qclabrat
Well-Known Member
Thanks Pat and Brandon. How are the trails? Haven't been there all year
6MR Pop-up TM Concrete Bridge: We are back!
- Thread starter Patrick
- Start date
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Reading about this bridge is exhausting...any chance you can convince the current administration there is an Iranian nuclear facility under the bridge that needs taking care of so that we can finally start considering options about rebuilding it?
You're quite the roaming gnome today!
Had a fun pass for the morning.
Swung through today - water was very low.
Seems some additional sediment has accumulated on the west/north side.
(upstream, boardwalk side)
Cleared out a few sticks, and rolled a larger branch up onto the bank.
Could use a saw, or wait until it is washed away.
All was good until I stepped into a spot deeper than my boot by about an inch. brrrr.
Seems some additional sediment has accumulated on the west/north side.
(upstream, boardwalk side)
Cleared out a few sticks, and rolled a larger branch up onto the bank.
Could use a saw, or wait until it is washed away.
All was good until I stepped into a spot deeper than my boot by about an inch. brrrr.
Been a bit windy, sure.
And there was some rain.
But come on now....
@snashters arrived and we were able to knock this out in about 1.5 hours.
Two chains on the saw
Two fully charged batteries....
There is a slow leak in both legs of my chest waders - not enough to puddle, but my lower legs and socks were wet.
most of the debris is 50' downstream stuck in the shallows.
There is a tree across 75% of the steam about 200' down, so we'll be back dealing with that....
Thanks Mike!
And there was some rain.
But come on now....
@snashters arrived and we were able to knock this out in about 1.5 hours.
Two chains on the saw
Two fully charged batteries....
There is a slow leak in both legs of my chest waders - not enough to puddle, but my lower legs and socks were wet.
most of the debris is 50' downstream stuck in the shallows.
There is a tree across 75% of the steam about 200' down, so we'll be back dealing with that....
Thanks Mike!
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Can anybody write the screenplay for the instant classic "Pat's Bridge" subtitled "The Struggle is Real!" ?
THE STRUGGLE IS REAL
SCENE STARTSETTING:A narrow, stubborn choke point on the Six Mile Run trail. A newly laid concrete bridge spans a small culvert. Below the bridge, a chaotic tangle of sticks, NJ red clay, and ancient leaves has formed a structural "clog" that threatens the entire operation.
CHARACTERS:
- PATRICK (The Hero): Armed with a long hooked pole and an iron will.
- J-DOT: Trying to maintain the flow of both water and volunteers.
- MUDDYPIE: A rider who just wants to keep their momentum.
- POOLSIDE: Exhausted, currently leaning on a rake.
[The scene opens with PATRICK lying flat on his stomach, reaching under the bridge with a long stick.]
PATRICK(Grunting)I see it. A single branch of Japanese Knotweed. It’s the keystone. If I pull this, the water flows. If the water flows, the bridge stays.
POOLSIDEPatrick, we cleared that exact branch ten minutes ago. I recognize the bark. It’s mocking us.
J-DOTThe upstream woods are a factory of debris, Patrick. For every twig you pull, the forest produces three more. It’s basic trail physics.
PATRICK(Yanking the stick)HA! Got it!
[A loud SLURP sound as the water begins to rush through. PATRICK stands up, triumphant, dusting off his vest.]
PATRICKSee? Flow restored. The bridge is safe. The engineering is sound.
MUDDYPIE(Pedaling onto the stage)Bridge looks clear! Dropping in!
[Just as MUDDYPIE’s front tire touches the concrete, a loud THUMP is heard from upstream. The sound of rushing water immediately turns into a dull, wet THUD. The water begins to rise over the bridge.]
MUDDYPIE(Stopping abruptly)Uh, guys? My ankles are getting wet.
PATRICK(Diving back onto his stomach)Impossible! I just cleared the throat!
POOLSIDE(Sighing)I’ll get the rake. Again.
[The lights flicker—a "time jump" effect. The bridge is dry again. PATRICK is standing, holding a muddy branch.]
PATRICKThere. The clog is cleared. That was the big one. Now we can finally—
[THUMP. The sound of water stopping happens instantly.]
J-DOT(Looking upstream)Another branch, Patrick. A big one. It looks like it brought a friend. And some mud.
PATRICK(Frantic)It’s a tactical maneuver by the creek! It’s trying to bypass the culvert! Not on my watch!
[PATRICK drops to his knees. He pulls out a branch. THUMP. He pulls out another. THUMP. He pulls out a discarded Gatorade bottle from 1994. THUMP.]
POOLSIDEIt’s like a magic trick, but the only prize is lower back pain.
MUDDYPIE(Cycling in a circle)Can I go? Is it clear? Can I go? Is it clear?
PATRICK(Muffled, from under the bridge)JUST... ONE... MORE... STICK!
[He yanks a massive, mud-caked log out. The water rushes through with a roar. PATRICK stands up, covered in red slime, holding the log over his head like a trophy.]
PATRICKVictory! The clog is vanquished! The bridge is—
[A small, delicate leaf floats down from a nearby tree, lands in the water, and floats under the bridge. A giant THUD echoes. The water immediately overflows.]
J-DOT(Checking his watch)That’s a new record. Four seconds of flow.
POOLSIDE(Handing the hooked pole back to Patrick)Your turn, Hero. I think I see a cluster of twigs with your name on them.
PATRICK(Taking the pole with a grim stare)The struggle is real, boys. But so is my permit. Back to the mud!
[PATRICK drops back to his stomach as the lights dim. The sound of SLURP... THUMP... SLURP... THUMP continues in the dark.]
FADE OUT.
Next Step: Would you like me to add a scene where the team debates if they should just build a second bridge over the first bridge to avoid the clog?
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
I was a second too late to capture that work of art for eternity...almost as unexciting as the bridge itself...
updated.
qclabrat
Well-Known Member
Great work @Patrick and @snashters heroic indeed!
Yup. It is in a bit of a valley, so any flooding works it into the water. Or the stream edge collapses?
Lots of dead ash too.
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
It's a shame Bruce Willis is not available to play Patrick in the inevitable Block Buster, I guess Vin Diesel will have to do...
There was a time we could blame it on the beavers.