Mary's River. I took the photo of the mural in this photo, because the bridge behind it, was the reason I was visiting Sault Ste. Marie ( www.saultstemarie.com ).
Another mural along the same wall, was welcoming me and my friends, to explore their scenic waterways. I think my interest in walking across significant bridges started when I had the opportunity to walk across the famous bridge over the harbor, in Sydney, Australia, in February, of 2001. At that time, I was not publishing a blog, but when I put "Bridges" into the search box of my "Expeditions By Tricia" blog archive, there were several stories published, about bridges I have walked over, since the Sydney, Australia, Bridge:
- Sundial Bridge in Redding, California: March 13, 2009
- Ruthvin Bridge in Cotter, Arkansas: January 14, 2010
- Lake Siskiyou Bridge in Mt. Shasta, California: December 2, 2011
- Junction Bridge in Little Rock, Arkansas: March 8, 2012
- Tridge in Midland, Michigan: August 14, 2012
- Rainbow Bridge, in Washington State: October 22, 2012
- Big Dam Bridge in North Little Rock, Arkansas: January 2013
- Walkway over the Hudson River, in upstate New York: July 2, 2015
- Bridge over I-5 in Mt. Shasta, California: October 1, 2018
- Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California: June 15, 2019
- "Y" Bridge in Galena, Missouri: Facebook, July 24, 2019
- Gatlinburg Suspended Bridges at Anakeesta and Skypark: July 1, 2026
None of my previous bridge walks had been between two different countries, so I was ready for a new challenge---walking from the USA to Canada, on the International Bridge over the St. Mary's River!
I am very thankful that several of my friends and I were able to participate in the 2026 International Bridge Walk. It is an annual event, held the last Saturday in June, to celebrate the international friendship between Sault St. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, in Canada. Notice their logo shows symbols of both the USA and Canadian flags---stars and stripes for the USA and the red maple leaf for Canada. The International Bridge connects the two cities.
Our instructions called for meeting at the Arts Center, of Lake Superior State University. It was an ideal place to meet, because the building was open and had ample clean restrooms, water fountains, trash containers, and indoor seating. Also, it had large spacious parking lots, where participants could park their cars, and where the buses that brought the walkers back to the USA, could easily unload passengers. As you can see from the beautiful blue skies in the photo, the weather was ideal, and was an answer to prayers, because in the past the event has had to be cancelled because of dangerous weather conditions.
When I saw the upward incline the bridge had at its beginning, I had some concerns, because the oldest member of our group would be making the crossing in a wheel chair, powered by one of us (i.e., not battery-powered). I mentioned to the others that I probably was not going to be able to push the wheelchair on an upward climb, but could do it on the downward descent----UNTIL they told me it is sometimes takes more strength to control a wheelchair with a person in it, going downhill, rather than uphill! So that meant my turn to push, would be on the flat stretch!
Before we left Arkansas, we decided to wear our Floatzilla shirts ( www.floatzillaqc.org ) that would make us easy to spot in a crowd. (See Floatzilla blog dated September 2, 2024 for more info on that event). The cute girl in the black shirt is another reason for wanting to go to Sault Ste. Marie. She is a graduate of our local high school, and an Arkansas university, and has a successful career serving in the Coast Guard, currently stationed in Sault Ste Marie. Her grandmother is the one with gray hair sitting in the front of the photo, and her aunt is the tallest of the group, on back row.
In the Art Center parking lot, the back platform of a big truck was set up as a makeshift stage, complete with a good sound system. It was there the ladies pictured below, sang the national anthems, of both Canada and the USA, to get the opening ceremony started.
Notice the platform included both the USA and Canadian flags behind them. The fact that these flags are hanging "limp" is actually a very good sign, because it meant that high winds were not going to cause a cancellation of the event. City officials from both sides of the border welcomed the group, as well as the chief executive of the International Bridge Commission. There is no pre-registration fee for the event, so they have no way of knowing how many will be attending. Participants were told to bring their passports, and only small bags were allowed, preferably, clear vinyl. The instructions also indicated that bags were subject to being searched.
When the walk began, we had a short distance to travel on city streets leading to the bridge. The streets had been closed off to vehicle traffic, and were being monitored by traffic officers.
I was glad to see this sign indicating we were making the turn to the Canada Toll Bridge, knowing we would soon be actually on the bridge. The bridge itself is 2.8 miles, and this being my first time to participate in this event, I did not know how much additional mileage the walk from the Art Center would add. However, it was just a few short blocks.
Safety is a concern for a large event like this, and these officers in their bright yellow shirts, and riding bicycles, were ready to tackle any unforeseen circumstances, to be of assistance.
