3 Quarters Today

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Vermont

Covered Bridges in Vermont

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Vermont has more covered bridges per square mile than any other state in the United States. An official covered bridge is not determined by age, but the method on how it is built, by trusses and a covered slanted roof. I have always had a fascination with covered bridges and although I had grown up in Connecticut I had never walked across one this piece of Americana.

Middle Bride in Woodstock, VT
Covered bridge in Woodstock Vermont

Last week I crossed this off my bucket list when I visited Woodstock Vermont and walked across Middle Bridge. I had another surprise as we took the scenic route down Rte 106 and found this picturesque bridge over a small creek.

Covered Bridge south of Woodstock Vermont
Covered Bridge south of Woodstock Vermont

The most famous bridges are those of Madison County in Iowa, so I really didn’t need to travel far from Nebraska to find covered bridges, but there is something special, romantic, and mystical about covered bridges in Vermont.

Facts About Covered Bridges

  1. First covered bridge was built in 1808 over the Mohawk river in New York
  2. Vermont contains 100 authentic covered bridges
  3. At one time the United States has over 10,000 covered bridges, 750 remain today
  4. Covered bridges are painted red because iron ochre was an inexpensive pigment.
  5. Bridges were covered to prevent the wood dry and prevent rot (not to keep horses from spooking over the water)
  6. Town Lattice is the most popular style of covered bridge
  7. There are only 8 railroad covered bridges in the United States, only 2 still function during tourist events.
  8. Only six covered bridges still carry two way traffic all the rest are one way only.
  9. Covered bridges can be found in 30 states in the United States
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Rivers in Connecticut

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Connecticut is where I grew up, however I took the scenery, trees, beaches, rivers and streams for granted. I’ve lived in the Midwest for thirty years and although I love everything about the Nebraska, I do miss the the easy access to water.

In New England the Connecticut River takes center stage. It is the longest river in New England and flows from New Hampshire and empties into Long Island Sound.  It serves as the state boundary between Vermont and New Hampshire and is 407 miles long.

Farmington River in Connecticut
Farmington River in Connecticut in the Winter

Out of the over 50 tributaries of the Connecticut River I spent many summers during high school tubing on the Farmington River.  Even in Connecticut there is white water to navigate to give the challenging adventurer an adrenaline rush. The Farmington River Tubing Company provides a 2.5 miles ride, complete with tubes, lifejackets and a ride back up to your car. Can’t find white water in Nebraska. Tubing in Nebraska is more like a lazy float trip.

I’m spending a few days in Connecticut on family business and thought I would take the opportunity to get some photography in at the same time. Obviously the river in February is a little cold and nope, I’m not going to take the polar plunge and even test the water temperature.