Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a retired California Highway Patrol investigator who had a chance to shoot this incredible photo from atop the Golden Gate Bridge.
It took four long years to build this iconic span that connects San Francisco with its northern counties and it was welcome depression-era employment. Eleven men died while building it. A safety net caught 19 others, who became unwilling members of what was called the Halfway to Hell Club.
The bridge opened to vehicular traffic in May of 1937. Its orange-vermilion color was thought to blend well with the natural surroundings and it quickly became identified with the city by the Bay.
Its maintenance is a huge job. The photo Pat Rigney took depicts a familiar scene to the crew that routinely works on the bridge maintenance. From www.goldengatebridge.org:
A revered and rugged group of of 13 ironworkers and 3 pusher ironworkers along with and 28 painters, 5 painter laborers, and a chief bridge painter battle wind, sea air and fog, often suspended high above the Gate, to repair corroding steel.
Those of us who live in the area get just as big a thrill when we see it as tourists. You can walk across all or part of it, and many local families do this as a holiday tradition. If the sun’s out, it’s a spectacular walk.
Holy Moly! I had to hang onto my chair just LOOKING at the picture. I can’t imagine the courage to crawl up there and then use your two hands for picture taking!
And when I take my grandchildren walking across this bridge, I must confess increasingly to vertigo myself. It is a noble structure, and my hat’s off to the builders and the maintenance crew
Here you’ll find my blog, some of my essays, published writing, and my solo performances. There’s also a link to my Etsy shop for healing and grief tools offered through A Healing Spirit.
I love comments, so if something resonates with you in any way, don’t hesitate to leave a comment on my blog. Thank you for stopping by–oh, and why not subscribe so you don’t miss a single post?
What a great photo! We are lucky to live here.
WOW – what a great shot. I wonder how long it took to get up there to take that picture. 🙂
Holy Moly! I had to hang onto my chair just LOOKING at the picture. I can’t imagine the courage to crawl up there and then use your two hands for picture taking!
And when I take my grandchildren walking across this bridge, I must confess increasingly to vertigo myself. It is a noble structure, and my hat’s off to the builders and the maintenance crew
It really is beautiful and I get to see it whenever I visit my son, which is the best part.