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AMGEN 2010: Foresthill Bridge, Auburn California & highest bridge in California by Lenny La Rue, IPA
More to come on this one but many of you have seen it numerous times in movies such as the “XXX” (action movie, NOT porn. LOL!) sequel starring Ice Cube. You can get a feeling for how incredibly high this span is by looking for the “tiny” evergreen trees along the river.
I’m reintroducing this image with a different title because the recent AMGEN 2010 Race used this as part of the route. The rather old railing is just over 50% of my 6-foot height and walking along it was a heart-pounding experience. If you were to ride a light-weight racing bicycle across, you’d be about 5 feet away from the top because of the raised sidewalk. You’d also be moving at maybe 30 mph with crosswind gusts known to be of up to 40 mph. With a pile-up possible anywhere, a cyclist could easily be thrown above the height of the rail and sail a very, very long way in the wrong direction. :-O
This image was purchased by an anonymous buyer in December of 2010. To that wonderful soul, my heart-filled thanks! :-D
I’m a “scatter-focus” artist. ANYTHING may be here or roundabout my galleries. Expect nothing anywhere and you’ll always be OK. ;-)
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Comments
its quite high like you say and lovely shot
Thanks!
– Lenny La Rue, IPA
Isn’t that bridge in Big Sur taller? this is a cool shot! You weren’t thinking of jumping were you?
The Bixby Bridge is roughly 260 feet above valley floor or water to Structurae, compared to the 730 foot height of the Auburn Bridge. However, I’ve also read that Bixby is one of the 20 highest single span bridges in the world, as here so I’m not sure what’s what as for actual records. I do know the Bixby Bridge is one of the most photographed bridges in California.
Thanks about the shot but NO! If one wanted to be absolutely sure of dying from a fall, one would need to fall from a height above the atmosphere since people have parachuted from extraordinary heights, had their chutes fail to open, and lived. Between updrafts, crosswinds, and who knows what, it seems suicide by jumping is never foolproof (no pun intended). My former thoughts of suicide and my “successful attempt” in 1997 never included trying to jump off anything, anywhere, anytime. There’s no thought worse than being a living gob of humanity after screwing up the last thing you ever planned to do. LOL!
And if you’re wondering, yes, I posted the entire story from 1997 here in a Christian group. It’s probably not there now since I dropped that group when I dropped ALL of them but I’m not adverse to telling the story to someone who is strong in faith and short in attempts to die. :-D
– Lenny La Rue, IPA
Great shot, I once watched police teams repel from that bridge, gave me goose bumps!
Thank you and WHAT?? I can’t imagine anything dumber than repelling off a structure with no sides and a very long drop if you goof! I guess that assures police chiefs that nobody in their department screwed up the test but there HAS to be an easier way than THAT!
– Lenny La Rue, IPA
Great viewpoint!
I thank you! And I also thank you for not asking the obvious question: why am I so far from the edge of the canyon? There were some footpaths and tons of spraypainted concrete further down so I would have known someone had been there before and enough of them to create a path means a lot of them made it back. LOL! But, this is a lot spookier than the catwalk cuz smart people made the catwalk; dumbass kids with paint cans made the paths. ;-)
– Lenny La Rue, IPA
Nice shot!
Thank you!
– Lenny La Rue, IPA
I want a shot from the middle standing on the rail Please Lenny . . .
any time in the next Millennium :-)
love the POV Mate
oh and I’m with you on the throwing yourself off things thing, not very clever
there is an urban myth of a chap who decided to end it all and made really sure the would succeed, he chose a bridge over a river, tied a noose round his neck, held a gun to his head, took a load of pills AND jumped,
figuring one way or another he was a goner
unfortunately the act of jumping made his aim screwy and he shot the rope severing it, he landed in the water which such force that he threw up the pills and he was promptly fished out by a passing boat
I guess it wasn’t his time Huh :-)
Love ‘N’ Laughter Kriss ♥
ROTFLMFAO! You HAVE to be kidding! Please tell me you’re kidding cuz that’s just too awful to believe. :-D
The odds of me standing in the same spot, safely on the sidewalk, are almost nil. It scared the crap outta me. It’s weird because the HIGHLY restricted location immediately under the bridge for worker’s access seems a lot safer. LOL!
– Lenny La Rue, IPA
What an awesome view point. I took quite a few images of this…..but didn’t think of this shot. LOOKS VERY COOL!!!