"Flyby" Tourism

This is the Gilpin Falls Covered Bridge. It is one of only two covered bridges remaining in Cecil County, Maryland. It literally is "the bridge to nowhere" as it doesn't carry traffic anymore. It basically crosses a stream and that is it.

There was quite a bit of controversy a few years ago over whether to demolish or restore this bridge when it was discovered to be structurally unsound after several years of deterioration. Over a million dollars would be needed to fund restoration. A small group of proponents for preservation tried to privately raise all funds, but could not do it in time. They appealed to local county government to fund the balance, but many taxpayers complained, citing several other bridges in active use by citizens in dire need of repair that were being put on hold for lack of funding. In the end, the restoration was funded through a combination of private donations and money from the State of Maryland set aside for historic preservation.

I travel past this landmark on a regular basis, so I don't usually think much of it as I speed by. However, the photo above reminds me that it really isn't so ordinary after all.

Other than very minor adjustments with contrast and rotation, this image is otherwise unprocessed. For a more "artistically" bucholic image of the bridge, check out the photo I took a few weeks ago in the note.