Bridges

Posted on September 21, 2011September 21, 2011 by Dusty Roads

I guess by now you know I like bridges. I get a thrill out of driving over really steep bridges like the Mount Hope Bridge in Bristol, RI

even the Sagamore Bridge over the Cape Cod Canal

and I just love photographing little wooden bridges or iconic covered bridges.

To me, bridges are just cool.

I remember being a passenger on a huge combo bridge tunnel when I was a kid. I think we were in the south maybe crossing Chesapeake Bay. I’m going to find that bridge and drive it for myself one of these days.

But today I wanted to share what I have learned about the Newport Bridge also know as the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge.

First of all it is a suspension bridge. One of those bridges where the bed is held up by cables running down from vertical supports also called “Suspenders”. I think they look so fragile and beautiful.

The Bridge is operated by the RI Turnpike and Bridge Authority and spans the east passage of Narragansett Bay. Newport RI is located on Aquidneck Island. The only way into or out of Newport is over a bridge of some kind. The Newport Bridge connects Newport RI with Jamestown on Conanicut Island, RI. The other bridge connecting Jamestown to the mainland is Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge, which is also a neat bridge that may be a subject for another time.

But back to the Newport Bridge, it is a modern 4 lane highway, 2 lanes in each directions and is part of RT 138. The bridge is the only toll road in Rhode Island. The toll is $2.00 / axle so for cars that makes it $4.00. It is also unique because Rhode Island residents with a Rhode Island EZ Pass pay a deeply discounted rate.Nonresidents pay full price. This discount is so unusual because it is the only toll in the US that gives a resident discount to non-adjacent neighborhoods.

The main span of the Newport Bridge is 488 meters (1601 ft), ranking it number 70 among the longest suspension bridges in the world, and making it the longest suspension bridge in New England. The overall length of the bridge is 3,428 meters (11,247 ft). Its main towers reach 122 meters (400 ft) above the water surface, and the roadway height reaches as high as 66 meters (215 ft).

The bridge was constructed from 1966-1969 at a cost of $54,742,000.

At night the bridge is illuminated by strings of lights that follow the graceful sweep of the suspension cables. I’ve been checking maps to try to find a good spot to take a night picture.

Bicycles and walkers are not allowed on this bridge. However I may have just discovered a loophole. On Sunday, November 13, 2011 A fund-raiser called The “Inaugural Citizen’s Bank Newport Pell Bridge Run” will debut. The entry fee is $50.00. Proceeds from the run will benefit several local charities including the Special Olympics of Rhode Island.

Now I’m no runner but maybe I can be a “walker” if I pay the fee and that will get me on the bridge for pictures…maybe? I am going to have to make some calls and if I get the OK then I will have to try to get the day off from work. The race starts at 6:30 am!

I promise if it am successful you will be the first to know! 🙂

A Day in the Life

Posted on September 20, 2011September 20, 2011 by Dusty Roads

Digital Photography School.com had a challenge this week. Record a “Day in the life.” It could be a friend , a pet, a stranger or in my case, I used me.

Remember the Comic strip Family Circus by Bill Keane? Billy never went from A to B in a straight line.That’s kind of what my day was like.

I normally have Monday off from work but we’re really short-handed these days so I volunteered to work Monday afternoon for a few hours. I set my alarm for 8:30 am since I didn’t have to be at work until 12:30. Seemed like a good chance to grab a little extra shut-eye.

I should have known better. 7:30 am I am being pawed and pounced on by my 2 furry tormentors. Eventually they settled down (I guess they got the hint) and I dozed back off. But minutes later the alarm went off. I hit the snooze button dislodging Smokey who was camped out on my arm. Rocky was draped over my feet so I managed not to disrupt him.

I tried again but Smokey was sure that the noise from the alarm meant I should get up and like the plant in Little Shop of Horrors demanded “FEED ME!” There was no getting around it so I gave in.

Cats fed, kitty litter changed, bed made, showered and dressed, I sat down for a quick breakfast and a dose of the news. Following the morning newscast it was time to check my emails, confirm my blog post had linked to my Facebook page and play a little Farmville. I am slowly selling off the farm as it has become too time consuming. Really it’s out of control. I have other things to do with my time, like write blogs and clean my house now and then! 🙂

About 11 am I headed out the door to go to work. I took the long way and left early because I am on a quest for fall pictures and the extended forecast is for rain so I may not have much chance for outdoor work.

My first stop was at a Farm Stand loaded with pumpkins and gourds, corn stalks, hay bales and fall flowers.

