A while back I was trying to come up with an idea for a ride. The idea of covered bridges hit me and after some research on the web, I discovered that Oregon has over 50 covered bridges! Who knew!? Some more research and I had several routes planned out and lots of maps and directions. The trip had been planned several different times, but things kept coming up and the trip kept getting reset.
Finally this weekend at the last minute my wife and I decided to go for it and see how many we could visit in two days. With the bike loaded and us onboard, we headed out early Sunday morning towards the Albany and Cottage Grove area of Oregon. This fist part was all freeway so not very exciting. But let me tell ya, once we got to Albany and got on a route to see the bridges, it was well worth the ride. The Albany loop of bridges had 7 bridges listed on it. We added three more to the route and spent the day cruising some beautiful back roads pretty much to ourselves. The bridges are just wonderful. The pictures do not do them justice. Some are still in use and it is kinda neat to ride through them. Others are closed to traffic, but you can park by them and walk onto the bridge. Some are closed all together and a big attractive fence keeps you out.
We liked the single lane ones best that still had wood decks. Some had windows, and that made them all the better.
After ten bridges, we were ready to stop for the day, so we headed to Cottage Grove where we put the R to bed for the night. Early Monday, we headed out again and and went around on a loop of 6 bridges around Cottage Grove. The most massive one we saw was the Chanbers Railroad Bridge. It is no longer in use and is in disrepair, but this thing was used by log hauling trains in its day and is huge!
After this loop we headed back north and took a detour through Lowell where we were able to visit 4 more bridges. Since it was the holliday weekend and we figured every stressed out person would be on the road frantically trying to get home, we cut the day short and headed back home on the freeway. This was very boring as you might imagine 2 hours of freeway riding would be, but two other R's caught us and we tagged along loosely behind them until they got off at Salem, so that was pretty cool.
I really dont know what I liked the most about our trip, the actual ride to each bridge, which was often on well maintained roads with hardly anyone on them, or looking at the bridges themselves and appreciating our past and some pretty fine building skills. The scenery between the bridges was breath taking and the other old barns, broken down car collections, animals and just the whole ride was beautiful.
If you are in Oregon and have not looked at any of these fine bridges, I would really encourage you do at least the Albany loop. I would love to do that loop again. I think I am going to try to find the other 31 bridges though and get pix of them.
Sorry for all of the links, but I figured for those who wanted to look, this would be the easiest way.
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http://w68.photobucket.com/widgets/dyna ... 37/bmwsit/
http://w68.photobucket.com/widgets/dyna ... 37/bmwsit/
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Two days, and 20 covered bridges (links to pix)
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DJ Downunder
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I-5 Riding
Hey SitR1150R,
Who would have known we'd meet up with a fine silver Roadster on northbound I-5 yesterday?! Jacquie and I were on the return leg from a trip to northern California (Hwy 36, Hwy 3, Scott Valley, Happy Camp, Oregon Caves)... fantastic roads.
Wish our new Beakster t-shirt had been handy in tank bags... we could have flashed you the R1150R logo! Maybe we should initiate a Roadster board gang handsign for recognition?! At least we might decide upon a universal FRS radio channel for bike-to-bike "hellos".
Would love to join you for Covered Bridges Ride Part 2 (with fall color) later this year. As you've noted, lots of landmark bridges here in the Willamette Valley.
Mark
Oregon
Who would have known we'd meet up with a fine silver Roadster on northbound I-5 yesterday?! Jacquie and I were on the return leg from a trip to northern California (Hwy 36, Hwy 3, Scott Valley, Happy Camp, Oregon Caves)... fantastic roads.
Wish our new Beakster t-shirt had been handy in tank bags... we could have flashed you the R1150R logo! Maybe we should initiate a Roadster board gang handsign for recognition?! At least we might decide upon a universal FRS radio channel for bike-to-bike "hellos".
Would love to join you for Covered Bridges Ride Part 2 (with fall color) later this year. As you've noted, lots of landmark bridges here in the Willamette Valley.
Mark
Oregon
Thanks for the comments. Wife and I had a blast and I am looking forward to finding the other 31. I also learned a lot about how NOT to take pictures of bridges and bikes. Hopefully my next set will be better. I already have some other riders wanting to go on a tour of the bridges around Albany. Oh darn, may have to do it again. I think with the fall color coming on in the trees soon, may be a completely different ride.
Kristi, the picture of the bridge in the distance is one of my favorites too, would you believe that the bridge does not a have road going all the way through it? The road you see is a newer roadway that runs behind the covered bridge. The covered bridge is now pedestrian only from one side and is an interpretive center with history displays and models etc.
I have the directions still for the ones we saw, if anyone is ever in Oregon, just say the word and I can send them to you or meet up with you and show you the way.
Kristi, the picture of the bridge in the distance is one of my favorites too, would you believe that the bridge does not a have road going all the way through it? The road you see is a newer roadway that runs behind the covered bridge. The covered bridge is now pedestrian only from one side and is an interpretive center with history displays and models etc.
I have the directions still for the ones we saw, if anyone is ever in Oregon, just say the word and I can send them to you or meet up with you and show you the way.
