Ontario’s landscape has an abundance of rivers, creeks and streams, meaning that bridges are a major feature of our beautiful province’s viatecture. The curves, angles, sculptural and functional aspects of bridges appeal to the very young, the very old and everyone in between.
Bridge design and construction is only possible because of the imaginations of some very resourceful individuals whose wonder, curiosity, fantasy, and creativity allow them to see the artistic possibilities and connection opportunities all around us. Fortunately for us, bridge designers have been blessed with the richest and most exuberant of imaginations and their work clearly showcases their engineering dexterity and artistic excellence. ‘Though undoubtedly conceived out of necessity, bridges have become masterpieces of aesthetic engineering and ingenuity.
Frei Street Bridge, Cobourg, ON
When we lived in Cobourg, this bridge — spanning Cobourg Creek — was less than 100 yards from our front door. Situated in an unspoiled, passive woodland and ravine, I spent too many hours to count on and crossing this pretty bridge in search of wildlife and wildflowers.
Covered footbridge, Nawautin Sanctuary, Grafton, ON.
And from the deep-shadowed angles comes the soft murmur of lovers, then, through the quiet of dusk, bright, sudden laughter.*
This oh-so-pretty covered bridge is part of the wetlands trail at Nawautin. Facing north from the bridge is a view of the pond and marsh where swans, ducks and geese nest and raise their broods year after year. Facing south is Lake Ontario and the beach.
It has a distinctly folkloric and romantic ambiance and, ‘though I’ve never witnessed one myself, I’m reliably told there have been countless sunset proposals on this bridge.
If ever there was a bridge designed to appeal to the imaginations of children, this would be it! Storybook-perfect, it conjures fantasies, daydreams and make-believe; faeries, elves, unicorns, good witches and fairy godmothers…
Truly the stuff of fairy tales and fables.
Trans-Canada Trail, Campbellford, ON
Wooden bridges are built using timber as their primary construction material which, sadly, has a limited lifespan. Unfortunately, in pursuit of cost-effectiveness and maintenance-free designs, municipalities have rushed into replacing charming wooden bridges with steel i-beams topped with soulless, tarmac.
One of my favourite wooden footbridges, one I’ve crossed at least a hundred times, spans Trout Creek on the Trans-Canada Trail. Besides the wonders of the creek (turtles, snakes, frogs, fish, herons, ducks, dragon and damsel flies and, oddly, an occasional cow…), this bridge is a conduit to one of the leafiest, shadiest, prettiest, sections of the trail. Just beyond the bridge, the trail cuts through a Jersey (dairy) farm and continues over a second bridge — their steel cattle grate — which keeps their cows off the trail.
It’s an idyllic spot made even more-so by the rustic but dreamy timber bridge where it all begins.
Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge, Ferris Provincial Park, Campbellford, ON
But step on the bridge—’tis tremendous!⭑
There is no better place to view the Ranney Gorge than from this bridge, which “floats” ten metres above the Trent River.
On my first visit to Ferris Provincial Park, I quickly grabbed my camera and hopped out of my car, eager to walk across the bridge. This was to be my first suspension bridge experience. I walked out a few metres, enjoying the beautiful scene but then my feet paused because I was unexpectedly nervous — my heart rate quickened and a bead of sweat formed on my brow. The deck is metal mesh so you can see all the way down. Just a bit of steel grid work separating me from the river. And it vibrates. Even when I was the only one on the bridge, standing stock-still.
No guts, no glory, right? I started with mere half-steps and eventually made it out to the middle where the view is spectacular. And then, filled with confidence, all the way across. And back. I even, deliberately, made it “sway” a couple of times.
Crossing the bridge was exciting and invigorating, and it became a favourite spot of mine, throughout all four seasons.
Trans Canada Trail. Omemee, ON
One need not be a chamber to be haunted,
one need not be a house.†
In Omemee, a small Ontario town west of Peterborough, there is an abandoned railway trestle bridge. It is now fully rehabilitated, is part of the Trans Canada Trail system, and offers splendid views of Pigeon River, its denizens and water traffic. On a sunny, summer’s day, it’s idyllic.
On sunless days or at twilight, however, it becomes something of an eerie artefact. It was late-afternoon on a gloomy day when I took this photo. The wind was gusting strongly that day and, beneath the bridge deck, it was soughing through the trestles causing its timbers and the surrounding trees to creak and moan. I wandered out to the middle of the bridge in order to shoot the dam down stream, and I heard a strange rustling coming from under the deck. Then a snowy owl, no doubt disturbed by my footfall, flew out. Spectral? For sure, but not a ghost. Apparitional or not, I’m quite sure this bridge is haunted — perhaps by the spirits of the men who built it long ago.
Wheatley Provincial Park, Wheatley, ON
Stumbling across a footbridge whilst hiking is always a happy surprise and crossing those little bridges, spanning brooks, the green mossy pools of marshes, wetlands, or rocky fissures, is always pure delight.
Walking the pretty, winding path through the woods beside Sugar Creek, a rustic and charming surprise awaits — three crude bridges. Planks, actually. Narrow, charmingly overgrown and slippery, these three foot-bridges are strategically placed to make traversing the boggy lowland a comfortable, dry experience.
These three gems always stir my imagination; I fantasise about faeries hiding in the long grasses or a troll hiding beneath one of the bridges, or a unicorn chasing butterflies, or…
Thank you to Beth for this challenge that truly speaks to my heart. I love bridges. All of them! And, I confess, I’ve an absolute plethora of images to choose from this week, which made me very happy. Beth’s post is spectacularly beautiful and diverse. Please take a moment to visit her site, you’ll be oh-so-glad you did, promise:
Lens Artists Photo Challenge #413 – Bridges
’Til next time, y’all…
*Bliss Carman from his poem “XXI. Softly the first step of twilight” — Page 285, “SAPPHO: ONE HUNDRED LYRICS” from his anthology “Bliss Carman: Six Books of Poetry”.
⭑Thomas Hardy, from “Desperate Remedies” — Page 152 in his anthology “The Complete Works of Thomas Hardy”.
†Emily Dickinson from her poem XXIX “Ghosts” — Page 107 from her anthology “Complete Works of Emily Dickinson”.
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