Two days ago, I took a photo of the Red Bridge, a beloved historic landmark in Kamloops. It was just another walk along the river with our dog. However, I then deleted the photo because I thought it was a bit too … ordinary. The light was nothing spectacular yet, as the sun was not quite setting, and the orange glow was still to come. Plus, I have so many beautiful shots of it, I thought…
This morning, we woke up to a smoldering Red Bridge, whatever was left of it after burning out in the night. Given that a couple of days ago another small fire from an encampment underneath the bridge caused some minor fire damage, the firefighters deemed the one last night suspicious. Regardless of who did it (at this point), someone did it. That’s infuriating.
While a new bridge is a necessity – even more so now, this one could’ve been ‘retired’ into becoming a foot-and-bike bridge. Well, no more.
The morning air was infused with smoke and grief, and everyone I met on our morning walk stood bewildered by this awful event. The Red Bridge has been a beloved river and city landmark for 88 years (this was the latest version of it, built in 1936).
Guarding the placid river waters in early morning or snuggled by balmy soft waves and colorful sunsets on any late summer evening.
Draped in fog, or looking dramatic against a stormy sky, or lost in mountains of snow… we got to see all versions of it after we moved here. And we loved them all.
Another will be built, but it won’t be the same. The wooden skeleton was shoddy, some said, and yes, crossing the bridge by car was an adventure as it was a narrow one, clearly unfitted for the big cars and trucks of today. But that wooden skeleton had stories embedded in it, and I dare say there’s never been someone to stroll the river and not take at least one photo with the bridge in the background. More so when a fiery sunset lit up the sky behind it.
It’ll be missed. Sunsets will now splash their colours right into the water, no trestle bridge to sift themselves through… Some will miss its charm, others its practicality, shoddy as it was, because it was the bridge that got people from one side of the river to the other.
We will learn what caused its demise (I hope) and we’ll get upset once more, and we’ll also allow the memories to settle. But we’ll keep talking about it because it was such a big presence against an even bigger sky. And yes, we’ll get reminded, once again, that there are no ordinary things. It’s just so easy to forget… sometimes.