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.

The San Juan Islands - Where the Past and Present Meet

As visitors from British Columbia we were excited to visit the San Juan Islands, having heard much about them from other travelers. We took the ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor on the San Juan Island. This town was somewhat of a surprise to us as it was much larger than we had expected it to be.

We booked into a campground located on the water where the view was lovely but the wind was nearly gale-force at the time we arrived. Because of the increasing winds and the fear of being blown out of our lawn chairs, we decided to take the opportunity to explore the island rather than brave the elements in the camp site. We saw many beautiful areas as we drove around while we watched the huge, tumbling waves crash like thunder onto the beaches and the angry black clouds over our heads threatened to pummel us with rain. However, this did not dampen our enthusiasm in discovering what the island had to offer in the way of beauty. Bright yellow and orange flowers lined the roadside and occasionally a stunted tree, its branches reaching towards the water, drew our attention from the view of crashing waves.

We explored further the following day, arriving eventually at Roche Harbor. We were enchanted with this village's old buildings: the Hotel De Haro, a brick building where lime and cement had once been made; the old brick furnaces and brick walkways. Taking pictures, and reluctant to leave a place where we felt we'd been catapulted back into time, we explored trails through the old lime quarries. At one point we were able to enjoy a beautiful view of the outer islands and our own Canadian gulf islands. We also visited an alpaca farm, a scenic, idyllic home for the obviously well-loved alpacas and their friendly owners.

Having limited time for our trip and wanting to see as much of the Islands as possible, we hurried to catch the ferry to Orcas Island. Camping at Moran State Park, we visited Mount Constitution and climbed the stone observation tower which was built in 1936. At 2,409 feet above sea level, we had a 360 degree view of the region's islands and mountain ranges as well as some of those in Canadian waters. Within the park also are a couple of interesting moss-covered bridges built in memory of Robert Moran's brother. There are also hiking trails of varying lengths and on one of these trails we saw several small waterfalls surrounded by whispering green forests. In many of the areas we walked, the forest floors were carpeted with a variety of lush mosses.

Leaving early the following morning, we took the ferry to Lopez Island. On our arrival, we were surprised when we realized that with each car that passed us, there was a friendly wave from its occupant. In no time at all we were returning these friendly waves and wondering why this wasn't done everywhere. I particularly enjoyed the rolling farmlands and was interested in the numerous old barns and buildings, the structures often barely supporting the roofs. I found that the old buildings, suggesting many untold stories, and often situated beside the newer structures, were particularly picturesque in their contrast. At each antiquated building we stopped to view, I wondered what the history might have been of the previous families on these farms. We also found a quaint old church with a nearby cemetery; a tranquil scene rarely seen in our world of bustling cars, rumbling trucks, public transit and harried people.

Following various roads, we discovered an old unused pier and nearby ancient gas pumps; an interesting bridge built in 1915, spanning an empty pond; old buildings, and quaint mailboxes. But nicest of all was that everywhere we went, there were friendly, smiling people.

On our return home, we told several friends of our visit to the San Juan Islands and as a result several of them also visited the islands. And they returned as enthusiastic about their trip as we were.

Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley

Palm Springs, a desert city within the Coachella Valley, is a great destination for golfers with its 125 golf courses. But there is more to this lovely area than just golfing. For those who like the desert air there are many other attractions as well.

I have visited the area five times, and no one would ever call me a golfer even though I do own golf clubs. I have arrived by plane and by car and either way, my first impression of Palm Springs is always welcoming. Each time we've gone, we have rented a home in a quiet residential area with a pool and hot tub. We have visted in the summer where the temperature is approximately 104 degrees although one time it reached as high as 115 degrees. During our fall visits, the temperatures are a little more moderate and very enjoyable.

One of the particularly interesting places to visit is Joshua Tree National Park with its abundance of birds and animals such as bobcats, cougars, coyotes, quails, jackrabbits, big horn sheep and desert toroises. Flowering cacti especially are the jewels of the park as well as the many other wild flowers that flourish in this desert area. There are many various rock formations that are unique for visitors to see also. Of interest, the park is crisscrossed with hundreds of fault lines. The famous San Andreas Fault can be observed on the south side of the park as well as other fault lines throughout the area.

Joshua Tree National Park has 501 archeological sites and 88 historic structures as well as a large museum collection. Included is the Pinto culture colection dated at 4,000 to 8,000 years ago. An estimated three hundred mines were developed in the area after the California gold rush of 1849 ended.

Soak City is another attraction with many different kinds of water slides available for children or the young at heart. While we were in Palm Springs recently, we took advantage of the opportunity to go. I decided the water slides weren't for me but I particularly enjoyed the wave pool and the large lazy river where you don't have to do anything but relax and float along on a big tube. Tubes were available for use while we were in the wave pool too, at no charge.

There is also the Palm Springs Aerial Tram that will take you up Chino Canyon where it is about thirty degrees cooler with an elevation of 8,516 feet and into Mt. San Jacinto State Park. It is a popular hiking area with sub-alpine forests, ferny mountain meadows and granite peaks. The Mt. San Jacinto State Park has been likened to hiking in Switzerland. It overlooks the Coachella Valley.

Shopping is easy in Palm Springs with many stores and everything is handy and clean. It's a good place to go to relax even if you don't wish to do any sightseeing, hiking, waterslides or golfing.

The Magic World of Disneyland

Disneyland is the place of make believe and imagination and my heart, as much as any child's, pounds with excitement on a visit to this magical wonderland. Walt Disney's dream came true when he opened Disneyland Park in California. In his own words, the secret of making dreams come true is curiosity, confidence, courage and constancy. And Disneyland is all about dreams. And for this reason, Disneyland should be no less an exciting pace for adults as it is for children.

