June 12, 2016

Shocks Mill Bridge on the Susquehanna

Finally! The weather improved, and on a sunny afternoon I took my bike and hit the Northwest River Trail just outside of Marietta, PA.

Northwest River Trail, Marietta, PA

There was plenty to observe and appreciate along the trail.  There's a lot of moisture in the ground from a very wet spring, and now that the sun has come out the plant life is exploding.  These fox grape tendrils were growing with great vigor.
fox grape leaves, Vitis labrusca
The air was sweet and redolent with the scent of honeysuckle. I stopped to taste the nectar from a few blossoms.
honeysuckle blossom, macro

Jewelweed was everywhere.  The leaves can be crushed and the juice applied as a trail remedy for an encounter with stinging nettles.
jewelweed, Impatiens capensis

Here's a macro shot of a wineberry blossom and a small sweat bee busy pollinating. I am very much looking forward to the berries ripening.

wineberry blossom, Rubus phoenicolasius, with sweat bee, macro

There were drifts of fluff on the ground from the eastern cottonwood trees.

eastern cottonwood seeds, Populus deltoides
My goal was the section of trail where it meets the river at the Schocks Mill Bridge, in order to take pictures for my almost-completed, self-directed project, 52 Ways to Look at the River.  (You can track back the posts about the project by clicking on the 52 Ways tab in the top header, or click here.)

 The Susquehanna was running very high and fast due to all the recent rains.
Susquehanna River at Shocks Mill Bridge

 I'd been here before, way back in week 18 when the autumn leaves were just beginning to turn colors.

52 Ways to Look at the River, week 18 panel, by Sue Reno
52 Ways to Look at the River, week 18 panel
This time I wanted to focus on the hybrid nature of the architecture.  The stone arch railroad bridge was originally built in 1905. In July of 1972, in the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes, six center spans collapsed into the river. With Federal aid they were replaced by nine new concrete piers and steel girder spans.  .

Shocks Mill Bridge on the Susquehanna, Pennsylvania
The old sections of the bridge have bits of vegetation growing in the cracks.

Shocks Mill Bridge on the Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, detail
I love the textures and colors revealed by the telephoto lens.
Shocks Mill Bridge on the Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, detail

It's a cool bridge and a unique structure from any angle.
Shocks Mill Bridge on the Susquehanna, Pennsylvania

I chose this view as my inspiration image for week 50:
52 Ways to Look at the River, week 50 image, by Sue Reno
52 Ways to Look at the River, week 50 image
And here's the fiberart panel I made in response. The panel is 6" x 12", wool and silk, needlefelted, printed, painted, and stitched.
52 Ways to Look at the River, week 50 panel, by Sue Reno
52 Ways to Look at the River, week 50 panel
Two more weeks to go, and then I will begin assembling the panels into artquilts.  You can follow along with each week's reveal on your platform of choice:
Facebook page:http://www.facebook.com/suerenostudio
Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/suereno
Tumblr: http://suerenostudio.tumblr.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/people/suereno/
Instagram: sue_reno_studio

As always, thanks for reading and commenting.

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