Our Journey Begins

On the road again. Over the next few months it is our plan to visit all of the public covered bridges in Vermont.  My husband, Dan, and I recently finished visiting all of the 251 towns in Vermont and we need a new challenge.  We saw a few of the covered bridges on our earlier quest.  The bridges were just beautiful and now we want to see them all.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon doing covered bridge research and I came up with the following list which I compiled into a Google Drive file.  Vermont Covered Bridges  (Thanks to Dale Travis for the extensive list of bridges.) I also looked at the Covered Bridge Map.  The official Vermont Attractions Guide and Road map has covered bridge symbols which are very helpful.  (I do like my paper maps.)  Dan brought home a new Jimapco Vermont Road Atlas and the Vermont DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer.  So we should be all set.  I do have my trusty Iphone which comes in handy in a pinch as long as we can get some bars.

Bright and early this morning we began our quest.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky! We picked up our good friend Cheryl and headed to Shelburne on route 7.  (We will be starting each trip form Fairfax, Vt.)  Our first bridge of the day was at the Shelburne Museum.  The Cambridge Double bridge originally was located over the Lamoille River in Cambridge where the wrong way bridge is now located. This unique bridge is double-barreled so it had two lanes for traffic.  It also has a walkway for pedestrians.

Cambridge Double Bridge

Front view - Cambridge Double Bridge at the Shelburne Museum.

Heading south out of Shelburne we turned right onto Bostwick road and headed down toward Lake Champlain.  The tiny one lane Holmes Creek Bridge is located on Lake Road. I think it needs a little TLC.

Holmes Creek Bridge

A short drive later on route 7 we came upon the Spade Farm Bridge not too far south of Dakin Farms.  It is no longer in use as a bridge and no longer at its original location. I read in Images of America, Vermont Covered Bridged by Joseph D. Conwill that the Spade Farm Bridge use to be located in North Ferrisburgh.

Spade Farm Bridge

In Middlebury on Seymour Street we found the Pulp Mill bridge all spiffed up with new siding and electric lights.  This bridge connects Middlebury with Weybridge.  Mr. Conwell says there are only 6 double-double barrel bridged in America! And we saw 2 of them today!

Pulp Mill Bridge

Pulp Mill Bridge
 I like the lighting!

We headed out of Middlebury on Washington Street looking for two bridges on Halpin Road.  We found the adorable Halpin Bridge in New Haven.  It looks well cared for!

Halpin Bridge

Halpin Bridge

We looked and looked for the Vermont Bridge listed on two of my paper maps but alas it was not to be found.  (More research needed here.  Where did that bridge go?) The most direct route to our next bridge took us through two mountain passes.  We explored the Notch Road with a view of a sparkling brook and then Lincoln Gap Road which was steep.  Many hikers were out and about on a spectacular summer Saturday.  We even saw a hearty soul biking up the Gap. Rock on!  A short drive down Main Street in Warren brought us to our next bridge which was built in 1879.  No power tools back then!

Warren Bridge

Lunch time.  We made our way north on route 100 (my favorite road in Vermont, when it is not being resurfaced as it was today) to Waitsfield.  Lunch was sandwiches from a local deli/gas station.  Delicious.  We always make a point to buy lunch along the way.  I'll have to ask Dan the name of the Deli.  He's good at remembering details like that. Cheryl said it was a Mobil station. Dan says Irasville Country Store.

After lunch our next stop was the Village Bridge in Waitsfield.  Fortunately it was only slightly damaged by the flood caused by Hurricane Irene. I like the side walkway.

Village Bridge in Waitsfield

Just a few miles away on North Road by way of Joslin Hill Road we found Pine Brook Bridge in Waitsfield. I should have taken a picture of the inside because this bridge has king posts which are central vertical supporting posts to hold up the roof.

Pine Brook Bridge

The Pine Brook Bridge was our last for the day.  Once you hit 75 K on your Subaru you might need to have some brake work done.  That grinding sound can't be good!  Happy trails.  Maybe we will see some more of Vermont's classic covered bridges next weekend.  Nancy