In March 2013, I took a series of pictures during an early morning run along the Ohio River.
Timing my run across the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge as the sun began to rise to the east was completely incidental.
The scene of sunlight piercing dense fog as it rose like ghosts from the river into the crisp morning air stopped me midway across the span. With no one else around, I reached for my iPhone to capture the moment.
I heard the barge behind me as it chugged against the river’s current. I waited for it to pass under the bridge.
I watched the barge cut like a knife through the fog, making its way east toward the John A. Roebling Bridge.
I then filled my lungs with cool air, exhaled and continued my morning run at peace with myself in the world.
I’m not exactly sure when #RoeblingWednesday became a thing.
On Wednesday of every week my Instagram feed is flooded with photos of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge shared and re-shared by people living in Greater Cincinnati.
The Roebling spans the Ohio River, connecting Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky.
When opened on Jan. 1, 1867, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world with a 1,057 feet main span. It was also a precursor to the more-famous Brooklyn Bridge, also designed by John A. Roebling.
If you browse for the #RoeblingWednesday on Instagram, it’s pretty easy to see why the hashtag is so popular in Cincinnati. Do you have a similar social media hashtag dedicated to an iconic piece of architecture in your town?
