The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
at Canada's Longest Pedestrian Bridge
Crescent Avenue E
in Souris, Manitoba, Canada
August 24, 2015

The Souris Swinging Bridge is Canada's longest historic suspension bridge measuring 604 feet or 184 metres. It was built in 1904 by Squire W.H. Sowden as a convenience to access his property on the east bank of the river which he had allocated as farm land for grazing livestock.  Sowden donated the bridge to the town in 1907 and it has evolved to become the centre of the community over the years.

The story of the Souris Swinging Bridge is one of resilience. Flood waters first claimed the bridge in 1912, sweeping away the decking. Damaged by a cable break in 1961 and swept away again by flood in 1976, the bridge was again dismantled in 2011 when an unprecedented river flow forced Town officials to take action to prevent the bridge’s anchors from being torn from the ground and compromising the landscape in the process.

Re-built in 2013, with a price tag of $4.5 million, the new bridge is reflective of the original design, but with long term durability in mind. The Swinging Bridge remains the town’s most famous landmark; bridging  the river for 110 years, and still standing to do the same for the century ahead.
sign: welcome to Souris
sign about the swinging bridge
sign about the swinging bridge
the two RV Gypsies on the Souris Suspension Bridge the two RV Gypsies on the Souris Suspension Bridge
view of the river from the bridge view of the river from the bridge
sign about the swinging bridge
Canada's longest pedestrian bridge Karen Duquette on the suspension bridge
Souris suspension swinging bridge
Lee Duquette ready to cross the suspension bridge Souris swinging bridge
bridge and river Karen Duquette in Souris, Manitoba, Canada
longest pedestrian foot bridge
sign about the swinging bridge
swinging suspension bridge in Souris strange animal statue
ducks ducks

Below: Clouds in the sky and the reflection of the clouds in the river.
clouds in the sky reflection of clouds in the river
a float replica of the bridge
sign about the swinging bridge sign about the swinging bridge
look below

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