Until a century (or two?) ago coming upon a river, even a humble creek (pronounced “crick”) could put a big crimp in your travels.
 In ole Dan’l Boone’s day, if you followed the trail more traveled, you could get lucky. You might find an enterprisin’ fella operatin’ a ferry crossing. For a small fee he might float you to the other side. ‘Course it’d mean loadin’ you, yer horse (mule, if you were lower-middle class) and all your belongings onto a rickety log raft “ferry”.
 He’d lash everything you owned, including you and ole paint, to a post. You’d be hangin’ on for dear life as you were ferried across, daring those early water crossings! In spring, with raging snow-melt rippin’ downstream, you might’ve considered (I woulda!) getting to your destination a little later in the year (like August).
 Yep, time was when simply makin’ it safely “cross the waters” was cause for elation! No doubt many an early pioneer traveler accidently became a “long-dead ancestor” attempting to cross the waters. Good thing the government didn’t keep those kinda statistics back then. We mighta never opened up the wilderness?
 Those ferrymen must’ve been a hardy bunch, crossing hazardous waterways for a livin’? Some eventually raked in enough money in (penny or nickel) crossing fees to save up more than pocket change. Then the enterprising ones took the next logical step (no, not retirement, that’s a modern concept). They’d actually build a bridge!
 Early rudimentary bridges erected consisted of a few logs covered with boards. But some of those fellas holding the deed to busy crossing grounds built functional and beautiful bridges. Fancy covered bridges came in vogue. However, their beauty was only a kinda side benefit? The reason for covering a well laid-up wood plank bridge was to preserve ones long term investment (so one might finally retire?).
These bridges represented more than an expenditure of time, labor and material. They offered freedom to travel. Many of them, built so long ago, are still scattered throughout the northeast. Stoically doing their duty to this day. Allowing you to “cross the waters” gracefully for more than a century!
Bridges changed as we progressed (?) into the industrial age. For you young folks, that’s back when America still built everything (instead of China).
 Architecturally beautiful iron~steel bridges became all the rage in water crossings. First you had to lay up a heavy stone foundation at the waters edges. Then those early bridge builders (not government safety nerds) would design an artistic series of girders, trusses and arches that would span the water. All to support the wooden plank (or steel grate) decking so you and yer horse could safely plod across.
 These bridges allowed people to cross the water for a century and more (neglect and rust being their only enemies). Many operated and maintained all those years by ferrymens descendants. Time passed and the ole horse got replaced by a “tin-lizzie” (car, kids). Inevitably, governments began constructing more bridges. Folks traveled, settling new areas inaccessible before bridges were built.
 For a couple of centuries there was an elation involved in ”crossing the waters”! Early on, simply survivin’ the crossing was a plus! Then accidental beauty imbued structures originally built simply to allow crossing the waters. Causing folks to slow, even stop mid-stream, entranced by the view or the bridges’ uniqueness! Horns didn’t honk, people behind simply paused to gawk too.
 Something’s happened to that joy in crossing the waters? We’ve lost the ability (or will) to build bridges that are more than bland functional monstrosities. Bridges whose aesthetics alone might again inspire the lost awe and joy that accompanied “crossing the waters”?
 In part I blame environmentalists. “Protecting” snail darters or clams or some fish (supposedly) “...found only in this 1/4 mile stretch of pristine waterway...!” “Discovered” by those exorbitantly costly “impact studies”! Meanwhile incessantly controlling each shovel full of dirt that might cause “turbidity” in the water (that’s dirt, kids). Same dirt mother nature washes in by the tons each spring! Finally, credit goes to that dastardly political invention, the “low bid” process!
 Around the countryside our beautiful old bridges keep getting replaced (instead of maintained). We’re left with ugly, artless, concrete and steel slabs (with a lousy 50 year life expectancy!). Each sporting a stark concrete wall, high enough to block any scenic views. Elevation above the water? Yeah. Elation in crossing the waters? No!
 I Don’t  Know About You..., I’d gladly invest a little extra to regain some of the beauty lost in “Crossing the Waters”.
Cal Teeple, founder of the Observational Cogitation Consortium is often found three stools down from you. He may be ignored, accosted or contacted at: twinews@wayneindependent.com OR The New Website at: wayneindependent.com.