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The two RV Gypsies enjoyed Sundial Bridge
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The
largest sundial and most unique bridge in the world located at Turtle
Bay Exploration Park |
| Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a 300-acre campus containing educational and entertaining activities that interpret the relations between humans and nature. The Park tells the stories of the region and its people through a museum and art gallery, wildlife exhibits, forest camp, a summer butterfly house and aviary, amphitheater, Arboretum and Gardens. It is also adjacent to the Sacramento River and houses the Sundial Bridge. | |
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| The two RV Gypsies visited the Sundial Bridge both in the daylight and again in the evening, as can be seen by the Turtle Bay signs below, first photographed in daylight, then again in the evening. | |
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| Located on the Sacramento River in Redding, the Sundial Bridge is California's newest icon. Redding commissioned world famous Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava (architect for the Athens Olympic Stadium) to design a pedestrian bridge over the Sacramento River, linking the Turtle Bay Exploration Park's Museum to its Arboretum and Gardens, and as a trail head for Redding's extensive Sacramento River National Recreation Trail. (more information below) | |
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| The best views of the Sundial Bridge itself were taken in the evening, because there were less people on the bridge, and the bridge was lit at night. All throughout this page, you will see views of the Sundial Bridge from various angles, both during the daytime and at night. Similar shots taken by daylight and evening are shown side-by-side. Also below are photos of the sundial plaque, shadows and time gauge; along with some fabulous moon shots. So scroll down slowly and enjoy. | |
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This 710-foot-long bridge spans the river without footings in the water. The walking surface is translucent glass, so as not to cast a dark shadow on the spawning gravels below the bridge. This design achieved this goal with an inclined 21-story tall pylon built on the north bank of the river that supports the entire river span. Also, because of the exact north-south orientation of the bridge, the pylon serves as the upright element of a sundial, making it the worlds tallest sundial. |
Different views of the
Pylon described above |
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Karen Duquette at the
bridge in the evening |
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A day view
and evening of approximately the same area of the pylon |
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The photo
below on the left shows Karen Duquette pointing up to where Lee w standing in the below photo on
the right. |
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The Sundial plaque, shadow,
and time line |
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Because of the exact north-south
orientation of the bridge, the pylon serves as the upright element of
a sundial, making it the worlds tallest sundial. Below are photos of the
"timeline" with time markers. The shadow from the pylon falls
upon it and tells the time. |
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Lee Duquette in the same area during
the day, and at evening.
(Lee is just a shadow in the night shot). |
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Lee under the bridge by
the sculpture |
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views from under the bridge |
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Looking up, there were
people walking on the bridge. |
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Lee Duquette walked under the bridge
to look up at the pylon. |
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Left: Lee Duquette looked up at the pylon and sky from under the
bridge - night view Below: looking up at the sky and the pylon from under the bridge |
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The two RV Gypsies found
the perfect spot for lunch. |
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Karen Duquette relaxed at the lunch spot and photographed Lee on the Sundial Bridge
taking the lunch cooler back to the car. |
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Views of the Sacramento
River - taken from the Sundial Bridge |
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| Looking down into the river through the side of the Sundial Bridge | |
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| Birds flying low over the water - photo taken from the Sundial Bridge | |
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| Sulphur Creek and Sulphur Creek Bridge lead to a trail head for Redding's extensive Sacramento River National Recreation Trail. | |
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A peek at part of the Sundial
Bridge pylon from the hiking trail behind Sulphur Creek Bridge |
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Partial view of Sundial
Bridge and river views under the early evening moonlight |
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Menu for the two RV Gypsies
in California - April 2009 |
California photos are in 28 separate sections found below. Some sections may have more than one page so that the photos will upload faster. You may visit these sections in any order you choose. Each section will have this menu so that visitors do not have to keep returning here in order to continue the California adventures. There is also a link to Oregon at the very bottom of the California menu. |
|
Kaweah Park Resort and a bobcat |
Three Rivers and Lake Kaweah |
driving scenery |
Sequoia National Park (3 pages) |
Kings Canyon |
Yosemite Nat'l Park |
El Capitan |
Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls |
Indian Flat RV Park |
Sundial Bridge |
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