Bike Week, Father’s Day, and Good Vibes
Introduction:
This trip was a bit of a strange one, mainly mentally. It was Father’s Day (happy belated Father’s Day to everyone reading this later), and I had a firm goal to get home around three or four in the afternoon so I could spend plenty of time hanging out with my daughter.
Typically, I am not a fan of time limits when I am out photographing. 20 years of photography have taught me this. However, days like this are special and entirely worth it. Plus, nobody else in my family gets up early on a holiday, which was a win for me since I am usually awake by 5:00 AM anyway.
Admittedly, having that deadline meant that in the back of my mind, I was checking the clock a touch more than normal. That constant time-checking breaks my focus. Usually, I want to completely immerse myself in the bridges and the trip at hand, with the only real limits being when the light fades or my brain is too cooked to continue. To make the timeline work, I purposely selected covered bridges that were close enough to reach in a single day but would still give me a full itinerary.
The Day:
My first sign that the day would be a challenge was Bike Week. For those not familiar, New Hampshire hosts Laconia Bike Week every year in the Lakes Region. It is a massive deal and fantastic for the local economy. When I planned my route, I totally forgot to check for major regional events. As I drew closer to my first covered bridge, I saw numerous signs warning drivers to watch for motorcycles, and it suddenly clicked.
The first stop of the day was the Tannery Hill Covered Bridge, located near the local police station. As bikes roared past on the main road, I set up my gear. The location itself was great, just a charming little footbridge connected to a town walking path. My biggest hurdle was the morning sun hitting the wood on the side that I wanted to shoot from, making it difficult to shoot without blowing out the highlights. Most likely, this bridge is best shot during the golden hour or on an overcast day.
Tannery Hill Covered Bridge - Gilford, New Hampshire
Trying to get set up for a shot of the brook flowing under the bridge with the stone walls.
With my Nikon Z9 packed away in the backseat, I got back in the car and proceeded to drive right through the heart of Bike Week at Weirs Beach. Thankfully, the traffic was surprisingly light all things considered, but oh my god, the sheer volume of bikes! If I had more time, I honestly would have stopped for 20 to 30 minutes just to wander around and grab some street photography.
My next stop was the Squam River Covered Bridge. What immediately caught my eye was a memorial cross and a bench inscribed with "Happy Saturday!", a person's name, and a heartbreakingly short lifespan. I knew I had to capture this scene. When I got home and reviewed the files, I managed to frame the bridge, the bench, and the cross in a single meaningful photograph. I do review my shots in the field, but seeing them on the big screen makes it easier to see the scene.
Squam River Covered Bridge - Ashland, New Hampshire
A bit in the bushes, but safely off the road.
While I was wandering and framing shots, a wonderful couple walking their dog stopped by. They kindly suggested I shoot from the corner of their nearby property. I politely declined, thanking them for their kindness. I was happy photographing from the middle of the bridge at that point.
Back in the car with the clouds turning an ever-deepening shade of gray, I made my way to the Blair Covered Bridge. This is where I felt the day slip away from me, and I don’t mean timewise. Photographing this spot was incredibly frustrating because the setup angles were so limited. Plus, with a bustling restaurant right next door and heavy traffic passing through, I quickly found myself just wanting to snap a few archival photos to check the location off my master list.
Blair Covered Bridge - Campton, New Hampshire
Finally got a shot of a biker on a cruise, headed into the bridge tunnel.
That said, the human interactions at Blair Covered Bridge were wonderful. The first was with a biker who pulled over and was chatting with me to ensure he wasn’t ruining my shot. I yelled over that he’d actually make the photograph even better! He chuckled, shrugged, and took off. Unfortunately, because I use a 3-second self-timer delay to prevent camera shake instead of a remote shutter release, my Nikon missed him entirely. I did manage to get a decent, clean shot of the structure with a biker a bit later.
Shortly after, another gentleman waiting for traffic to clear on the bridge noticed my gear and asked if I was photographing all the local bridges. It's funny, I love answering these questions, but I always feel like a bit of a dork trying to explain the fine-art side of it. How do you casually explain to a stranger that you are creating fine-art triptychs? Instead, I smiled, said yes, and told him I was hoping to turn the project into a book. He cheered me on and went on his way. A note to self, I should have run over with my business card. Since this is my full-time gig now, I need to get rid of that awkward fear.
With those shots secured, I hopped back in the car for the final trek to the Dingleton Covered Bridge, which finally took me out of the chaotic Lakes Region and closer to the Vermont border. When I arrived, I had to admit the bridge was a bit on the plain side. To make matters worse, the surrounding embankment was far too steep for me to safely climb down and find a creative low angle. I grabbed a few standard shots from above that worked well enough, but they didn't make the final edit for the week's collection.
Still, the bridge delivered one last great moment. As a local lady drove across the bridge, she rolled down her window and shouted, “Happy Father’s Day!” I waved and thanked her.
Although the photographs themselves felt a bit lacking throughout the day, the human connections were amazing. I was just glad to get out, drive the backroads, and see the world. This is the real secondary reason I started this photography career after shifting to working from home: getting out and being around people is good for the soul.
A Bit of History: Squam River Covered Bridge
Squam River Covered Bridge: Happy Saturday
The Squam River Covered Bridge in Ashland is one of those rare historic exceptions in which a modern, deteriorating road bridge was actively replaced with a traditional wooden covered bridge.
Ashland, New Hampshire, was home to Milton Graton and his son Arnold, two legendary builders well known for restoring historic covered bridges across New England using authentic, old-school techniques. In the mid-1980s, the town needed to replace a temporary steel bridge on River Street. The residents revolted against the state's plan for a standard, modern two-lane steel overpass, voting instead to build a traditional wooden bridge to honor the Graton family's legacy.
Because the New Hampshire Department of Transportation would only provide funding up to the baseline cost of a standard steel bridge, the town of Ashland and its residents had to raise the steep premium for specialized lumber and traditional joinery out of pocket. The town voted to put up $35,000 of public funds, leaving the grassroots Squam River Covered Bridge Committee to raise the remaining $165,000 through bake sales, dinners, and donations from over 500 citizens.
Construction finally began in the summer of 1989. On April 20, 1990, the massive 61-foot Town lattice truss structure was pulled into place across the river with the help of two oxen. Once the roof and finishing details were completed, the bridge officially opened to traffic in May of 1990.
Because it was built using authentic, historic engineering methods, the bridge will officially qualify for the National Register of Historic Places in 2040, enhancing its eligibility for protective funding for generations to come.