TOPIC: Local bridges

Good to see you and meet Cindy as well as Forrest Saturday.
In case you were too busy enjoying the Blues Fest Saturday night to get any shots, here is the bridge over your head,


These are the three bridges down river from the Interstate 74 bridge in Peoria crossing the Illinois River
1 Concrete span, 2 steel arch, 3 tower lift railroad bridge all in one shot.

Anything over 3 feet off the ground and I turn into a puss so some of these sure look good from a distance but I sure wouldn't be too happy riding over them.

KZB2 650 wrote: Anything over 3 feet off the ground and I turn into a puss so some of these sure look good from a distance but I sure wouldn't be too happy riding over them.

I don’t know if it has ever been changed, but the last time I rode my bike across the original span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge it was quite a thrill. The center of the lane I was in was a long metal grate very much of the way. Basically, the grate is nothing but a metal grid of something like 1” x 3” holes. It’s plenty strong, but when you are riding along on a bike if you look straight down the grid disappears and it looks like you are riding on air. At the highest section of the bridge the water is 186 feet below you. At first glance it came as a shock, but once I recognized what was going on I found it to be pretty cool – like flying on a KZ650. The bridge is 4.3 miles long. It is said that that bridge is one of the scariest anywhere because of the wimpy looking guardrails. Ed

650ed wrote:

KZB2 650 wrote: Anything over 3 feet off the ground and I turn into a puss so some of these sure look good from a distance but I sure wouldn't be too happy riding over them.

I don’t know if it has ever been changed, but the last time I rode my bike across the original span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge it was quite a thrill. The center of the lane I was in was a long metal grate very much of the way. Basically, the grate is nothing but a metal grid of something like 1” x 3” holes. It’s plenty strong, but when you are riding along on a bike if you look straight down the grid disappears and it looks like you are riding on air. At the highest section of the bridge the water is 186 feet below you. At first glance it came as a shock, but once I recognized what was going on I found it to be pretty cool – like flying on a KZ650. The bridge is 4.3 miles long. It is said that that bridge is one of the scariest anywhere because of the wimpy looking guardrails. Ed

Ed,
Your description doesn't do the Bay Bridge justice. The entire Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel span is roughly 23 miles from the toll booths to the other end, over and under 17+ miles of the Chesapeake Bay. It's a spectacular span! It's not unusual to see porpoise when crossing the span, or even a school of porpoise chasing a school of bait fish. Along with other numerous fish and awesome birds. It's a great Wildlife area! But, the engineering feat itself is truly amazing. Riding so close to the water, suddenly climbing up the main structure of the gateway bridge then back on the deck and suddenly diving into a tunnel. Two tunnels actually and 4 man made islands make up the span. It's pretty amazing crossing the span in a car, but it's totally incredible on 2 wheels.

What you said is all true of the bay bridge/tunnel that runs between MD and VA. I was referring to the bridge further up the bay that is part of Route 50 / 301. It connects Sandy Point to Kent Island. Ed

650ed wrote: What you said is all true of the bay bridge/tunnel that runs between MD and VA. I was referring to the bridge further up the bay that is part of Route 50 / 301. It connects Sandy Point to Kent Island. Ed

...OK, you threw me off by calling it the bay bridge. I thought that title was reserved for the big bridge.

Old Baltimore guys like me remember when the Route 50/301 bridge was the only bridge across the bay, so we still call it the bay bridge. That brand new bridge/tunnel has only been there about 45 years or so. Ed

650ed wrote: Old Baltimore guys like me remember when the Route 50/301 bridge was the only bridge across the bay, so we still call it the bay bridge. That brand new bridge/tunnel has only been there about 45 years or so. Ed

...45 years. Just a drop in the bucket to us (hut-hum) Old Timers.

Don't remind me. I look at the 20 year old's bumming around and think of all the time wasted. It's their life and their time. God, I'm sounding like my parents. Where's my bike?
Steve

swest wrote: Don't remind me. I look at the 20 year old's bumming around and think of all the time wasted. It's their life and their time. God, I'm sounding like my parents. Where's my bike?
Steve

...From one Steve to another.

...Youth is all about one thing, revolution. Time to shine and take on the World!

...Old age is also about one thing, evolution. We eventually mature, start to think for ourselves and even become respectable adults. Well, most of us, anyway. We end up becoming more and more like our Dad's as time passes. Not a bad thing actually. I can't think of a better person to take after. Can you?

I'm glad for you and others that had a father figure to look up to. Mine lived in a motel all his life while working as a handy man at the ship yards. He never recovered from the divorce and wasn't involved in my or my sister's lives. All I got from him was sarcasm and judgement. Very unhappy man. I had to find guidance elsewhere. I was lucky I had mentors growing up like that Indian guy in the ally and through my working life. It made me independent and do things for myself. When I became a single parent, maybe I over compensated. My daughter is like me in she can figure things out for herself, with a little help of course. My son is a free spirit and will never have children. He takes after his mother, selfish and vane. After I got out of the hospital, I caught him going through my office looking for the savings bonds my mother bought for us. He's not welcome anymore.
I've learned to spot certain characteristics in people. I steer clear of the selfish ones and help the ones that are trying to do it for themselves.
It's more rewarding and less a waste of time. At our age, time is at a premium and not to be wasted.
Sorry about the rant and bring on more bridges.
Steve

KraZyRIDER wrote: ..... We end up becoming more and more like our Dad's as time passes. Not a bad thing actually. I can't think of a better person to take after. Can you?

No, I cannot. I was extremely fortunate to have a truly great Dad. I miss him. Ed