Scarecrows

Attractive displays

Even Halloween

Next stop was the local convenience store. My lottery ticket had won me $2.00! Can’t get far on that so I just turned it in for 2 more tickets. Maybe I’ll get lucky.

Back on the road I stopped at the Herring run.

Not much going on there today. So I headed on to Plymouth. Maybe I’ll just have time to grab a quick snack before my shift starts at 12:30. I pulled into the Wendy’s drive through at 12:02. While I waited for the line to move I spotted a late blooming flower so I took the picture right out the car window.

Wendy’s is right down the street from work so moments later I was pulling into the parking lot for my office.

By 12:25 I had finished my snack and entered the building.

At 4:30 my shift was over and I hopped back in my car to drive to Marshfield to the Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary. I thought I was prepared. I had my sweatshirt hoodie, my hiking boots, my bug spray and all my camera gear. At Daniel Webster I sprayed myself down with Deep Woods Off and put the 300-500 zoom lens on the camera. I also strapped my tripod to the back pack and headed off to hike the trails. It was the perfect time for the animals to be active. The shadows were starting to get long as dusk approached.

I did not expect the bugs to be so bad with all the spray I used but the mosquitos were a cloud! I pulled my sweatshirt on and pulled the hood tight to keep them off me and they still they got up my sleeves and behind my glasses… but I wasn’t ready to give up. And I wasn’t disappointed.

My favorite meadow off the trail called The Secret Path was filled with deer. I love deer. They are such beautiful creatures.

Even though I couldn’t set up the tripod without spooking them I was able to brace myself enough to get a couple of pictures. I am so glad I had already set up with the big lens! But the mosquitos were having a field day with me so as much as I would have liked to stay longer I had to get moving again or be eaten alive..

I saw more deer along the trail and finally made it to the observation platform but the bugs were terrible there too so I turned back right away. I made one last stop in one of the blinds to get some relief from the cloud of insects.

I spent about 45 minutes in the blind hoping the bugs had given up. It was quiet. I saw some reeds moving but I couldn’t see what was causing it. There were no ducks or geese today. As it began to approach evening I stuck my nose out and was rewarded with a beautiful sunset and far fewer bugs. The temperature had dropped a little and that may have been why they gave up. I snapped the sunset as I headed back to the car.

That pretty much wraps up my day. It’s a pretty typical day. When I get home I can count on my kitties being at the door to greet me. I feed them and pet them and fix my dinner.Then I settle down to process the pictures I’ve collected over the course of the day. Sometimes I prepare a post for this space.

Often I get a call from my friend JR. He also enjoys photography and you can check out his work at http://www.jrstjeanphotography.com/

So I’ve completed my assignment from http://www.digital-photography-school.com and I’ve brought you along with me for the day. I hope you enjoyed the peek into my life.

Highly Recommended!

Posted on September 19, 2011September 19, 2011 by Dusty Roads

One of my favorite bloggers just went to Alaska. I was behind on my reading so just got a chance to check out her blog. If you want to find out about Alaska you have to check this out! I only made a quick visit just now but will be back after work to read this in detail and enjoy the awesome pictures.

It just looks amazing. If you are interested in Alaska, please take a minute to visit this blog! Tell them Dusty sent you! 🙂

http://homesteadramblings.wordpress.com/

Time for Another Trivia Quiz

Posted on September 19, 2011September 19, 2011 by Dusty Roads

We haven’t done a travel trivia quiz for a while so for a change of pace I thought it might be fun to try one again. Let’s see how you do.

1. If you wanted to order a frozen hot chocolate in the place where it was invented, where would you go?

A) Chicago B) Los Angeles C) New York City D) Miami

2. If you wanted to see the longest river in the United States, which river would you head to?

A) The Colorado B) the Mississippi C) The Missouri D) The Ohio

3. If you wanted to see the smallest state in the nation, where would you go?

A) Hawaii B) Delaware C) New York D) Rhode Island

4. If you want to visit Yellowstone National Park, which state do you go to?

A) Arizona B) Iowa C) Wyoming D) Utah

5. Which four presidents are immortalized on Mount Rushmore?

A) Washington, Lincoln, Adams, Roosevelt B) Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Jefferson C) Washington, Grant, Roosevelt, Jefferson D) Lincoln, Grant, Roosevelt, Madison

6. What is the fastest roller coaster in the United States?

A) Space Mountain, Disneyland, Caifornia B) Superman The Escape, Six Flags Magic Mountain, California C) Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey D) Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point, Ohio

