VIEWS OF A FARM BOY

RETUEN TO HOMEPAGE>>>>>>>

Moses my servent is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert and from Lebanon to the great river, the  Euphrates--all the Hittite country--and to the Great Sea on the west. (NIV) (Joshua 1:2-4)

DECEMBER--2019

DAY and NIGHT


Above: The new Gray's Station Bridge as seen from the Gray's Lake side. Notice the big levy (upper right) to provide flood protection.

Left: View from the downtown side. Not so pretty-not yet, at least. From this point the terrain drops to low land that looks like it will be a challenge to develop. However, I have great confidence in Des Moines planners, architechts, engineers and labor force--to name a few. I am sure they will figure it out and make this entire project come to life as a real compliment to our metropolitan area.

You may have wondered why I chose to title this page, "DAY and NIGHT" rather then just identifying it as "The Gray's Station Bridge." It is because I think this beautiful structure takes on two different personalities--one at

DAY and one at NIGHT. There is an extra bonus--the lighting system can be changed to fit the theme of the occasion. You might see the bridge lighted in pink for breast cancer awareness, red, white and blue for July 4th, or any other color combinaton that would compliment or identify the particular event. Isn't technology wonderful? I think back to when I was a kid, we did after dark chores by light of a kerosene lantern. So I look back at my own life journey and compare it to today's technology, demonstrated in this new day-night bridge. Either way--it is the difference between DAY and NIGHT!

Today, November 20, 2019, was the first day the new Gray's Station Bridge was officially opened to the public. This 12 ft. wide recreation trail bridge spans the Raccoon River to join Gray's Lake with downtown Des Moines. Needless to say--I was there. I walked this beautiful bridge--not once--but twice.

Below: The Gray's Station Bridge at night.

DISCLAIMER:: The picture at the left was not the way the bridge looked on opening day--after dark . It wasn't fully dark when I left, so I returned tonight (December 02, 2019) to see the bridge after dark and get a nightime photo. Here is the problem--the nighttime lights are not on this week. I wanted to get this report to press, so I framed the background downtown city lights for this photo.

A bonus for me--looking south to the beautiful Gray's Lake Bridge after dark.