Monday, February 19, 2007

Sort Of Like The Last Thing Charles Stuart Saw... Just More Suburban

Sagamore Bridge, 134 feet or so above the Cape Cod Canal... that's Cape Cod Bay where the Canal ends, and that's a power plant on the right. The locals call it the Snagawhore Bridge, and it's death if you jump off it. 

I hate heights ( I won't ever fly again), but I had to have this photo for Your Monday Photo Shoot: Such Great Heights

It was built in 1933-35, a Great Depression project designed to "spend big bucks on big projects." It has a twin sister, the Bourne Bridge, which is like 7 miles down or something..

It spans the Cape Cod Canal, which was built so that ships wouldn't have to sail around treacherous Cape Cod to get to Boston. The canal was a long awaited project that guys like John Alden had kicked around. One plan involved the canal running through the lakes of Plymouth County... most likely encompassing both Duxbury and Monponsett.

It's an attractive enough leap that there are "Desperate? Call The Samaritans!" signs at each end. There are also big iron bars to prevent someone from leaping unless they were really determined.... say, determined enough o consider throwin themselves off a bridge.

Water is unforgiving. Given an average increase in speed of 9.6 meters per second of free fall, you'd be hitting the water at about, ummm, like a jillion miles per hour. You'll hear yourself screaming in Heaven...or Hell, if you have one of those vengeful Catholic gods.

You can jump off something that high and swim safely to shore only if you practice for years, and look somewhat like Superfly Jimmy Snuka. Otherwise... flapjack.

Here it is when it's foggy:

No matter how high you get...someone's always lookin' down on you.

 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ewww... nice name....

be well,
Dawn

Anonymous said...

not in NH yet my husband moves up in 3 weeks and then im moving up in June

Anonymous said...

The fog really sets the picture of the bridge off.  Nicely done!

Greg
http://journals.aol.com/radar446/PhotoTrek/

Anonymous said...

I loved the history that went along with the photos.  I agree with Greg, the fog really sets the bridge off.  Great job!~

Here is my submission:

http://journals.aol.com/rjet33/CountryLivingSouthernStyle/entries/2007/02/23/lets-try-this-again/787

Blessings!~

Susan

Anonymous said...

Love the fog on the bridge.  

              Julie