7. In 2005, GQ Magazine listed the best hamburgers in America. Where can you get the best hamburger in the country?

A) Le Tub, Hollywood, Florida B) Peter Luger Steak House, Brooklyn, NY C) Louis’ Lunch, New Haven, CT D)Rouge, Philadelphia, PA

8. What California town was named after the movie studio?

A) MGM B) Universal C) Paramount D) Columbia

9. In what city will you find Coit Tower?

A) Chicago B) San Francisco C) Los Angeles D) New York

10. If you wanted to stay in the most expensive hotel in America, where would you stay?

The Mansion at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas D) Inn at Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina

11. If you wanted to see Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where would you go?

A) Arizona B) California C) New Mexico D) Nevada

12. If you want to see the capital city of Florida, which city should you visit?

A) Miami B) Daytona C) Tallahassee D) Kissimmee

Answers:

1. If you wanted to order a frozen hot chocolate in the place where it was invented, where would you go?

Correct Answer: New York City

2. If you wanted to see the longest river in the United States, which river would you head to?

Correct Answer: The Mississippi River

3. If you wanted to see the smallest state in the nation, where would you go?

Correct Answer: Rhode Island

4. If you want to visit Yellowstone National Park, which state do you go to?

Correct Answer: Wyoming

5. Which four presidents are immortalized on Mount Rushmore?

Correct Answer: Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Jefferson

6. What is the fastest roller coaster in the United States?

Correct Answer: Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey

7. In 2005, GQ Magazine listed the best hamburgers in America. Where can you get the best hamburger in the country?

Correct Answer: Le Tub, Hollywood, Florida

8. What California town was named after the movie studio?

Correct Answer: Paramount

9. In what city will you find Coit Tower?

Correct Answer: San Francisco

10. If you wanted to stay in the most expensive hotel in America, where would you stay?

Correct Answer: The Mansion at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas

11. If you wanted to see Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where would you go?

Correct Answer: New Mexico

12. If you want to see the capital city of Florida, which city should you visit?

Correct Answer: Tallahassee

How’d you do?

I was just thinking of Hawaii..

Posted on September 17, 2011September 17, 2011 by Dusty Roads

The other day I took off to Narragansett. It was a spur of the moment thing. I’ll tell you about the drive and the awesome bridge another time. It was one of the nice warm fall days that makes you think it’s still summer and there was a little surf. Actually there was more surf than we saw at anytime while we were in Hawaii.

There were surfers too and I think that’s what got me thinking about Hawaii…this time. I think about Hawaii a lot. The funny thing is that when I suggested our first trip it was more because my Mom had mentioned going with “us girls” someday. It was sort of “ok, I have this time share and you said you wanted to go to Hawaii so..let’s go.” Planning the trip was fun but if I were really honest with myself, I would admit that as the trip neared I wasn’t excited. I was trying to put on a good front but of the 3 I would bet I was the least enthusiastic.

As is the way things usually work out, I was the one bitten by the islands..BIG TIME! You know the song…I left my heart in San Francisco? Well I left my heart in Hawaii.

I’ve been twice. Once to the Big Island with its barren volcanos and dry desert-like Kona District. And of course there’s Kilauea. Fascinating and amazing, I loved everything about Volcano National Park.

I also loved the wet side of the island. The lush rainforest with ocean views, 400 ft waterfalls, and tropical blooms.

I hated to leave and I couldn’t stay away. I came home only to start planning my return.

My 2nd trip was to Oahu. We stayed in Honolulu 4 blocks from Waikiki. We looked for the famous surf but the seas were flat, flat, flat. Not being a surfer myself I was only disappointed in not seeing the surf. I doubt I would have tried it but I did go snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, something not to be missed even if snorkeling isn’t normally your “thing”. The water is shallow and warm and the sea life plentiful. Best of all you are in the protected harbor of a collapsed volcanic crater!

Of course if you are in Honolulu you have to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

That was worth the whole trip and I was hesitant to go. I knew it would be emotional, that it would touch me deeply, and I was right. Still it was worth the sadness I felt over all those we lost to see the beautiful memorial in a beautiful, peaceful place.

Finally. on the last day of our visit the surf came up..a little. There were a few die-hard surfers trying to catch a wave off Diamond Head. They were so far away they were little more than specks.

So here I was in Narragansett and there were the surfers. Still no gigantic waves but they were waves and they were long lasting enough that the surfers were out for a good time. I guess the waves don’t have to be huge to give you a good ride.