The personal and professional website of Douglas Van Bossuyt
The commercial downtown district of Remote, Oregon was bypassed by the highway during an upgrade project. The old Remote Store closed at some point in the last 20 years as a result.
The gas pumps are waiting for a rebirth of the town. Someday maybe…
The last time gas came out of this pump, it only went for $1.57/gallon.
The Sandy Creek Covered Bridge is about halfway between the coast and Roseburg. The road is a blast to ride out to the bridge. The community of Remote consists of two buildings on the other side of the highway from the bridge. One looks abandoned but still maintained. The other is occupied. It must have been an interesting place to be before the highway was paved.
The inside of the bridge is covered in interesting graffiti. This bridge is also remarkable in how open it is inside. Nice and light and without any dark spots like some walled-in covered bridges are prone to be.
The graffiti reads: ” Here again. On 3-1-11 w/ M. Potter moving to Grants Pass – Getting a clean start! The archangel defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God cast into hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world, seeking the ruin of souls! I miss you Maycie, Joe, and Austin. I love you so much! <3 Mom”
It all appears to be the same handwriting. Looks like the top part of the inscription was done after the bottom part. I wonder if Maycie, Joe, and Austin died in a car accident or something similar. Graffiti like this covers the inside of this covered bridge. It seems the county isn’t able to keep in front of it with painting over what has been written. This bridge is an analogue, meat-space version of Twitter in a way.
The small stream flowing under the bridge.