Welcome back to Sunday Stills! This week we are exploring bridges.
Bridges Near Home
As someone who enjoys exploring and being around water, I’m pleasantly surprised to find such an abundance of picturesque bridges in the Spokane area and closer to home.
In downtown Spokane’s Riverfront Park, there are quite a few bridges that connect the downtown and span the Spokane River that winds through the entire downtown area.
“A picture is nothing but a bridge between the soul of the artist and that of the spectator.”
~ Eugene Delacroix.
The Spokane River runs Westward then turns north and winds its way toward our area. Riverside State Park hosts a variety of sights to explore, but you have to cross a bridge or two. To appreciate this state park, we enjoy bringing visitors to the Bowl and Pitcher area…
… A view from the Charles Road Bridge…
…yields this view of Nine Mile Falls at the height of spring snowmelt.
Views along the Centennial Trail that originate in Nine Mile Falls, include the Deep Creek Steel Bridge and a surprise beach area below…
…and another surprise!
Bridging the Gap with Family
“Bridges symbolize change and flexibility! They show us this simple philosophy: When you are on one side, you can easily move to the other side!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan
Due to some unexpected circumstances surrounding my dad and stepmom, who (used to) live in the Northern California foothills, my brothers and I spent countless hours during the month of September preparing my father and stepmom to move out of state.
You might remember that last September, the Mosquito Fire engulfed most of their town near Foresthill, California in the fire-prone Sierra Nevada foothills. Their home was spared, but it was time to move them to safer living conditions and a more economical area.
For 17 years, my step-mom never wanted to move away from their home in the mountains. 2023 was too much for her with the fire burning most of the neighborhood in 2022, her feelings of isolation and overwhelm, 10 feet of snow last winter… and the list went on. She is the primary caregiver for my 87-year-old Dad who is suffering from changing levels of dementia. My family and I could not persuade her to move despite her inability to keep up the home.
But sometime this past summer, the lightbulb went on and she was ready to relocate.
“Until you cross the bridge of your insecurities, you can’t begin to explore your possibilities.”
~ Tim Fargo
My brothers and their families have all helped with this process as we list my Dad’s house and get them moved to Arizona.
Auburn, California’s Trestle Bridge officially welcomes visitors to the Gold Country. This was our last view of the gateway to the area where my Dad lived for 17 years.
During the third week of September, we moved them into a new rental home in Payson, Arizona, not far from family members living in the Scottsdale area. It’s a charming town completely set up to assist retirees and their special needs. The town of Payson sits at the base of the Mogollon Rim of central Arizona at 5,000 feet in elevation, surrounded by mountains, pine trees, and cooler temperatures. It even snows there. My parents feel quite at home.
“The view along the bridge is just as beautiful as the other side. Surrender to its beauty.”
― Jennifer Stannard
We drove two days from our home near Spokane, Washington, packed and loaded our parents’ belongings, and then caravaned with a car, a rental cargo van, and a truck pulling a cargo trailer. Who knows how many bridges we crossed? I drove the cargo van so I was unable to snap photos.
A native welcoming committee bridged the gap the second day we arrived at my parent’s new home. Two bull elk meandered down the street in front of the house. One stopped to graze on a twig across the street.
Locals tell us there are huge herds of elk that roam the rural areas of Payson and they walk up the neighborhood streets without a care. The average male elk stands 5-6 feet at the shoulders with head and antlers reaching up to 9 feet tall! My parents were thrilled to see the elk. They had been used to seeing wildlife every day at their former home.
I think they might like it here.
“Decisions are like making a choice between which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn.” ~ Frank Matobo
Sharing for Cee’s CWWC–bridges and Marsha’s Wednesday Quotes–Native
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders
The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post.
- Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
- Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
- Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
- Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
- Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
- I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
Due to family time and travel as we continue our road trip, I won’t be able to add your links to the round-up in this post while on the road, but I will read and comment on your posts from my phone (thank you, Jetpack App). Please visit your fellow bloggers’ links in the comments section.
Themes for October are ready to view on my Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Page. This page is updated monthly. See you on October 1 as we explore FENCES!
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