Blakely Bridge

This is the bridge over the Minnesota River, just north of Blakely Minnesota. This picture hardly does it justice - you can just barely make out the cracks in the road, the rust on the frame, and the meager, fading center line that gives about 6 feet of space on each side. A sign just before you cross declares 'TRAFFIC MUST NOT MEET ON BRIDGE'. You get the sense someone found out the hard way.

Last spring, during the floods, this bridge was closed because the entire valley was flooded. Both approaches lie lower than the bridge; you could see it floating there in the bloated river beyond the road closed signs.

As traffic passes over the bridge, you can feel it galloping underneath you; not a welcome sensation as you press up against the inadequate railing to avoid being crushed. The cement trucker who drove by had a part curious, part irritated expression that asked 'what in the hell' I was doing on the bridge like a moron or a jumper. Frankly, I couldn't have told him. (Though I did have enough forethought to bring the camera.)


I think I just have an unconscious urge to document my world - trying to impart some meaning to it as I pass by. By putting it here and typing some nonsense about it I've satisfied some of that desire. Now every time I drive over it I can say I've added my two cents, said what I needed to say, and can drive on without a second though.

I really didn't want to write something about the bridge when I sat down, but now it's said so I'm going to post it. I feel like I wanted to say something else, but unfortunately the subject escapes me (or was only a feeling to begin with). For later.