Touring America 2023

Today was a travel day. We left Florence around noon and headed south. The weather was beautiful. Very little traffic southbound but lots coming north. It got interesting just north of Reedsport as traffic came to a standstill. We found out a ship was coming our way and they had to turn the bridge to allow passage.  Draw bridges are common in Oregon and Washington and are necessary to allow ships to pass. Many of these are large shipping vessels. However, this bridge is a "Swing Span" bridge. They simply rotate the highway to allow passage....Coos Bay was a typical city of 16,000. Lots of traffic and lots of road construction. After finally getting past all that we cruised into Bandon and Bullard's State Beach. 

We did very little yesterday and took advantage of the great weather to simply sit outside and indulge in some much needed R&R...

Upon leaving Florence, this is Hwy 101 around noon. Not much traffic for a Friday afternoon....

Here is the draw bridge we encountered letting a ship pass on the Umpqua River. It is actually a swing span bridge but the signs still refer to it as a draw bridge. This is the only bridge in Oregon that uses the swing span technology. It consists of a central swing span, that you can see crosswise in this picture, flanked by two concrete reinforced arches on each end. It was first opened for traffic in 1936 and was recently upgraded in June of this year.





Here's the swing span starting to close.....while we waited....

Getting closer.....while we waited....

Almost closed.....while we waited....

But we weren't waiting alone.....:)

Swing span technology is used widely through Oregon and Washington for railway bridges but not so much for highways. This is a swing span railway bridge as we crossed the Umpqua River.

As we continued southward, we encountered this gorgeous multispan bridge just outside Coos Bay. This is a cantilever bridge and when completed in 1936, was the longest bridge in Oregon. The main steel span is 793 feet and the total length is 1708 feet. Each end of the span is supported by concrete arches which complete the bridge.

Here's a view as we travel up the concrete arches and approach the main steel structure.  We rise almost 200' over the water.

Once on the bridge, we look westward and see the adjacent railroad bridge. Beyond that lies the runway for the airport at North Bend Oregon. The Pacific Ocean borders the west end of the runway and the railroad and Coos Bay Bridge border the east end.

We finally arrive at Bullards Beach State Park...the sign says "Campground Full"...glad we have reservations...

With excellent guidance from Debi, we get into our site and get set up. Look at that blue sky....tomorrow is going to be an awesome day....!...Our site is spacious and is a nice level asphalt pad with a stamped concrete patio. Even though the campground is full we do not feel crowded or cramped. Tonight the kids arrive and Monday our grandson heads for home and school...his summer is almost over......