The Romance of Covered Bridges in the Pacific Northwest

The romance of covered bridges draws you with thoughts of those long-ago days when life was simpler and technology non-existent; when there were horse drawn wagons; ladies in long flowing dresses and, lovers stopping beneath their cover for a quick kiss or two, away from prying eyes and disaproving looks.

Using only hand tools, sweat and determination, these early pioneers began building covered bridges in the early 1850's. Bridges were covered because they would last eighty years or more whereas an uncovered span would deteriorate in a few short years. Construction of these covered spans continued into the 1950's when heavier loads and increased traffic necessitated their replacement with concrete and steel.

Oregon at one time had more than 400 of these bridges. Today only about fifty or so remain. Over the years these wooden bridges gradually began to disappear, either being replaced or dismantled. Some were restored for historical preservation becoming part of parks and trails but only a few still allow vehicular traffic.

Oregon has more covered bridges than any other state west of the Mississippi. They are part of the history of Oregon. The following is a list of covered bridges easily accessible for those who feel the draw of romance and an interest in history.

In Benton County, there is a 75 foot bridge crossing Mary's River, built in 1936. It was named after the George Harris family who settled in the area in 1890. Crossing the Alsea River it is 91 feet long and was originally built in 1918 and rebuilt in 1945.

In Coos County, the Sandy Creek bridge is now used only in a park setting. And in Deschutes, there is only one covered bridge. In Douglas County, the Cavitt Creek bridge, built in 1943 crosses Little River. Horse Creek bridge, with a 105 span was built in 1930. The Milo Academy bridge's exact age is unknown. Neal Lane covered bridge is particularly beautiful in the Fall months because of the numerous Myrtlewood trees surrounding it. Pass Creek is only open to pedestrian traffic. Other covered bridges are Roaring Creek built in 1927 and Rochester built in 1933.

Jackson County has Antelope Creek bridge, Lost Creek bridge which, at 39 feet is considered to be the shortest in Oregon. McKee bridge is 122 feet long and crosses the Applegate River. Wimer bridge crossing Evans Creek was originally built in 1892.

Josephine County is home to Graves Creek bridge built in 1920. The creek, and bridge, were named for Martha Leland Crowley who died at this crossing in 1846.

Lane County is home to twenty covered bridges dating back to 1920. Fourteen are still open to traffic. Some of these bridges are:

- Belknap bridge has a 120 foot span. Built in 1966, it is one of Oregon's newer covered bridges.

- Chamber Railroad bridge is the only remaining covered railway bridge in Oregon. This 78 foot span, built in 1936, was named after the Frank Chambers Sawmill.

- Coyote Creek bridge has a sixty foot span and was built in 1922. It is sometimes called the Battle Creek Bridge and was once called the Swing Log bridge.

- Currin bridge is the only bridge in Oregon to be painted in two colours - red and white. Built in 1925, it replaced the original 105 foot span crossing the Coast Fork of Williamette. Foot traffic only.

- Mosley bridge named for David Mosley, an 1853 Oregon Trail pioneer. It is Lane County's oldest bridge. Built in 1922, it has a ninety foot span.

- Dealwood bridge was built by Miller Sorenson in 1932 to cross Deadwood Creek. A 105 foot span, it is surrounded by trees on a quiet gravel road. It reminds those who see it of the romance of these bridges and is well worth a trip to view.

- Goodpasture bridge was named after a local pioneer family. With a 165 foot span, it is one of the longer covered bridges. It continues to be open for traffic.

- Office bridge is the longest covered bridge with a span of 180 feet. Besides being the longest, it is the only covered bridge in Oregon that has the unusual feature of having an attached covered walkway.

- Pengra bridge crosses Fall Creek. It was built in 1938 and has a 120 foot span. It is a beautiful spot to visit, especially in the autumn months when the trees shimmer with their jewel-coloured Fall foliage.

- Wildcat Creek bridge. Romance is at its best at this spot. Built in 1925 with a 75 foot span, the bridge crosses where the Wildcat Creek and Siuslaw River meet.

Some of the other counties with covered bridges are:

- Lincoln County has three covered bridges - the Chitwood, the Fisher and Northfork of the Yachats.

- Linn County has nine - the Bohemian Hall, the Crawfordsville, Gilkey, Hannah, Hoffman, the Larwood and Short, the Shimanel and Weddle.

- Marion County with three - the Gallon House, a must see, the Jordan and the Overfield which is Oregon's newest covered bridge built in 2000.

- Multnomach County - the Cedar Crossing bridge.

- Polk County - the Fourtner and Ritner Creek bridges.

Oregon is a state for lovers of covered bridges to take a step back into time and imagine the sound of horses hooves with riders urging them on as they cross the bridges. And it is an opportunity to enjoy exploring these historic structures without the need to travel to the more eastern states.

For the Love of San Francisco

San Francisco is a go-back-to city. I have visited this city six times and haven't made a dent in the many things there are to see and enjoy.

Besides its other attributes the city has a history of survival. It survived the bubonic plague which became epidemic between 1900 and 1904. And in 1906 an earthquake decimated it resulting in a fire that destroyed eighty percent of the area. But San Francisco survived and grew to be the unique and interesting city it now is where tourists visit and want to come back again and again.

Fisherman's Wharf is one of those places you want to return to. There are a large variety of street performers, each with their own unique talent. And everywhere there are shops which, though expensive, have merchandise ranging from the exotic to the erotic. And definitely not to be missed is Pier 39, the haven of hundreds of sea lions barking their happiness at having found a sea lion's heaven. Dozing on the docks they soak up rays of sunshine and bask in human adoration. On my first trip to the Wharf, we went to a seafood restaurant and had Lobster Thermadore, a French dish of a creamy mixture of lobster and cognac in a lobster shell served with a browned cheese crust. It was spectacular and although that particular visit was close to twenty years ago, it has been engraved in my memory as being my best restaurant meal ever.

