Old Roadbed Along the Eel River - III

Posted by Stephen Phillips (San Francisco, United States) on 23 November 2008 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.

Along here ran both the north and south bound lanes of a busy U.S. highway. Imagine big semi-tractor trailer trucks with whole cut redwood trees or full loads of milled lumber rumbling through here - in both directions - and in large numbers. Those drivers knew the road well and drove it hard. It made this a somewhat terrifying drive.

If you have a sharp monitor and look carefully - you will see the bright red cab of a 'semi' along with a flatbed cruising along the new roadway near the center of the image - just above the guard rail where it curves to the left.

( series: three of six )

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Comments (16)

yz from Budapest, Hungary

All the lines lead the eye to the middle point, great composition.

23 Nov 2008 8:35am

Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France

The red truck is here… Another surprising shot of this deserted road… But how did you go there ? Walking ?

23 Nov 2008 8:48am

@Calusarus: 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step' - Yes,I parked my trusty car down at Bridges Creek - along the new highway - and hiked up to where this was captured. Thanks for stopping by.

Hoshisato from Ealing, United Kingdom

This series starts to get really interesting; very nice choice of subject.

23 Nov 2008 9:45am

@Hoshisato: Thank you so much.

Betty from New Jersey, United States

I see the red truck. Great composition! That guardrail doesn't look like it would stop anything from going over!

23 Nov 2008 11:29am

@Betty: You are right, Betty - they've had some terrible accidents along these old roads.

Jeff from Pembroke Dock, United Kingdom

How quickly nature takes over,it wont be many years and you'ld never know a road had been there..I like the feeling of solitude this shot engenders.

23 Nov 2008 2:00pm

@Jeff: Thanks, Jeff. I love the Paul Simon lyrics - 'Sooner or later, everything put together - falls apart.'

Walter from Watkinsville, United States

Yes, I see the red truck. Narrow mountain roads are always treacherous, but imagining 2 trucks meeting each other at high speed on one of these roads.... would not be me on that road.

23 Nov 2008 2:45pm

@Walter: I know first hand that there isn't anything like looking in your rear view mirror and seeing a truck so close you can't read the 'Peterbuilt' logo up above the rear window - and knowing that tons of redwood are just behind that cab. On a road such as this, that can really raise your heartbeat in a flash.

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

Must indeed be treacherous, but gosh it's gorgeous, magnificent compo Stephen :)

23 Nov 2008 3:02pm

@Lorraine: Thank you so much.

Alun Lambert from cheshire, United Kingdom

nature is taking it back, nice one

23 Nov 2008 4:24pm

Marcie from United States

Love the composition. The clear lines want to draw my eyes in and around the corner.

23 Nov 2008 7:40pm

@Marcie: Thank you.

Alphons from Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands

Beautiful composition of a rough landscape.

23 Nov 2008 8:46pm

gbe from kansas city, United States

excellent. i really like this series.

23 Nov 2008 11:25pm

@gbe: Thanks - it was well worth climbing up that stretch of road. I'd been wanting to do this series for many years.

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

A road not without its dangers, falling rocks and such. We're you able to drive there..?

A see the the red truck on the new highway.

24 Nov 2008 12:46am

@Observing: Hey, Mike. The car is parked down at the new highway. This section is barricaded.

John Maslowski from Dallas,PA, United States

Like the view and the wooden guard rail winding through this picture. Can see the red truck, can't imagine driving this road and coming upon one of those trucks. It is such a beautiful scenic route though. Great capture, very impressive shot Stephen.

24 Nov 2008 1:58am

One from Açores, Portugal

Magnificent image !!! A good capture, a great testimony to this road.

24 Nov 2008 4:56am

@One: Thanks, Leone - good to hear from you.

sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

Amazing capture...I can't believe they have a fence like that along a road that had mud slides.

24 Nov 2008 5:51am

@sherri: It is a fine point - but I believe that pile wasn't a mudslide, but rather a big chunk of shale rock that failed and fractured when it hit the old roadway. That would definitely get your attention.

Magda from Vancouver, Canada

Love it!

27 Nov 2008 7:45am

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