Robert Foster (Foster)
Hey, Alan and Jim,
Your photo and accoompanying sign for thr Gold Creek Bridge was most intriguing to me.
Early in Novemver, Lucy and I took our 31 ' 5th wheel up to Portland to visit one of Lucy's childhood and college girlfriends. Midway between Ashland and Eugene where we were going to spend our third night, nature called me with a vengence, and in somewhatt of a panic to get off, park and and use the r.v. faciilities, I turned off thiking it would be an easy on. As.we we turned off, we were meamt with a sign that stated, "This is not an exit" fortunately, I was able to turn this beast around and headed back toward the road that seemed to go under I-5. As soon as I entered the blind curve I was met with a tunnel. a tunnel that apparently had been built in the late 19th century or very early in the 20th century. I could not back up (fortunately there were no cars anywhere) so I could only go forward. I truly would not have taken bets that I could get through this thing; and, if I did, where did the road go? Lucy got out of the truck and walked to the end of the tunnel to direct me and check the air oonditioner would not hit the top. I pulled both trailer mirrors in flush with the truck and had perhaps 2-3 inches of clearance on either side. I proceeded at about 2 mph, Lucy using her patented hand movements which to this day are unlear to me..
We got through with sweat coming out of every pore.. We then prceeded to travel down this long lonely road (the freeway was about 20 feet above us to the right) where I really half expected mentally challenged boys would be in trees playing some rendition of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown on banjos. Suddently, there was a freeway entrance going south iinstead of north. We took it greatlfully and traveled to another offramp that had a northern on ramp, and away we went.
In 15 years of towing, I had never experienced a situation like this.
My one regret is that I didn't take a photo, but frankly, we were busy trying to get a large truck and trailer through a tunnel designed for buckboards and horses. , Also, looking around the area, I was pretty convinced we would be eaten by the locals,
Otherwise, we had a great time!
Hope all is well with everyone. Happy Holidays
Bob
|