Covered Bridge Adventure

by Diane Russell

Built in 1907, located in Newport. This double Town-Pratt lattice truss bridge was built as part of he Boston & Maine Railroad System.

Malcolm and I had been dating long distance when we decided in February 2005, that it was time for one of us to move closer. Since the bank where I worked in Vermont had branches in New Hampshire, it made more sense for me to relocate.

We both have a passion for motorcycle rides and we wanted to make our first full summer together a romantic and adventurous one. We found a map of all the remaining covered bridges in New Hampshire and in May 2005, we began the venture on our 2002 Honda VTX 1800 Retro motorcycle to begin photographing each covered bridge. We decided to photograph our bike and one of us in each picture as we wanted to document that the journey was by motorcycle only. At the end of our day, we would print the pictures and on the back we would indicate the name and number of the bridge, the date, and the town location. Four months, 56 covered bridge photographs and 9,185 miles later, we proudly completed our adventure. It was an awesome journey and we had a great time completing it!

The following year, we decided it was time to make wedding plans. And with such an incredible previous summer, we determined that it would only make sense to be married on a covered bridge. On the evening of July 21, 2006, Malcolm and I rode our motorcycle to the Henniker Covered Bridge, where we were pronounced husband and wife. We look forward to our next adventure.

(Diane Russell is a branch service manager for a bank in Peterborough. A resident of New Hampshire since 2005, she and her husband Malcolm live in Hillsborough.)

Built in 1866, located in Cornish, NH & Windsor, VT. At nearly 450 feet, this magnificent bridge is the longest remaining covered bridge in the United States.

Built in 1876, located in Pittsburg. This bridge, also known as the Bacon Road Bridge is one of seven covered bridges that stood in this rural northern town. Only three remain.

God’s Country

by Susanna Hargreaves

Every autumn my spirit feels alive
It shines with the golden leaves
that fall throughout Mine Falls
Following the path of yellow, amber and green,
I savor this beautiful day with all of my senses
For a moment, my spirit soars with the words
of Robert Frost,
Jane Kenyon and Donald Hall.
Imagining their approval as they watch
above the Nashua River,
in the shadows of the granite mountains,
just beyond the soft pine treetops,
over the glittering waves
with the seagulls-
they call my name.
Live, they whisper.
Remember, they say.
And with their words,
we can share our heart
believe in our dream
And touch heaven with our hands.
Again and again,
surrounded by yellow, amber and green,
to celebrate life in God’s country.

(Susanna Hargreaves is a Troubadour reader from Hooksett, NH)