Covereed Bridges of Washington PA

[asirimarco]

Turned out to be a beautiful day today, Sunday. Mid 70s and lots of blue sky and puffy white clouds. A perfect day for bridge hunting. And I had my Covered Bridges Driving Tour booklet all ready to go. I picked the section of the ones closest to us. Just 12 bridges – just a little over half of the 23 in the county. Didn’t tell The Driver how many were on the tour. The night before I had checked their locations on the laptop on Streets and Trips. I found all the roads so was encouraged that we’d have a nice ride. Off we went in Willie. Gypsy happily glowing in my hot little hands. Couldn’t program where we were going but could see the roads we needed to take as they came up. Down the freeway 10 miles then off and up a dirt road to see the first bridge. Couldn’t drive through it. Just looked at it. It was probably built in 1888. Off to find the next one. Only a couple of miles away. It had been rebuilt ‘cause in 1994 someone drove their truck into the middle of the original one and set fire to their truck. Dah!
Here are pictures of a couple of them
Pretty flowers

Reflecting in the creek

Right in someones front yard



Some useless information about the bridges.
Pennsylvania at one time had over 1500 covered bridges. Now ony about 215 remain. (Hum I wonder if there are any near Hershey – will have to check.) The original purpose of the cover was to protect the beams and trusses from the elements. But legend has it that covered bridges were built to protect travelers from evil spirits, or ease the fears of farm animals crossing the streams. Why so many red bridges? Well I’ll tell you. Paint for covered bridges was usually mixed by local farmers and consisted of skimmed milk, lime, linseed oil and the readily available oxide of iron- which produced the familiar “barn red” color. Now you know – that’s why barns are red too. Most bridges were built between 1820-1890s.
Mail Pouch Tobacco Barn

Just an old building

Pretty countryside

After seeing eight both The Driver and I had seen enough. He doesn’t like them if they’ve been rebuilt. Just likes the really old original ones. And they were all beginning to look alike to me too so I asked him if he wanted to head into town to eat. Town? Hum where is town? By then we were in the middle of the woods. Sweet Gypsy – just told her to find town and when we were there asked her where the restaurants were. No problem.

We are now in Hershey, PA so more tomorrow if it doesn't rain.

[avalen]

interesting about the covers over the bridges, always wondered why they were covered.

[snowball]

very interesting carol...thanks for sharing and for the information...love drives in the countryside
sheila

[Liz]

Great pictures of the bridges on a pretty day. Those Gypsy's come in handy at times, don't they?

[rvgrammy1953]

The flowers are "Tiger Lilies" and they grow all over PA.....great cover for banks of creeks and rivers.....and ditches.....but spread quickly.........Mail Pouch Tobacco Barns are still here and there.....have family friends in "Little Washington", PA....so some of your photos look familiar to me....great pics....hope you are having fun at "Chocolate World"....

[AlmostThere]

Is that what that flower is, Lori? They grow like weeds here in the NW. When I bought this house some were already planted and they spread like crazy! I've thinned them out almost every year and they still manage to come back. Hardy plant!

[rvgrammy1953]

You gotta' dig out the bulbs to get rid of them.... took me 2 yrs. to rid my small garden area at the campsite of them..... but it can be done....love them in the places I mentioned earlier, but not in my garden.....