The Pecos High Bridge
Today exceeded my expectations in so many ways!
Along Bedi's route was the Pecos High Bridge -- the tallest railroad bridge in North America and third tallest in the world at 321 feet above the river. The story goes that while he was carrying his bike across the bridge a train approached. He managed to scramble to a ledge, bike and all, and sit perilously on a sill with his bike dangling a bit as the train passed. I can't even imagine!!!
He felt a strange elation as he led his bicycle over the spidery network of steel spanning the Pecos River canyon, at the time one of the world's highest railroad bridges..." [Lillian Bedichek, The Jumping Off Place]
The bridge was actually shortened and shored up 1909 & 1910 because it started to sway as heavier trains crossed it!
Although we knew we would not see the exact bridge he traversed, I really hoped we could at least see the new bridge -- built in 1944 -- up close. It is only barely visible from its historic marker on US 90. After looking closely at a detailed map, my husband found a tiny road that appeared to end quite near the railroad bridge, so we decided to try to drive it and then walk the final distance.
We turned off US 90 on to the unnamed road and immediately had to make a decision about a gate. There was an address on the fence and a mail box, but the gate was only chained and not locked. There was also signage inside the gate: "Headquarters 3 miles" and "Deadman's Canyon 6 miles." So, we were willing to risk it, since it looked like the road went to locations other than a single residence. We would beg forgiveness from anyone we met and explain why we were boldly crossing their property.
As my husband drove, Dad and I monitored our progress on Google Maps' satellite setting -- yes, we have cell signal here in the middle of desert nowhere. At 5 miles, we arrived at the railroad. The next road running along the railroad looked as good as the one we were on, so we turned left and kept going -- hoping to get close enough to the bridge to walk the last part.
In another 1.5 miles, we came to signage on the road about "private property" so we decided to walk the final distance on the tracks. Let me just say that my parents are TROOPERS! We started down the tracks, unsure of the distance to the bridge. The tracks curved, so we could not see the bridge.
After a few hundred yards, we could see the bridge! It was so exciting! As we walked along we spoke again about the difficulties Bedi would have faced out here in the desert cycling down these dirt paths.
When we got to the bridge it was a "fer piece" to the canyon floor and the Pecos River. We were very high up. The view was stunning.
We knew this was the "new" bridge built in 1944 that replaced the bridge Bedi traversed. The 1892 bridge that Bedi rode across was close to this one, but we weren't sure where. We saw an old water tower that could have been for the old bridge, then looking more closely, Dad noticed the foundation of the old bridge across the river. We identified the footings and it was clear that we had found the 1892 bridge location!
On the walk back, I followed a dirt track that paralleled the railroad track in hopes of finding evidence of the old tracks leading to the 1892 bridge -- and I did! The dirt track I was on could very well have been the dirt track that Bedi rode. It was, at the very least, VERY close to the one he took.
Our bridge-hunting adventure was a success! It was thrilling to share this discovery with Mom.
Today's Bird List (from the Seminole Canyon State Park bird blind)
Painted Bunting
Bell's Vireo
White-Crowned Sparrow
Mockingbird (of course!)
Scaled Quail
Roadrunner
