My Best Wooden Bridge Story
Author: Mellow Mike
Date: 04-30-2014 - 19:03
Been on or across that old bridge many, many times. Got stopped twice. But the most memorable incident was when I saw the drunk half-breed transient sitting on the side edge, butt towards the rails below. Simply perched below the safety cable, like a wrong-way vulture. He had on his backpack and belongings. I think he may have been napping before I strolled up to the bridge. Which is all the more amazing - because if he fell backwards in his sleep - he'd be on the tracks below.
Wait... that wasn't the best part.
I decided he wasn't a threat, and I didn't want to spook him. So I quietly snapped shots of trains rolling underneath. I wonder what crews must have thought, seeing ass crack hanging off the middle of the bridge above them!
Eventually, he stirs and mumbles something in my direction. I say hello, and respectfully advise him that it's dangerous to sit like that, on the edge of a bridge. Facing backwards. He showed no concern, and muttered something defiant. I continued on, remarking that I attract the authorities like a bonus check. That they will soon be arriving for me, and see him as well.
Without getting agitated, he reaches one arm over his shoulder to his backpack, and ***schwing*** pulls out a knife as big as a WW1 bayonet...!!! Pointing it in my general vicinity, he says something like "If they try and %$@# with me, I'll stab them like a pig!"
Whoa. Okay. Chill Bro. It's cool.
Maybe I should go now, before they see me up here...
I left nice and quietly.
He stayed right on sitting there, big ass knife by his side. Don't know what became of him.
I know transients pack blades for protection, but that wasn't a knife. That was nearly a machete. And the guy looked a little like the actor too.