10:39 PM Edit This 1 Comment »
I recently came across this very interesting cluster of places in Santa Barbara. I am always looking for new places to explore where ever I am. One of the best ways I have found to find places is by searching photos on Flickr . The first interesting place I came across was a ruined mansion in the Santa Ynez mountains called Knapps Castle.
Amazing photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/gotfish_mb/
The second place I came across was Camino Cielo A road on the crest of the Santa Ynez Mountains overlooking Santa Barbara. Kevin and I decided to go for a drive on Camino Cielo road today. (appropriately named in spanish meaning "road in the sky")
Honestly, the road is breathtaking. Driving the road was exhilarating! There were sharp corners in dense canopied forests, narrow rocky patches next to cliffs, drop offs leading to vast vista points, and a painted cave!
We were looking for Knapps Castle but unfortunately just missed it due to faulty internet directions. I didn't mind because the entire area was so gorgeous. We pulled over at a really interesting vista on a windy ridge.
My internet search of Camino Cielo led to me to Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge (which I haven't actually gone to yet) However, I find the story behind this bridge incredibly interesting. I browsed through many flickr photos of this bridge and none of them seemed to have the unbelievable back story of this place. I had no idea that there was something unusual about this place until I looked up the directions and stumbled upon http://www.stopthetragedy.org/ Apparently, this place is the #1 suicide spot in the country. I haven't found any official numbers to prove this however, I saw this claim posted on various sites.
According to http://www.stopthetragedy.org/ there have been 51 deaths at Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge since its construction in 1965. There have been 4 deaths in 2009 alone. As recent as 3 days ago
There is something chillingly haunting about this place. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this place since I started reading about it. What would drive people to leap off a bridge into a tree filled canyon of certain death? I find it overwhelmingly sad that some people are so desperate for relief that they would jump off of a bridge. I don't understand how people who are brave enough to jump off a bridge aren't brave enough to face and cope with life.
All kinds of people have jumped off this bridge-housewives, attorneys, a construction worker, a psychologist, a salesman, a farmer, a consulting engineer, a mechanic, a forest ranger, students, teachers and a pharmacist.
Nobody is safe from suicide.
As I sat and read page after page about this bridge I felt myself filling up with empathy. I tried to imagine what it would be like to stand on that bridge. I wondered if these people looked at the ground or at the sky as they tried to fly away. I sat wondering if these people found peace in their that brief moment they were suspended in between it all. I imagined my own shakey knees and my dirty shoes on that bridge. I know, several times in my life I probably would have jumped. I think, at one time or another we all have metaphorically stood on that bridge.
I sat starring at this photo of the bridge
As corny as it sounds I started hearing that third eye blind song in my head
And I do not think anyone knows
What they are doing here
And your friends have left you
You've been dismissed
I never thought it would come to this
And I, I want you to know
Everyone's got to face down the demons
Maybe today we can put the past away
Please go here to sign the petition to put up a suicide barrier at this bridge.
Amazing photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/gotfish_mb/The second place I came across was Camino Cielo A road on the crest of the Santa Ynez Mountains overlooking Santa Barbara. Kevin and I decided to go for a drive on Camino Cielo road today. (appropriately named in spanish meaning "road in the sky")
Honestly, the road is breathtaking. Driving the road was exhilarating! There were sharp corners in dense canopied forests, narrow rocky patches next to cliffs, drop offs leading to vast vista points, and a painted cave!
We were looking for Knapps Castle but unfortunately just missed it due to faulty internet directions. I didn't mind because the entire area was so gorgeous. We pulled over at a really interesting vista on a windy ridge.
My internet search of Camino Cielo led to me to Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge (which I haven't actually gone to yet) However, I find the story behind this bridge incredibly interesting. I browsed through many flickr photos of this bridge and none of them seemed to have the unbelievable back story of this place. I had no idea that there was something unusual about this place until I looked up the directions and stumbled upon http://www.stopthetragedy.org/ Apparently, this place is the #1 suicide spot in the country. I haven't found any official numbers to prove this however, I saw this claim posted on various sites.
According to http://www.stopthetragedy.org/ there have been 51 deaths at Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge since its construction in 1965. There have been 4 deaths in 2009 alone. As recent as 3 days ago
There is something chillingly haunting about this place. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this place since I started reading about it. What would drive people to leap off a bridge into a tree filled canyon of certain death? I find it overwhelmingly sad that some people are so desperate for relief that they would jump off of a bridge. I don't understand how people who are brave enough to jump off a bridge aren't brave enough to face and cope with life.
All kinds of people have jumped off this bridge-housewives, attorneys, a construction worker, a psychologist, a salesman, a farmer, a consulting engineer, a mechanic, a forest ranger, students, teachers and a pharmacist.
Nobody is safe from suicide.
As I sat and read page after page about this bridge I felt myself filling up with empathy. I tried to imagine what it would be like to stand on that bridge. I wondered if these people looked at the ground or at the sky as they tried to fly away. I sat wondering if these people found peace in their that brief moment they were suspended in between it all. I imagined my own shakey knees and my dirty shoes on that bridge. I know, several times in my life I probably would have jumped. I think, at one time or another we all have metaphorically stood on that bridge.
I sat starring at this photo of the bridge
As corny as it sounds I started hearing that third eye blind song in my head
And I do not think anyone knows
What they are doing here
And your friends have left you
You've been dismissed
I never thought it would come to this
And I, I want you to know
Everyone's got to face down the demons
Maybe today we can put the past away
Please go here to sign the petition to put up a suicide barrier at this bridge.
1 comments:
have you seen the doc called "the bridge"? I haven't yet, but it looks interesting in an extremely tragic sort of way.
Post a Comment