The personal and professional website of Douglas Van Bossuyt
Today Drew, Nick , and myself went out to the Irish Bend Covered Bridge on the OSU campus for some photos. The road is normally closed off to all but official vehicles. I attained special permission from the Oregon State Police dispatch in Corvallis to ride out to the bridge and take some photos. It pays to ask people nicely.
Drew got a new slip-on exhaust. It gives me ideas for my bike…
Goofing around.
Spider Man!
Yesterday Carl and I went for a ride to bag the Harris, Ritner Creek, Drift Creek, and Chitwood covered bridges as part of my quest to take a photograph with my motorcycle in front of every covered bridge in the state of Oregon. We rode down US 101 past Boiler bay, where this photo was taken, and Depot Bay before turning inland toward Corvallis. The ride was around 150ish miles total.
Carl’s bike got a little muddy on the way to Harris Covered Bridge.
A Pacific Coast on the Pacific Coast!
In Depot Bay we stopped so I could look for tsunami evidence and Carl could see the world’s smallest harbor.
The way ODOT made the newer bridge next to the original span is pretty neat. They match very well.
The harbor and the Coast Guard launches.
The main drag through Depot Bay.
The final bridge from our ride was the covered bridge at Chitwood. It was originally built in 1926 and has had some work done on it since then to keep it maintained. A note for motorcyclists: the north approach ramp is VERY slick in the middle where car tires don’t tread.
The sign reads: “Donated labor of local residents and Lincoln County funds of $300 provided for the first bridge across the Yaquina River at this sight, June 1983, to give access to the Corvallis and Eastern railroad station. In 1904 Lafe Pepin built the second one, which was also uncovered and supported on vertical timbers, all of which were subject to decay in rainy periods. During 1926, Otis Hamar contracted for the third at $4000. Cement piers were poured for the 96′ Howe Truss span with approaches of 33′ each. The framework, with flared sides, was fir board and batten covered with ventilation openings up under each eave of a shake roof. Above each arched portal is a ‘Chitwood’ sign which was saved from the old Southern Pacific depot removed in 1940. After 57 years of service, this structure was renovated by Jon Gilliland with installation of new material in needle beams, lower chord pieces, approaches, frame and its cedar covering.”
