Crossing the border

[peetee]

We don't have any problems crossing over into England and back again.
Traffic volumes almost normal.

Burn the bridges!
Kernow bys vyken!

[peetee]

:lol:

I rode over the border for a ride round a "foreign country", rode back again, and survived.
Sunny and bright here, and Mrs Mick F has the washing out on the line.

No white sheets I hope. They might think we have surrendered.

[Jdsk]

The oldest and first such bridge in the world.

What's the category in which this was the first?

Thanks

Jonathan

[Oldjohnw]

The oldest and first such bridge in the world.

What's the category in which this was the first?

Thanks

Jonathan

Suspension.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Bridge,_Tweed

[Jdsk]

Even if rope bridges are excluded there were iron chain suspension bridges in the Himalayas from 1433 or earlier:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_bridge#History

Jonathan

[Nigel]

Thanks for that,I need to pick a bike up from a private address in Otley.From what you,ve said ,I can,t see any issues.Straightforward drive down the M6,junc 37,A65,no stopping,already paid for.May take a spray for the bike.Cheers.

Collection of bought goods is allowed. ....

Not totally clear that would be OK given that there are reports of people being given penalties for collecting a car front bumper (or similar) which involved a significant drive. However, a careful look at the legislation in both countries could answer it. The Scottish stuff is reasonably well written, don't know about the English as I don't live there.

- Nigel

[cyclop]

Car or bike?
I’m just north of the border and looking at the MWay private cars are on the road but not in any great volume. Traffic is all HGV and Vans. Certainly makes it easy for them pulling the drug runners in. A big haul the other day. I would expect those commuting have no problem at all the ANPR cameras will not flag them.
Surprisingly there seems to be more police presence out your way ( Dalbeattie IIRC) A friend, retired policeman, went to Loch Arthur shopping last week and they thought they would use the trip as a ride out around the coast. Police everywhere he said

I ride through Kippford and Rockcliffe,two local and popular little coastal villages/hamlets,at least twice a week through the winter and haven,t seen a police car yet.During the first lockdown last year,they seemed to be more visible in these places as well as Kirkudbright,again a popular tourist spot.Maybe the police "do the rounds" and your friend just happened to catch them on their Solway round.

[Paulatic]

[.Maybe the police "do the rounds" and your friend just happened to catch them on their Solway round.

He suspects they might have had some operation on as as you say it’s a seldom sight.
Im looking forward to the Rockcliffe - Kippford walk for my first day out.

[Oldjohnw]

Even if rope bridges are excluded there were iron chain suspension bridges in the Himalayas from 1433 or earlier:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_bridge#History

Jonathan

But they didn't take vehicles, which is where the Union Bridge was first.

Dryburgh Abbey Bridge, also on the Tweed, is older but pedestrian only.

[Jdsk]

Thanks.

So it's suspension bridges that take vehicles... chains and what they're made of aren't relevant?

Jonathan

[Oldjohnw]

As stated earlier, his was the longest suspension bridge at the time and he first to take vehicular transport. It has further significance as it joins two countries and is a hugely important crossing point.

To people round here it is the best bridge ever built.

[Jdsk]

For the earliest suspension bridge to take vehicles I suggest Jacob's Creek Bridge in Philadelphia, 1801.

http://www.engineering-timelines.com/why/chainBridgesWales/chainBridges_02.asp
https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/feature-articles/finleys-wonder-jacobs-creek
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob%27s_Creek_Bridge_(Pennsylvania)

Jonathan

[Oldjohnw]

For the earliest suspension bridge to take vehicles I suggest Jacob's Creek Bridge in Philadelphia, 1801.

http://www.engineering-timelines.com/why/chainBridgesWales/chainBridges_02.asp
https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/feature-articles/finleys-wonder-jacobs-creek
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob%27s_Creek_Bridge_(Pennsylvania)

Jonathan

You win! It isn’t really that important to me. It’s a nice old bridge being completely demolished then rebuilt.

One of your sources says this:

Captain Brown and his Welsh chain-making company Brown Lenox & Co would play vital part in the development of chain bridge design in the UK. Brown erected a test bridge in 1813, and went on to construct the country's first wrought iron cable chain suspension bridge, Union Bridge (1820), now the world's oldest surviving bridge of its type. Telford's spectacular Menai Suspension Bridge opened in Wales six years later.

You won’t get to see Jacob’s Creek bridge as it was demolished long ago. If you visit the Borderlands in September you will see Captain Brown’s bridge. On the other hand, will it be Captain Brown’s? Perhaps a case of my grandfather’s axe.

[Paulatic]

Jacob's Creek Bridge Might well be the earliest chain suspension bridge to carry vehicles that can be found by a search engine.
Marks for interest score must be fairly low as it’s not something we are ever going to see or use as it’s no longer there. The Union bridge has and is an integral part of life and cycle rides in our Border lands.

[cyclop]

He suspects they might have had some operation on as as you say it’s a seldom sight.
Im looking forward to the Rockcliffe - Kippford walk for my first day out.[/quote]
Very nice too.