Just the other side of the creek grow two female persimmon trees, both loaded with persimmons this year. When the clouds left, I let the goats out and they ran off to go across the bridge to eat fallen persimmons. Except the bridge is not there now leaving disappointed goats standing on the creek bank staring across the raging flood.
The Bridge
Over thirty years ago, when we moved here, getting across the creek meant wading through the water. This wasn’t much of a problem during the summer when we didn’t mind wet feet or wore boots when we did.
Half the pastures are across that creek. There was no easy ford to take the tractor across. If we wanted to cut firewood or brushhog, we had to inch the tractor down to the creek and almost pull or push it up the other side.
We bought two I-beams, put in cement footings, cut thick planks. And the bridge was built. It was big enough for foot traffic – us and the goats – and the tractor.
Five years ago a derecho hit damaging the bridge and the creek banks it was attached to. It became only a foot bridge. This storm has shifted and broken one pillar making the bridge unrepairable.
Now What?
Once the flood recedes the goats will wade across the creek. Today’s disappointed goats will be glad to check for all those fallen persimmons.
Spring kids will be left on the barn side of the creek whenever their mothers wade across. These disappointed goats will grow and learn to cross the creek too.
We will be back to wearing rubber boots whenever we want to cross the creek. The easy access for the tractor is washed out too, so the tractor will stay on the barn side.
The Solution?
Build a new bridge. That will end the disappointed goats problem and ours too.
