May 13, 2006--Down the Seven Bridges Roads, Oregon

The smells are incredible, the sun warm on our faces. We are sauntering down myriads of back roads finding bliss in the form of some of Oregon’s reputed 57 covered bridges. We are led by Glenn, a fellow campground mate, who rides an Ultra Glide Harley and has taken the lead position today since he knows these roads like the palm of his hand.  

As we start off with Gilkey Bridge, not far from the small town of Mt. Angel, with its huge Catholic abbey, we truly are nearly sauntering. The entire day will elapse that way; there is no hurry, just the sounds of nature as we swish past barely adding movement to the long, deep green grasses by the side of the roads. The countryside is an explosion of new planted crops, fresh growth on the Christmas trees, rhodies and azaleas in deep, vibrant bloom in yards, and homeowners out weeding and mowing. We move through it and pass like a spectral cloud. An old man sits on his porch in a rocking chair looking vacantly at the road until we pass and I wave at him. He vigorously waves back, a smile etching his face, and I’m sure I have just made his day. Our day is made up of these moments, one by one, as we pass along undulating miles and miles on the back of the bike and the pleasure we feel is absolutely complete.

This is the story of the seven bridges tour.

Gallon House Bridge: located over Abiqua Creek, near Mt. Angel, constructed 1916. It got its name from moonshiners as a drop point to supply nearby Silverton (dry at the time) with prohibited liquor.

Hannah Bridge: located over Thomas Creek, the bridge design includes segmental portal arches, exposed beams at the gable ends, and white board-and-batten cladding. The creek here looks cool and invitingly deep.

Shimanek Bridge: the current bridge is a reconstruction in 1966; the first bridge built at this location is believed to have been constructed as early as 1861, while the first documented covered bridge was built in 1891 for a cost of $1,150.

Larwood Bridge: built in 1939, is located by a lovely wayside park where the Roaring River flows into Crabtree Creek, a geographic oddity.

Gilkey Bridge: also built in 1939, spans Thomas Creek and was nearby the small shipping town of Gilkey.

Hoffman Bridge: built primarily with hand tools in 1936 and its gothic windows gaze down on the limpid, lazy green waters of Crabtree Creek.

Jordan-Stayton Bridge: now located in the beautiful and well-used Stayton city park and reconstructed several times, the latest in 1998.

Watch the video  Seven Bridges