Well, we are out. It wasn't pretty, but we made it. The head of the county building department and a Sheriff's supervisor was there this morning. The bridge is in fact closed, UFN. Maybe months, or years if they decide to tear it down. Either way, I was getting the heck out!
The building dept head for the county decided that the only way to get out was Bayne Road, yeah that's the one that's marked for no large vehicles. So the Sheriff and I drove it in his car, stopped and measured the curves. Some were really tight, but with a spotter (another county guy) me and 18 other RV's of various descriptions decided to flee the park.
The head guy called out a crew to cut some of the most obstructing trees overhanging the road, but some were missed. (I have the pin stripes to prove it) I was about #5 in line to make the trip, with Diane following in the Jeep. Some it was ok, but the 6-7 mile trip took about a half hour at 5-8 mph. A few of the curves caused my heart to skip a beat, but the spotter was guiding my right front tire as it rode along the harry edge in some places. About 3 of the curves were nail biters, but the rest I did myself with Diane watching my rear tires. A few times I did hang the outside dual off the edge, but made it back on the road.
The road is open to the public, and it's a two way, one lane road. Unless your me, then it becomes a "my way or no way" road. Backing up was out of the question. We got to the end and turned out onto a few other two lane roads, but even some of those were pretty tight with zero shoulder and trees encroaching into the road. And then there is always Semi's and logging trucks flying by that refuse to slow down.
But we are out, and it's one of those places I will not return to. But that may not be an issue if the county demo's the bridge, I don't think the RV park could survive for a couple of years with just tent campers coming up the back way.
Diane had contacted the local news paper and a few other news outlets in the area. The paper called her back and a reporter interviewed her, and published her interview today.
A main support column and railing are damaged on the Mt. Murphy Bridge in Coloma after a truck crashed on the bridge early Saturday morning. Courtesy photo A DUI crash that damaged the Mt. Murphy Bridge over the South Fork of the American River in Coloma has forced authorities to close the crossi
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