Bixby Bridge

I took a drive on Hwy 1 today. Unfortunately, the thing I remember the most is NOT the breathtaking panoramic views, nor driving my new zippy car. What I remember most is walking over the narrow path on the right of the bridge to get to the other side. The distance down causes a nervousness that causes your bones to shake. But since I am in the process of conquering my fears, I decided, in Yoda speak..."Cross it, you will." Grumble a little when you read it, and my mindset can be understood.

With all the bravery I could muster, I began slowly walking across that bridge. Although she was in the car, I did not bring Roxie. She is still an extreme tugger on the leash, and I was simply to "chicken" to bring her along. I mean... she may have gotten hit! So I braved the trek alone. Once across, and feeling rather proud and confident, I started to feel comfortable. Perhaps I was acclimated to my environment.

Who knows why, but I decided to frolic a little. VERY little. But frolic, I did (don't forget to grumble).  In any case, I walked back and forth several times, stopping at the alcoves that were designed for just that. Then I heard it. The sound of a police car siren was coming my way.

Tucked in the safety of the alcove. I stayed put as I discovered it was a Highway Patrol car crossing the bridge - rather quickly, but safely by me. It was a little scary but nothing to write to my Aunt Dorothy about. After it passed by, I felt that euphoria that comes after conquering a major fear. The euphoria that fuels your veins with adrenaline. I felt like I could conquer the world, and so, out there on this dangerous highway, I decided to take a photo of the narrowness standing directly in the path of traffic. What was I thinking?

Then I heard it again, only this time it was coming at me much more quickly. Another siren! "You have got to be kidding me," I was thinking. I looked around and I could not see another one of the alcoves that was near enough to tuck into. I opted to stand up on the curbside, and look out towards the ocean (trying as best as I could to avoid looking at the gorge below). Unlike the prior CHP crossing, this driver was speeding, and a little out of control, at that. He even swerved a little towards me, as if to say, get out of my way, so I leaned over the bridge a little. GASP! I exhaled as he passed by me without hitting me. That was intensely frightening. I regretted every moment of my frolicking.

It wasn't until I was far away from that place that I felt safe again (Elkhorn Yacht Club area), but I got a migraine on the way home that day. It was simply too much for me. To this day, I don't know why the CHP officer drove that way. Could have been that they were racing? Maybe they were comparing times when they got to their ending point. Maybe there was an accident up ahead (I didn't think so because I had just been there, and traffic was coming from that direction as normal as could be).  I wonder if I'll ever know.