The Dewey Bridge was destroyed by fire last night.  I am in shock.  That simple landmark held powerful symbolism for me.  It was, in short, a gateway to a new world.

The bridge was a defining point on the Kokopelli Trail. Each time I have ridden the trail, wether in it's entirety, or partially, that bridge has played an important role. In the time-trials of the trail I have done it has welcomed me as an old friend. A sigh of relief has always passed over me when I reached the historic marker. The symbolism behind the bridge was tangible, and iconic. It was a passageway to a new type of terrain, a new challenge, and a new state of mind.

And now it is gone.

I would be surprised if the State bothered to rebuild it. The highway crosses the river now, and the old bridge was just a simple historical landmark. Its practical use was nill, but its presence was important. At least to me it was.

And I know for the others out there like me it meant something. And that something will be missed.

Labels: Dewey Bridge, Kokopelli, moab