Winter Sunshine

Winter Sunshine
Winter Sunshine in the Desert

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Finding Covered Bridges in Oregon

The map below of the bridges we have visited is available publicly on Google Maps titled “Covered Bridge RV Trip May 2012” (thanks to Rick for helping me figure out how to find the right html link for this map)

Covered Bridge RV Trip on Google Maps_thumb[3]I have spent the last few days trying to figure out just how to write about this rather amazing trip. The combination of navigation, location, photographing, researching, and finally enjoying the bridges is a bit daunting to write about. I decided that first I would just drop in the map I made on Google, then give a truly great website link, and later go into more detail. Future posts will be organized by county and will have my own thoughts and some of the photos (you know of course that I took way to many!)

2012-04-29 More Covered BridgesWe started with the ODOT website for the covered bridges and downloaded the PDF with coordinates and directions to each bridge. Mo painstakingly drafted the approximate location of each bridge on a paper map and I used that to try to navigate with the Garmin, Google on the phone, and my trusty Gazateer for Oregon.

2012-04-28 Covered BridgesThere are many websites for covered bridges but the most amazing resource that I found is called “Bridgehunter”, an extremely thorough database of bridges throughout the country. Read the “about” section to learn about how and why this website was started and how it is maintained.

In the next few days, as I write about the bridges and our wanderings, I’ll link to Bridgehunter for each one, and if you choose you can read about the history of the bridge, see many photos both current and historic, (in addition to mine of course), see a google map to the individual bridge and even a google street view if one is available.

11 comments:

  1. Good Lord! That's a lot of bridges!
    This is another one of those times when I just sit in amazement at the internet, and the "stuff" that can be found.
    A database of covered bridges. Who woulda thunk?

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  2. Can't wait for the individual posts ... I pinned the Bridgehunter website and your post. There's a covered bridge somewhere in Maryland that caught my attention the other day; I need to dig out the note so we can go check it out as a day trip some weekend.

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  3. What a great post Sue. I love the covered bridges and look forward to following along

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  4. can't wait to read all about the bridges!..never had any idea that there were that many in one 'small' area!!

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  5. When you come to Wisconsin, I know of a cute little one near Cedarburg, about 20 miles north of Milwaukee.

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com

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  6. Hi Sue, if you 'add a hyperlink' to the static google map, it will take us directly to your Covered Bridges Google Map. Here's the code required:

    Covered Bridge RV Trip Map 2012

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  7. Wow Sue this is Great! I love covered bridges and really appreciate the tip on where to find them. Can't wait to see your future pictures of them all. What a GREAT idea for a trip! You two are so clever.

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  8. We have seen many of the covered bridges in Lane County but not all. Thanks for the resource information - as always you are very organized and thorough in your information. This will help us find more of these beautiful structures to explore. I'm anxious to read about the ones you visited and to see your pictures.

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  9. Man oh man, Sue...you and Mo have been busy! Such a great trip, too! Can't wait to see more. And all the flowers are blooming now, too...an added bonus! Thanks for sharing all the photos...you never take too many!

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  10. I tried to leave a message earlier, but everything froze up on me. Rich and I enjoyed exploring the bridges in Lane County - I later read and saw "The Bridges of Madison County." There were things we were going to explore had we made it to full timing--one was as many lighthouses we could see in the country (have seen all in Oregon-except Terrible Tillie, the one, in my opinion, has the most incredible history. We were also going to take pictures of wooden silos as we felt they would not be standing, forever. I have a picture of two that have incredible paintings on the. I'll have to dig up the pictures, scan them, and post them on my blog. I'd really love to reconstruct our trips (pre-blogging time) from diaries and 35mm pix that I took. Maybe one day. Love the pictures of the bridges. Thanks for the Bridgehunter site. Enjoy--what a great state you are exploring.

    Oh, btw, I've tried to add you to my blog roll over the past few days, but can't. I don't know whether it's one of your settings or blogger acting up. I'll try, again, as I have you in my reader so I can keep up with your blog. Happy travels.

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