My bridge in Montana

@TheHorse (238275)

Walnut Creek, California

September 14, 2018 12:31pm CST

Before I was born, my dad and others made a bridge across the creek at our family cabin in Montana. In the 1980s, when I was a very young man, and my father was gone, I tore out the old, rotting bridge and made a new one. Since then, a part of my Montana ritual has been to replace rotting cross-pieces in the bridge, and keep it safe for those crossing the creek on the way from the road to our cabin. Last month, I checked the cross-pieces (the ones you walk on), and noticed that none were rotting. I was happy. But the "spans," the big "logs" that cross the creek, were sagging a bit. So most of my bridge work involved putting some new supports under the bridge. Here's what it looks like as of now, viewed from above. I put the rocks there to support the far bank, which is slowly eroding. If I can find a picture of the new supports I put in, I'll attach one to a response to a comment. Would you find this kind of work satisfying? I love maintaining my bridge.

15 people like this

17 responses

@much2say (57760)

• Los Angeles, California

14 Sep 18

I really love the idea of this. We don't have a creek in our yard, but I am always imagining different pathway options for our blank front area - a bridge of wood/logs would be so cool. I remember you said you fix up stuff whenever you go back to your family place in Montana - how awesome to have that!!

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Sep 18

It's really enjoyable. Set a goal. Accomplish that goal.

Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (44941)

• Preston, England

14 Sep 18

Looks great - really good work - not quite the kind of bridge seen in Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom though lol

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Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (44941)

• Preston, England

14 Sep 18

@TheHorse and crocodiles underneath too

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Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (44941)

• Preston, England

15 Sep 18

@TheHorse I like squirrels - see them scampering in the trees outside my flat quite a lot

@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Sep 18

@arthurchappell I have squirrels. Not very scary.

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@BarBaraPrz (51811)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

15 Sep 18

"I love maintaining my bridge." Are you part troll?

And where's the water?

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@BarBaraPrz (51811)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

15 Sep 18

@TheHorse I see you didn't answer my first question.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Sep 18

@BarBaraPrz Troll? No.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Sep 18

The water surges in Spring, but is absorbed by the earth by August.

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@LadyDuck (502177)

• Italy

15 Sep 18

The bridge looks good to me. I have to replace some wooden planks in our fence. I will do next week.

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@LadyDuck (502177)

• Italy

15 Sep 18

@TheHorse They are attached to a metal frame with long screws. I will remove those that do not look good and replace them.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Sep 18

@LadyDuck Ah, got it. Will you take "during" and "after" pictures?

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Sep 18

Will you be prying the old ones out and nailing in the new ones?

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@amadeo (111937)

• United States

14 Sep 18

If you find this satisfying that all it counts.You enjoy the work there and make you feel good.

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@amadeo (111937)

• United States

14 Sep 18

@TheHorse yes most of us have our little thing that satisfy us.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Sep 18

@amadeo What is your favorite right now?

@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Sep 18

It really does. I suppose each of us has things we find particularly satisfying.

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@Courage7 (19626)

• United States

14 Sep 18

Yes I would love it. Good job. Also does water ever come thru or is it dried up all year round?

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@Courage7 (19626)

• United States

14 Sep 18

@TheHorse Yes I saw the pipe do you also have a pump for it to get water?

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Sep 18

@Courage7 No, it's just a natural spring.

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@Courage7 (19626)

• United States

14 Sep 18

@TheHorse I was watching some cool videos of the pumps some homesteaders put in. It was interesting.

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@snowy22315 (208751)

• United States

15 Sep 18

Sometimes I like to do things like that..yes. You can point to an actual accomplishment.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Sep 18

Exactly! When I teach classes (in psychology, not bridge-making), I sometimes wonder if a given lecture actually helped anyone. With a bridge, either it stands, or it falls.

@FourWalls (86575)

• United States

15 Sep 18

How often do you get there? It seems like such a nice escape from "the hustle and bustle" of the city.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Sep 18

I try to get there once a year, usually in mid- to late-August.

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@DWDavis (25797)

• United States

14 Sep 18

I like the look of the bridge. What a great legacy to keep alive.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Sep 18

It really is. I'd better start showing the younguns I know how to keep the tradition alive!

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@wolfgirl569 (135582)

• Marion, Ohio

14 Sep 18

Glad that you are keeping it there. I would not mind doing it either. But I would probably walk through the creek in warmer weather even with the bridge there.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Sep 18

There's no water in there by mid-August.

@DesirousDreamer (34776)

• Peoria, Arizona

14 Sep 18

It is so pretty! It much be awesome to see that it is still fairing well!

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Sep 18

Yeppers, I'm always happy when I see that my work stands up to the elements.

@Hannihar (130150)

• Israel

30 Nov 18

@TheHorse That is so nice of you to want to fix the bridge so it will be safe to cross. You are very talented.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Jan 19

What's weird is that I actually DO use things learned in my "useless" physics classes from days gone by.

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@Hannihar (130150)

• Israel

20 Jan 19

@TheHorse That is good that it helps in the future.

@FayeHazel (40230)

• United States

14 Sep 18

It's a beautiful bridge and tradition. I wouldn't enjoy the work, no - but I enjoy that you enjoy it

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Sep 18

Ah, thanks! I bet you'd enjoy sawing one of the cross-pieces successfully. It's just...satisfying.

@DianeBorg (791)

• Malta

19 Jan 19

You are doing a kind of tradition and at the same time it is something very useful.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Jan 19

Exactly! Because it's our family property, it means a lot to me when I'm quietly working on things up there.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Jan 19

@DianeBorg Yes, it does!

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@DianeBorg (791)

• Malta

19 Jan 19

@TheHorse Things like that are always precious and special to us even if it is a bridge of wood, but it reminds you of the old days and your family.

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@koopharper (7599)

• Canada

14 Sep 18

I love making things and making things work.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Sep 18

It's really satisfying, isn't it? Oh, let me see if I can find a picture of one of the "supports" I put in last month.

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Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (69157)

• Centralia, Washington

14 Sep 18

That's a heritage piece. It keeps you connected with your roots.

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@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Sep 18

Exactly. And I like the fact that the "outcome" is something "concrete" (well, wood) and measurable.

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@pjmurphy (2498)

• United States

23 Jan 19

I would find this work very satisfying. This time of year I can't wait until the cold is gone and I can work outside more. So much to do, but the work outside is always one of the most rewarding things we do.