Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: SemperVee on December 13, 2022, 07:03:12 PM
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50 years of riding just about everywhere across our beautiful western and PNW United States, under all conditions but this is the bridge that gave me nightmares. Local to my own riding area; the infamous Antioch bridge connecting Contra Costa to Sacramento county. The guard rails looked barely 2 feet high from my perch, Just sayin. Pictures tell the story. No matter how many times I rode over it I got anxiety and had to calm myself down, every time.
(https://i.ibb.co/Gt2XdCy/th-1227989932.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Gt2XdCy)
(https://i.ibb.co/HGbJfFg/Antioch-Bridge-copy.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HGbJfFg)
(https://i.ibb.co/WP9fM9f/Antioch-Ca-copy.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WP9fM9f)
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We’re you hugging the center barrier? I would have. I remember a bridge in Seattle that was pretty scary.. or maybe that was Portland, I was suffering heat stroke then. It was the first time ever Seattle hit 100f.
The Mackinac bridge not fun if windy, on lane is grate all the way.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Foto/i-fhsqtj5/0/a16e7857/S/DSCN0273_2-S.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/Foto/i-fhsqtj5/A)
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I'd have my camera in my left hand taking photos! :wink:
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Ugh.
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Mackinac terrifies me in a car. Can't imagine on a bike. Or on foot!
-AJ
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when I lived in the Tidewater area there was bridge across the York River that was steel mesh in something like 2 inch squares. When you looked down when riding over it looked like you were in the air. Sometimes you could feel the wind coming up or down. It didn't freak me out as much as my wife on the back.
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Two that were tough for me were the International Bridge from Salt Ste. Marie Ca to MI (US). Storms were rolling in and it was not fun.
Also the Black Hawk bridge over the Mississippi. That's like 45° jump up to an open grate steel bed bridge. You can see the water below. That one didn't bother me as much (aside from the super-squirmy feel) but it made my riding partner hyperventilate.
There's another one...I'll have to think about where it was, because I've suppressed the memory. But it went WAY, WAY up and curved around and the wind was absolutely frightening. I want to say somewhere in Wisconsin?
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I'll give you two old bridges: the Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga, TN, and the Market Street Bridge in Steubenville, OH.
The Walnut Street Bridge I drove over several times a week as a new driver. It was unnerving primarily because it is so high and the lanes are narrow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walnut_Street_Bridge_(Chattanooga)
The Market Street Bridge in Steubenville made me nervous because the grating made the MilleGT I was riding nervous.
https://www.alpsroads.net/roads/wv/oh/
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This was nice one…!
(https://i.ibb.co/mywVcJq/C10-A1-C13-5-A40-4-D2-F-865-E-C6-BABB0-C5-BAE.png) (https://ibb.co/mywVcJq)
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I've done the Antioch Bridge numerous times. Some with heavy lateral winds. The highway north of the bridge runs along the top of levees. Before you reach Rio Vista there is a smaller bridge with an iron grating surface. Good place to learn to sit, ride leisurely, and have loose hands on the bars.
Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
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Back in the 70's I had a job that had me making regular runs to the Philadelphia airport. The company car I drove wasn't air conditioned and one summer day I found myself sitting stopped in traffic on the Platt bridge. As the trucks were going by in the opposing lanes you could feel the bridge shaking. But then I looked down at the pothole next to me and found I could see straight through....just a little unnerving. :shocked:
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when I lived in the Tidewater area there was bridge across the York River that was steel mesh in something like 2 inch squares. When you looked down when riding over it looked like you were in the air. Sometimes you could feel the wind coming up or down. It didn't freak me out as much as my wife on the back.
My wife on the back would freak me out too. :smiley:
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The Chesapeake Bay Bridge/tunnel. About 17.6 miles, with two tunnels.
Crossed it many years ago, with a nor’easter moving up the coast, on a Goldwing. Ice pellet rain, with gusty winds.
I think that’s how my hair turned white.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_Bay_Bridge–Tunnel
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(https://i.ibb.co/k4JWfkz/IMAG0358-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k4JWfkz)
Not intimidating in a monstrous way. But one mistake and you are in the water.
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The Antioch bridge is gnarly
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for me, it was the bridge on the river Kwai....
https://www.amazon.com/Bridge-River-Kwai-Alec-Guinness/dp/B000I8G5GW
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I bought a Yamaha dirt bike in Bradenton, Florida. I had to ride it home to St Pete over the original Sunshine Skyway grated bridge (now replaced with a new one) with serious knobbies on it. It was memorable. Not as memorable as what happened to this lucky bastage on the same bridge: (https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fproxy%2Fq6RqggaCLVqk_TjIWS1JefPM_cK3PtF4aqz3hhx9uWvx9xowFcwYYYb_B5evIDM2i5jXyxFCY0s%3Dw1200-h630-p-k-no-nu&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=8c6e88a523b661e698a017405abcd5ec216eafb5dd68aca63838c00a9de2a3c5&ipo=images) https://weather.com/news/news/2020-05-09-sunshine-skyway-collapse-40th-anniversary
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I've gone over the Antioch bridge more than a few times on the Stone Hydro years ago and also the bridge from Coronado Island to San Diego. Winds bring on white knuckles.
Ralph
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I sometimes have a fear of heights. I suppose I always do, perhaps it's because of my vision in which I'm near and far sighted in one eye and the other. But sometimes I do get freaked out. Back in 1979, Bev and I were taking a vacation in our VW Rabbit. Never been to Taos so decided go through there. Anyway, heading west out of town, the land is flat desert. We cross the Rio Grande bridge and it's like the gorge to hell, I could not believe how deep it was. I pulled over to take a look, and could not even get within 50 ft of the bridge. I've been back many times and walk across the bridge, take photos, etc.
But that first time, I wasn't expecting it. The land is so flat, the river gorge so deep, it really freaked me out. :embarrassed:
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Mackinac terrifies me in a car. Can't imagine on a bike. Or on foot!
-AJ
We crossed that two up on a windy day (high wind warnings on the big displays towards the bridge). You would lean into the wind and then almost fall over when you got behind an upright!
Got onto the paved lane fast! Don't like riding on the metal grating..
richy
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This was nice one…!
(https://i.ibb.co/mywVcJq/C10-A1-C13-5-A40-4-D2-F-865-E-C6-BABB0-C5-BAE.png) (https://ibb.co/mywVcJq)
I'd be afraid that I'd drive off the side of this one just because of the awesome scenery!!!
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I'd be afraid that I'd drive off the side of this one just because of the awesome scenery!!!
Yes and sometimes the wind gets up to 26 m/sec.
That was pretty confronting.