Another visit with a piece of my past
The other day I happened to be searching the web, checking news stories and updates, and I found that a date has been set for another early morning stroll along the Maryland’s apparent “highway from Hell”. This date is November the 9th of this year, and I have already made a note of it in my calendar. Last year’s date was November the 10th, and that was one of the most awesome things I’ve done in a long time. Reservations aren’t yet available, but I don’t think I’ll have the problem that I did when I tried to get a ticket for Coastermania at Cedar Point. This is of course the annual Bay Bridge Run, where I will (hopefully) again have the chance to visit the metal monster of my childhood. It was the first big bridge that I ever crossed, and despite its fearsome and deadly reputation, I have soft spot for it in my heart. What a fantastic sight it was as it spanned the vast waters of the bay, its towers and cables looming over passing vehicles. And it was even better as experienced on foot, which is a rare opportunity to partake in. I just bought a nice new pair of sneakers, made especially for long walks (or runs, as the case may be). Now, I will test these out beyond the local trails when I visit Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens in about three weeks. But I will spend the summer and fall anticipating another walk across the steel serpent of the bay. Another visit to my most familiar metal monster will be greatly cherished. I did not think at the time that I’d ever want to do that walk again, but I was blown away by how fantastically cool of an experience it was. It’s one thing to drive across it, yet it is an entirely different experience on foot. I had the chance to admire and be in awe of the steel serpent last fall, and I will gladly accept that opportunity again.
Speaking of walking across bridges, I still hope to one day make my way across the diabolical monstrosity that spans the Tampa Bay. This one will be more like Coastermania as in I may not be able to reserve a spot. Apparently it is also more popular than the Bay Bridge run, and more limited in how many people are allowed to go. But unlike Coastermania, they put prospective names into a lottery, and hopeful participants may or may not be drawn. That’s a lottery that I’ll be very happy to enter! A chance to face the ultimate horror of all bridges on foot as I gaze upon the towering Tampa terror in person and ascend its main span as my heart races in fear and excitement…
Finally, I am continuing to mull over the new Key Bridge in my mind. The last I heard (which I believe is still posted on the main site) is that they are still considering whether or not have a pedestrian and bike path on the bridge. Anecdotal internet hearsay says that having such a path along a road designated as an interstate is prohibited by federal law. So, I did a quick web search and lo and behold, there is no such prohibition. The only stipulation is that the vehicle traffic lanes must be walled off or otherwise separated from the foot and bike traffic path. They say you learn something new every day, and this is my new fact of the day.
So, there is indeed still a chance that the Key Bridge might be accessible by foot… Perhaps this notion is the source of my recent dreams. What if, one day, I might also be able to walk across this shiny new steel and concrete monster? That will be a few years from now, and I’m sure I’ll have bought at least a couple of more pairs of walking shoes. But imagine that – a chance to challenge the great and terrible towering cable stayed beast bridge of Baltimore’s harbor! That would be the ultimate opportunity to face the Patapsco river monster and stride across its spine on foot. And I would be standing in roughly the same place as the Key Bridge jumper so many years ago, solemnly beholding the new successor to the old iron monster of a lost age.