Blair Bridge [WGN 29-05-09]

Smith Bridge [WGN 29-05-10

Columbia Bridge [WGN 45-05-07]

Columbia Bridge

Hi Folks
       After our train trip we headed out into the "Great North Woods" once more, on Rt. 3, the main road in northern Coos county.
       Our first bridge, Stark is quite photogenic and has two pedestrian walkways. Groveton is open to pedestrians only, having been bypassed. I noticed that the open latticework style is much more common in NH vs. Vt. We continued north on Rt 3 to Columbia bridge, the second of the three covered bridges crossing the Connecticut river between Vt. and NH. Again Liz took one picture from each state.
       As we continued north on Rt. 3 past Columbia to Pittsburg/Clarksville, River Road bridges, we see signs stating that the border crossing to Canada on Rt. 3 is closed from midnight to 8am, urging people to turn back and giving directions to Beecher Falls, Vt.
       Pittsburg/Clarksville bridge actually crosses the Connecticut river inside NH and is the northernmost covered bridge over the river. It and River Road bridges are open to pedestrians only. Happy Corner is open to cars.
       We also noticed signs stating NH law required everyone under 18 to wear a seatbelt. I later found out that all the other 49 states require everyone to wear seatbelts. "Live free or Die" is on all NH license plates.
       On September 18, we rode the Winnipesaukee RR, run by the same company that owns the Hobo RR. After the train trip, we visited some more covered bridges--Squam River, Blair and Smith.
       According to our guide, Milton Graton lived in Ashland all his life, but there was no covered bridge in the town. Local townspeople campaigned for the state to replace a deteriorating concrete/steel bridge with a covered bridge starting in the 1980s. The state only agreed when they were presented with a study showing the covered bridge was cheaper. Milton Graton was 81 when the bridge was completed and it was the last one that he built.
The Smith bridge has two signs--"Smith Millennium Bridge" and "2001." Our guide said that the previous bridge was completely destroyed by arson in 1993.
Tom

Pittsburg/Clarksville Bridge. [29-04- 03]	Pittsburg/Clarksville Bridge

River Road Bridge [WGN 24-04- 02]	Happy Corner Bridge.[WGN 29-04-01]

Stark Bridge. [WGN 29-04- 05]	Groveton Bridge [WGN 29-04-04]

Winnipesaukee RR	Squam River Bridge. [WGN 29-05-112]