This photo shows Peggy starting the downhill stretch on a city street leading to the bridge.
As Peggy pushed Helen in the wheelchair, and Diana waved good bye to the toll booth operators, we were getting closer to the bridge! Notice the LANE CLOSED signs are showing, as we entered the secure area. As we were driving into Sault Ste. Marie four days before the bridge walk, there were large illuminated signs on the main highways, alerting all drivers that the International Bridge was going to be closed to vehicle traffic, on Saturday, June 27, starting at 9 am, until 11 am.
After a while, (young and strong!) Coast Guard officer Tori, had the honor of pushing her grandmother in the wheel chair, as the bridge surface starts to gradually elevate.
In this photo, Diana is pushing her mom in the wheelchair, while Peggy and Tori take a break.
When we got to a flat surface, I took a turn at the handlebars, pushing the "Matriarch" of our group, towards the finish line in Canada.
The gals from Arkansas were not the only ones wearing matching tee shirts. Various members of the Rotary Clubs from both Canada and USA, who participated in the event, were also wearing matching yellow shirts, which made them easy to spot. The logos on their shirts promoted the Rotary goals--- advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace.
You can find out more about activities of this network of volunteers, by visiting www.rotary.org
Diane took this photo from the hill above the bridge, and shows walkers as far as the eye can see!
The actual "border line" between Canada and the USA at this location, is in the middle of the river below. However, this brass sign above the river, let the walkers know when they have "crossed the line". I wish I could have had a photo with me standing behind the sign, with one foot in Canada and one foot in the USA. However, there was an 80 foot drop-off on the other side of the sign, so I had to pass on such a pose!
Fortunately, I got the ladies to turn around towards my camera phone, to pose for a photo, after we passed the border sign on the bridge.
Being on top of the bridge gave us a "Bird's Eye View" of the construction that is currently taking place at the Soo Locks. This very important passage way between Lakes Superior and Huron, is being modified, to allow for the increased size of container ships.
After we were on level ground, and on the Canada side, Tori took this photo of us, so one can see the Canada Customs Gate in the distance, along with the buses lined up, to take walkers back to the USA.
When I checked with bridge officials before the event, they assured me that if anyone was having difficulties, there would be a motorized vehicle to provide assistance (sometimes called a "Sag Wagon"). As the time to re-open the bridge to vehicle traffic grew closer, I notice a motorized Police vehicle starting to "patrol" the bridge, in case there were any stragglers. All along the route, there had been uniformed International Bridge personnel with walkie-talkies, that could have alerted the police of the need for assistance.
I counted five yellow school buses, lined up and waiting to return walkers to the USA. Of course, none of the buses could start the return trip until the bridge officials had done an inspection to be sure that every single walker was off the bridge.
For those returning to the USA, being "in a hurry" to get across, just meant you had to stand in line longer, to get on the bus. This is what the lines look like when we arrived. The bridge officials had told me in advance that there would be a bus that was equipped to handle wheel chairs, so when I heard a transportation volunteer shout out "WHEEL CHAIRS IN THIS BUS", we hurriedly made our way to the bus she was calling us to. It was here that we paid another volunteer the cash fee for the bus ride. The fee was ten dollars per person, or twenty dollars per family. It was obvious we were all family, helping the lady in the wheel chair, so twenty was our fee.
For those people who were not returning immediately to the USA, on the yellow buses, they proceeded to walk up to the Canada customs office, to show their passports.
I was pleasantly surprised to see a volunteer in Canada, at the end of the bridge, distributing "Certificates of Participation" to all those who had made the walk!
I was also thankful they were distributing "REAL CANADIAN" water to walkers, when they came off the bridge. (There were no water stations along the length of the bridge walk, so carrying your own water is advised!)
This photo shows Diana rolling her mother's wheel chair up the ramp, that led to the power lift device, to put Helen inside the bus.
When inside the bus, Peggy and a kind volunteer (notice the necklace volunteer is wearing), made sure the wheel chair was locked in to the restraints, that would keep it from rolling around when the bus started moving.
After the International Bridge Walk, our group was relaxing in our VRBO, and Tori wanted to show her much older companions, a video on Instagram about ways to reduce the risk of dementia. So I needed to give her my Instagram name, which has the phrase "First Place" in it. That gave me an opportunity to explain the name relates to a healthy living program, called First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) that also has activities to reduce the risk of dementia, which includes regularly memorizing a Scripture verse. One of the gals asked what my Scripture verse was, for this trip, and I told them it was Philippians 4:13, which says, "
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The verse is printed on an insulated beverage cup, that was a gift from a beloved family member. Being able to complete one of those prayed-for "all things" was walking across the International Bridge to Canada! Doing so gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!! Tricia
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