It just so happens, that 5 years ago today, Tropical Storm Nicole, had just passed over the Chester County area, drenching the area, over night, with several inches of rain.
Silly me, I grabbed, my camera, and went out…
Out to Hibernia Park in Coatesville walking along the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek.
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As you can see, there was a great deal of water, especially when you compare these two images, taken 7 months apart, during a Photography Meetup.
Hibernia Park Oct 10 vs Apr 11 – Two images taken 7 months apart in Hibernia County Park, Coatesville, Chester County PA.
As I got to the dirt road, I heard a voice call my name, and it was Brian A, a fellow local photographer in his car with his wife, and they were leaving.
We chatted for a little bit, and I headed off for my well deserved beer!
It was quit noticeable, the lack of balloons in the air, just laying on the ground like colorful shadows…
Walking to the Victory beer truck, I did see someone was taking advantage of the strong winds, by flying a very colorful kite!
Flying a colorful kite at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Flying a colorful kite at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
You might be able to notice, the long grass had just been cut, and was laying in the sun to get dry, but that did not stop the children from building hay forts in the fields!
Children playing in the drying hay at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Children playing in the drying hay at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Children playing in the drying hay at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Children playing in the drying hay at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
I finally got my beer, and quietly drank it, as I surveyed the fields and the setting sun…
My stomach and nose also told me, it was time to get something to eat, so I ventured back up the hill and into the vending area.
Images taken of a smoking grill during sunset at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Images taken of a smoking grill during sunset at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Images taken of a smoking grill during sunset at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
and of course, there were kids and parents all over the place!
Images of Parents and their Children at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Images of Parents and their Children at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Images of Parents and their Children at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
All eyes were on this man and his flying kite! – As long has his kite was flying high in the air, no balloons were taking off!
Image of the FAA Kite Man, monitoring the winds at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Eventually, one brave group decided to give a balloon raising a try!
Glowing flames at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Glowing flames at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Glowing flames at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Glowing flames at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Glowing flames at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Glowing flames at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Glowing flames at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Glowing flames at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
As the sun faded, the temperature began to drop.
Folks began to cuddle up, as a few more balloons attempted to fill the night sky.
A couple cuddle up during the flame glows at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
But the winds refused to die down, as the balloons began to slowly sink back to the ground, a mere shadow of what they could have been.
Bridge Closed signs at Speakman #1 in Chester County PA.
While I was out on a GPS drive yesterday, I found myself very close to Speakman #1 Covered Bridge, and having several hours before the kids got home, I decided to stop by and do a follow-up session.
This made me very concerned, especially since we’ve had several harsh winters since I was last there.
As I approached the bridge, I felt rather depressed when I began to see barriers in front of the bridge opening.
Bridge Closed signs at Speakman #1 in Chester County PA.
While I was getting out of the car, I was wondering what kind of damage had happened, when I was shaken from my thoughts by a man in a pickup truck. He asked if I was fishing to which I raised my camera.
The truck pulled into the area in front of the bridge and the man got out and started chatting about the bridge in general.
At this point, Lawrence introduced himself and said the bridge had been closed for about two years due to damage by a truck hauling steel plates through the bridge.
Truck damage to Speakman #1 covered bridge in Chester County PA.Truck damage to Speakman #1 covered bridge in Chester County PA.Truck damage to Speakman #1 covered bridge in Chester County PA.Truck damage to Speakman #1 covered bridge in Chester County PA.Truck damage to Speakman #1 covered bridge in Chester County PA.Truck damage to Speakman #1 covered bridge in Chester County PA.
Apparently, a driver was heading southbound on Frog Hollow Road, when a steel plate shifted as he turned right onto Covered Bridge Road, severely damaging the South West entrance post.
Lawrence continued to tell me stories about the local area and the bridge as we walked around, inspecting the damage.
In this picture, you can still see some of the fire damage cause by some local boys. Notice the char in the diagonal crossbeam.
Arson damage at Speakman #1 in Chester County PA. – Notice the ‘new’ siding.
From the outside, looking upstream, you can see the boards that were replaced.
Truck damage to Speakman #1 covered bridge in Chester County PA.
I asked when the bridge was going to be fixed, but that remains to be seen. There appears to be an argument between the local townships and the state about who is going to pick up the restoration cost.
When you go to the upstream side of the bridge, you can see where the tall grass has gotten stuck between the boards during several recent floods.
Flood damage to Speakman #1 covered bridge in Chester County PA.Flood damage to Speakman #1 covered bridge in Chester County PA.
If you look very carefully at the above image, you can see how the left vertical steel I-beam is bent from all the ice and trees hitting it.
Needless to say, it is easy to see that Speakman #1 Covered Bridge needs some major restoration if it is going to last into the future.
I hope by posting these images, I can make other people aware of what needs to be done.
