Bridges are transitions

We left Hallowell with Dee and Paul shortly after 6:00 am on Thursday and arrived in Arlington just over 13 hours later.  Whenever we take the camper, we have to bypass certain of our favorite highways (like the Saw Mill Parkway in New York) and it always takes longer to get anywhere!

Bridges are transitional structures; they represent more than just getting from one side of a river to the other, they symbolize  departures and arrivals as well.  For travelers, they're significant benchmarks.  The first bridge that marked our transition was the Piscataqua River Bridge because it meant we're leaving Maine!  The rest of the country to the south now awaits!

Piscataqua River Bridge (Maine -> New Hampshire)

Of course, there are also little unnamed bridges that are simply crossed over, without any recognition or immediate significance.  Then there's the wonderful George Washington that took us over the Hudson River, passing from New York to New Jersey.  The GW is a double-decker bridge and trucks must use the upper level and as our camper is considered a truck, we took the upper level.  Does anyone remember that in the 1960s a small plane landed on the bridge?  'Tis true.

Opened in 1931, the GW bridge is world's busiest motor vehicle bridge!  We believe it too as it is always bumper to bumper.

George Washington Bridge (New York -> New Jersey)

At the southern end of New Jersey, the next big bridge took us over the Delaware River into Delaware.  There are really two bridges; one for each direction.  As we crossed, it was nearing sunset and the suspension towers became silhouetted against the evening sky.

On the bridge we phoned Dee and Paul and decided that this would be the end of our caravanning for the day, as they would take I-95 right straight through Baltimore while we drove with our "hazardous" propane tank around on I-695.  We'll reconnect on Monday morning after we've both visited our "boys and grand children" before we leave for North Carolina.

Delaware Memorial Bridge (New Jersey -> Delaware)

For us, then, there was one last bridge to cross in Maryland: the Francis Scott Key Bridge around the southern side of Baltimore.  Unfortunately  it was too dark for photos.  Take our word for it, it is also a lovely older bridge.

We arrived in Arlington with no major traffic problems in DC!  AMAZING.  Dinner preparation was underway and it was so nice to sit down for a glass of wine (stout, in David's case) and a beautiful dinner of seafood paella.

Dinner!