Looking for the Covered Bridge

When I hear “covered bridge,” I think of the movie The Bridges of Madison County (1995). In the story, a woman, bored with her life while her husband is away, meets a photographer who lost his way. They fall in love over four days. He asks her to leave town with him. In the end, he leaves alone, and by chance, she sees him through the window of the car she is in with her husband. The scene where she hesitates with her hand on the car door handle, wondering if she should run to him, is very emotional.

When I’ve had conflicts with my husband, I’ve sometimes wondered, “Should I open the car door and just walk away? Or should I open the front door and never come back?” This film left a deep impression on me. A door might look like just two sides of a piece of paper, but it can also be the beginning of a long goodbye.

There are over 200 covered bridges in Pennsylvania. I searched for the three closest ones to New York City and left early in the morning. Because of traffic and road work, I only had time to visit Knox Covered Bridge and Van Sant Covered Bridge.

I didn’t expect much—just thought, “Maybe I’ll see an old bridge with a roof over a little stream?” But as I got closer, the view from my car window became more and more special. I saw houses made of stone, like I was going back in time. Horses and sheep were enjoying the sun on the endless meadows. Hills dotted with haystacks looked like cozy beds under puffy clouds. The trees with fall colors leaned on each other, whispering in the wind, gently letting go of their leaves. There was no noise, no conflict—only deep peace.

Knox Bridge is inside Valley Forge National Historical Park. I walked through the bridge, which is only wide enough for one car. The drivers kindly waited for me to finish walking before they crossed. I opened my folding chair on the hill, ate lunch while looking down at the village, and it tasted amazing. After eating and relaxing, I folded the chair, carried it on my shoulder, and walked back down the hill—like a farmer going home after a long day in the field.

Van Sant Bridge is in New Hope, Bucks County. The area around the bridge was a bit empty, but after a short drive, I found a beautiful old town glowing in the sunset. Then I realized—I was in the familiar Bucks County. I wanted to stop and walk around, but the early winter darkness pushed me to head back home.

Between 1825 and 1875, about 14,000 covered bridges were built in the U.S. Most were destroyed over time by age, floods, or fire. Now, only about 750 remain. The villages near these bridges were likely formed around that same time and are full of history. I love old places and traveling like this is perfect for me.

I wrote this in my bucket list:

“Take a road trip to find covered bridges, wander around, and become one with nature.”