It has been such a pleasure hosting Squares this month, and the geometry has been incredible. I do hope you have had as much fun as I have with your geometric squares and with visiting other members of the gang. I thought I’d finish with a structure that is all about geometry.

You’ve guessed it, it is my sixth bridge of the challenge! 

Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People

It is a 21st century one this 4-pier cable-stayed bridge and it was designed by TriMet, the regional transit authority in Portland. It crosses the Willamette River and is approximately 1,720ft in length – nearly third of a mile. There is no space for cars; this bridge is specifically designed for transit, pedestrians and cycles. For those who don’t know Portland this 2 minute film provides a wonderful overview of the bridge and its location.

I have walked across it both sides and both ways. I experienced the wobbles on the return when my basophobia suddenly struck. I was about half way on the walk back so abandoning the walk and catching the MAX Orange Line wasn’t an option. I had to find a way to keep going.

If I hadn’t wanted to get close to the railings to take photographs I probably would have been fine as the path for cyclists and pedestrians is 14ft wide. However I did make the move, and wow that was not the best move I’d ever made! I froze for a few seconds and it took quite a while even after I moved away from the railings before the anxiety calmed a little bit. In fact it wasn’t until I was off the bridge I really felt okay. A walk when I really missed Robert’s reassuring presence.

Looking back to where I had come from

There’s a reason I have chosen to end the challenge with this bridge, and that’s its name.

“Tilikum” is Chinook Wawa, a trading language that developed in the Pacific Northwest and it means people. It commonly used to describe friendly people – our tribe, relatives and friends. The bridge naming committee chair, Chet Orloff, said “Tilikum symbolizes coming together. It conveys connections, in not only the relationships between people, but in the connections we make as we ride, walk, run and cycle across this beautiful new bridge“

If you replace the last part of that sentence with ‘the connections we make photographing and blogging,’ he could have been describing all of us. What an extraordinary community we are part of.

I invite you all to reflect on all the wonderful connections and friendships we have made. Thank you to everyone who participates in challenges and an even bigger thank you to those who host.

105 thoughts

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  4. What a fabulous bridge to end a month of squares Becky 🥰

    I have had lots of fun finding photos, changing my mind, linking to other challenges and generally being a squares nerd 😂

    I don’t think we’ve done SquareBridges yet 🤔😀

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    1. awww thanks Brian, so glad you have enjoyed it. I have ‘leftovers’ currently playing in the background – you are amazing with the musical squares

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. so glad you enjoyed it too. Hopefully the next Squares will be April but may need to be June as I am juggling quite a bit over the next 6 weeks. I’ll keep you posted 🙂

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  15. What a perfect way to end by explaining the idea behind Tilikum. I’m impressed you set out to cross the bridge with basophobia. It’s an especially open one too. Thanks for your kindness as always in hosting, Becky.

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