Disneyland was started by a mouse debuting as Steamboat Willie. Mickey Mouse didn't appear until 1928. In 1937, Walt Disney produced Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and later went on to produce Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi. Walt Disney's name is synonymous with imagination and creation. In his own words, 'nothing is impossible'.

On one of our recent visits to this fairyland amusement park, with grandchildren in tow, although Bambi wasn't in evidence, Dumbo flew around Fantasyland carrying happy, laughing children and their parents and/or grandparents. On a ride through the forest we visited the home of the seven dwarfs and witnessed the 'happily ever after' story of Snow White. And in Toontown Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney's first loveable cartoon character meets and greets visitors to the park along with Goofy and Donald Duck.

Disney worked endlessly in the early years to perfect the art of animation. Technicolor was first introduced to his animations in his production of Silly Symphonies. On Paradise Pier, the Silly Symphony swings now take guests for a spin over the boardwalk. Also in this area of California park, the World of Color display of colored dancing lights over the water, with animated characters, are no doubt in memory of Disney's Wonderful World of Color production of 1961.

A visit to Disneyland is, as Disney planned, an exciting adventure for both adults and children alike. Among my favorite rides are Pirates of the Caribbean, the haunted mansion and It's a Small World which are older adventures and the more recent addition of Soaring Over California. This adventure takes riders on a hang glider flight over the Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe and the San Diego harbor to name some of the sights you will see, realistic in that you can feel the breeze caressing your face and the wind blowing in your hair as you glide over the scenes far below you. Other favorites are Grizzly River Run, the Jungle Cruise and Peter Pan's Flight. The Tower of Terror, however, you could not pay me enough to venture onto.

Disneyland and California Adventure Parks are a combination of adventure, magic and dreams. The results of Walt Disney's dreams are where every adult can be a child again and every child can believe in the impossible.

The Majestic Grand Canyon

Seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time is like getting kicked in the stomach but without the accompanying pain. When first encountering the sheer beauty of this marvel of nature, one is at a loss for words or even unable to comprehend the unbelievable wonder of its creation. It is such a spectacular sight that no picture can possibly do it justice. The feelings that this wondrous expanse of beauty arouses could not possibly ever be captured. Wherever your eyes fall, there is beauty to behold.

Few people have not seen pictures of the Grand Canyon and still when first seen, we could not be anything else but impressed and in awe of this majestic sight. What must have it been like for the first people who happened on this unbelievable vision of nature at its best?

The oldest human artifacts discovered date to the Paleo-Indian period nearly 12,000 years ago. For thousands of years the Puebloans, Cohoninas, the Paiutes, Cerbats and the Navajoes lived as semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers and canyon dwellers in the area of the canyon.

There are approximately 2,000 known archaeological sites within the park boundaries giving evidence of their existence and their way of life. The most accessible site is Tusayan Pueblo believed to be constructed sometime around 1185 and possibly housing about thirty people. There is further evidence that in the late 1200's these nomadic people seemed to have left the area of the canyon. It is thought that the mass exodus may have been due to a climate change since a lot of their existence depended upon agriculture.

Following this for a period of about one hundred years the canyon remained deserted by humans until the Paiutes, Cerbats and later the Navajoes returned to reestablish their settlements. The Dines, relatives of the Apache, later became inhabitants of the canyon as well until in 1882 when all Native Americans were forced onto reservations.

In 1540, Captain Garcia Lopez de Cardenas lead a party of Spanish soldiers into the Grand Canyon on an expedition but left believing that it was impossible to get through many of the areas. It was another two hundred years before a second expedition arrived in the form of two Spanish priests. They were searching for a route from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Monterey, California. In 1826, James Ohio Pattie and a group of trappers reached the canyon but little more is known about them. And in the mid 1800's Lieutenant Joseph Ines attempted to explore the area as well but eventually gave up his quest.

John Wesley Powell (1834 - 1902) was the first geologist to navigate the often treacherous Colorado River through the Grand Canyon studying the geology of the canyon. He later founded the U.S. Geological Society and wrote several books on the subject. His first trip was in 1869 and his second, more successful trip, was between 1871 and 1872. Others later followed him discovering and recording additional information about this fabulous creation as they went.

In 1901, the Grand Canyon Railway was established and ran between Arizona and the South Rim opening the canyon up to tourists who had previously only been able to visit by stagecoach. In 1905 a luxury hotel, the El Tovar, was opened on the South Rim and the Phantom Ranch in the Inner Gorge opened in 1922.

In May, 1933 the Watchtower at Desert View Point opened allowing visitors to see for over one hundred miles on a clear day and be able to watch the Colorado River as it snakes through the canyon. The Watchtower was designed by Mary Elizabeth Colter using rock from the canyon. Paintings and artwork decorate the inside walls. Standing seventy feet tall, there is an unbelievable view from the top level.

Besides viewing the canyon from various look-out points, there are many tours that can be taken which include flying over it by airplane or helicopter or by taking rafting trips down the river. You can also take a jeep down the Diamond Creek Road to the bottom of the canyon to explore caverns and take pictures of the towering rock formations. We took a shuttle bus from one view point to another, getting off where we wanted and back on the next one that came along.

When you look down into the canyon below and see the different layers of history that nature has preserved for us, it puts life into perspective.The formation of the Grand Canyon took many, many thousands of years to create and almost as many years for those who lived their lives struggling within its walls.

On a visit to many places you feel you are glad you came, enjoyed what you saw, but may not come back again. But on a visit to the Grand Canyon, you know you definitely want to return to view its beauty again.