On one of our visits to San Francisco, we took a bus tour and visited Alamo Square, a row of houses of Victorian architecture. They are beautiful, historic buildings and definitely worth a visit. We also saw Lombard Street which supposedly is the most crooked in the world. The crooked portion has eight switchbacks and is about one quarter of a mile long. We also saw the cable cars which were originally built between 1860 and 1880 designed to transport people in this hilly city from one area to another. It's worth knowing that one of their stops is Fisherman's Wharf. And we made a brief visit to Golden Gate Park. The gardens were first begun in the mid 1870's, designed by a Scottidh gardener who lived in the park until he died in 1943. There are thousands of trees, several water features, a Japanese Tea Garden, flowers and a number of other attractions in this huge park situated near the Golden Gate Bridge.

On another trip we visited Mission Dolores founded in 1776 and which I particularly enjoyed. It is the oldest intact building in the city and the cemetery is the only one within the city limits. Both cemetery and gardens are adjacent to the old mission. The markers in the cemetery date from 1830 to 1898. Visiting this mission will be extremely interesting for anyone who enjoys discovering and learning about the history of the places they visit. On that trip we also went up Telegraph Hill and viewed the 210 foot tall Coit Memorial Tower, built in 1933. The hilltop area offers an excellent view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay area. Another excursion we took was a boat tour of the Bay so as to be able to view the city, as well as Alcatraz, from the water. It is definitely a different way to enjoy San Francisco and its harbour.

On one trip we visited Chinatown which is the oldest in North America and the largest outside of Asia. Established in 1848, it has its own life and culture. It happened to be my birthday on this visit so we enjoyed a Chinese meal to celebrate the occasion. Although not quite the same calibre as the Lobster Thermadore, it was excellent just the same.

Although I have seen much of this beautiful and interesting city, we have not as yet visited the zoo, the aquarium, the numerous museums and the many hiking trails and parks. And this list is not complete by any means as there are hundreds of other attractions in the San Francisco area.

Interestingly, on my several visits to this city, we had yet to encounter fog to the extent where it distracted from either our explorations or our enjoyment. However, on our last visit we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, heading north as we left the city, and parked on the other side just as the fog was rolling in. It had been a beautiful sunny October day which changed before our eyes as the fog slowly undulated its way towards us. It was a spectacular sight to witness and one I'm glad we hadn't missed.

It is definitely a city I will go back to again ... and again.

Virginia City - The Old West is Alive Again

On a visit to Virginia City, Nevada, you'll truly believe the wild west is alive again. This city, once a mining town, sprang up almost overnight after the Comstock Lode Silver Mine was discovered in 1859 and grew to almost 11,000 residents by 1880.

Samuel Clemens, a reporter for the then local newspaper in 1863, first used his now famous name Mark Twain when he lived in the city. Along with the history of Mark Twain, some of the original buildings still exist to this day. Among them are the Bucket of Blood Saloon, the Silver Queen and the Suicide Table.

Having visited this interesting city twice, we have seen many of these old buildings. Among them are the Fourth Ward School which is now a museum, the Storey County Court House built in 1875 after The Big Fire, The Castle, Piper's Opera House, as well as historic churches, museums, 19th century restored houses, the old steam engine train and the jail. There are also mine tours that can be taken, stagecoaches to ride as in years gone by, boardwalks to stroll while you explore the small city and the opportunity to partake of the many delectable items at many of the eateries along the way.

Also exceedingly interesting are the cemeteries. There are nine in all and although we have not explored all of them, the ones we have seen were of interest because for each tombstone there is a story to be told and the sad reminder that that life no longer exists. Most of the headstones are very old with dates going back to the 1800's. Some are enclosed in fenced-off areas and many have their own statuary. On a large portion of the headstones, the dates have been nearly obliterated with time and the elements. However, the city is slowly refurbishing many of these cemeteries as they receive funding for the project.

There are various events held throughout the year. On one of our visits we saw their Outhouse Race held on the main street with the participants rigged out in old-time dress. Held in the Fall of each year, I believe the contestants enjoyed it as much as the observers did. Everyone working in the shops, saloons and, I suspect, even the general population dress in old-time costumes for the enjoyment of the tourists. It seems to be a happy town with a lot of smiling faces and much laughter.

On our first visit to Virginia City we came across the Shoe Tree with hundreds of shoes hanging from its branches. The story goes that a young couple driving through town were having an argument and stopped beneath the tree. Angry with his wife, the husband threw a pair of her shoes into the tree. After they had settled their argument, he couldn't get her shoes down from the high branch where he had tossed them, and so there they stayed. Others seeing the shoes danging from the branches decided to throw their own up into the tree as well. And that was the beginning of the Shoe Tree seen as you drive from Reno into Virginia City. Since we weren't having an argument, and because we didn't want to sacrifice a pair of shoes, we refrained from adding ours to the growing collection.

Virginia City is south of Reno and was once considered the most important city in all of Nevada. The shops are interesting to look through with an eclectic mix of offerings for interested buyers. On our second visit with grandchildren, we spent more time doing things around the city. One grandchild in particular was interested in the cemeteries, or perhaps it was the enjoyment of trying to catch the little lizards that seemed to proliferate the area as they basked on the sun-warmed rocks and fallen tombstones.

Either way, with children or without, Virginia City is a very enjoyable place to visit for its historic value as well as for the fun and laughter.