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Pat Caffrey - Fall 2016

​I took a walk on McGilvray Road early one recent morning.  A blanket of fog filled the valley as I started, making the river bottoms seem even more mystical than usual.  Each of the historic bridges materialized from the fog like ghosts as I approached.  It struck me the ghost metaphor was fitting, as the bridges were brought back from an announced “death” (removal) in 1989 by the efforts of the Friends of McGilvray Road.  Since then the Friends have cooperated with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to restore and maintain the bridges and the old roadbed as a hiking trail through the beautiful Black River bottoms.

As I walked I heard a flock of geese flying over, hidden above the fog, while sandhill cranes called in the distance, and a beaver slapped the water with his tail as I approached.  As the sun rose the fog began to break up, with shafts of sunlight making the fall colors glow while wisps of fog drifted over the calm water.  What an experience to be walking over historic bridges in the midst of the wonderful Van Loon Wildlife Area on such a magical morning!