The Way South: The Confluence

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Thanks Chris! It is nice to see old bridges preserved than being swapped out for something cable-stayed or such.

[@cjs121675]

Nice ride- very interesting road... great back-story and great video! Was really impressed with the old bridge... love bridges like that! You don't see a lot of those where I live but when I see them- I smile! Great video my friend! Safe journies

[@CowboyBob531]

When I was a kid, Dad would take us to Indiana and Wisconsin every summer for vacations. We would travel I-57 from Sikeston MO to either I-70 at Effingham IL or the Tri-State Tollway in Chicago. The I-57 bridge over the Mississippi River wasn't completed yet, so we had to take this route into and through Cairo IL. Thank you for the trip down memory lane,

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Thanks. I could never imagine how things were without the I-57 bridge. But these beasts of old bridges are nice to drive and I enjoy Ft. Defiance Park whenever I'm in that area.

[@GoJoGeoff]

Love those bridges! A very windy road for a reasonably flat area

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Thanks! Yeah when I looked at the map when I was doing this video, I finally saw what you're mentioning. That's definitely a shorter route and avoids the multiple towns, curves and speedtraps on U.S. 60.

[@PartyOfTheThirdPart]

All that driving and only came upon one vehicle in your way, I'm generally not used to that except when in Nevada. I once had a roommate once who was born in Paducah -- he heard many jokes about that name... Thanks for the ride.

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Yeah Paducah is definitely a weird named town, but it has a nice history. I'll cover that when I get down here again. But you raise a great point about the traffic that I didn't realize. Normally I would be part of the opposing traffic, which uses this as a great detour. I'm going against the grain. But it was totally worth it!

[@Freewayjim]

Excellent video, great job with the back story of the area and the bridges, enjoyed it much!

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Thanks Geoff! Again, this was not my favorite place when I first drove here at night. But without this route, you're looking at least a 60 mile detour.

[@williamchristian8389]

Wonderful video!!! Crossed those two bridges many times in the 1970's driving a tractor and trailer. Always scared the hell out of me.

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. These bridges aren't so bad compared to the Brookport Bridge outside Metropolis.

[@jmvfrva]

I have a morbid curiousity to visit Cairo - what an American tragedy. Nice job on the video Kris.

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Thanks! I'm glad I had a chance to capture it.

[@damienredd9068]

Gotta to look at the best picture of the bridges of the Mississippi River in the world 🌍

[@mgk920]

BTW, have you ever stopped at the I-24 Kentucky welcome center in Paducah? It is very interesting to me how that did the main building there.

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Thanks. More to come.

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Thanks!

[@CostasAthan]

Nice bridge!

[@EuropeanRoads]

interesting bridges.

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Thanks. It's a town that's forgettable and fascinating at the same time.

[@mgk920]

It is truly sad what happened to Cairo and how the city consumed itself during the second half of the 20th century - there is little left there and it would not surprise me if it would ultimately be dissolved as a municipal entity. IMHO, it is in worse shape than some of those 'basket case' south Chicagoland suburbs (ie, Harvey). One bit if trivia - Cairo is where Sears assembled and shipped their catalog new house kits during the first part of the 20th century.

[@dvferyance]

According to Wikipedia Fort Defiance is a State Park again as of 2014. I know this video dates one year earlier.

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Yeah it's a very sad tale. You know it's bad when the state decides to take down your traffic signal and Amtrak passes you by. Sadly Harvey's case is good old fashioned corruption and idiots who vote to keep them in office. Also great fact Mike.

[@TheSolarcatcher]

I have and besides the structure I wasn't impressed with the amenities. Maybe I need to visit again another day.

[@damienredd9068]

It's a little too late for me to get it to be honest and great 👍

[@TheSolarcatcher]

I named it because it passes the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers during the midpoint of the video.

[@QuizzicalOne]

Another nice ride! I always read the maps, but to see the actual confluence is amazing. Poor Cairo... Trivia: on that very last shot, I noticed a sign telling you to turn left for I-24. Believe it or not, it's actually quicker to turn RIGHT on U.S. 51, then using KY routes 121 and 286 to hit U.S. 62 right before Paducah and eventually, I-24. The left turn suggestion was made because of weight restrictions (and the fact a truck inspection station is en route). Keep up the great work!

[@officialmightynotoriousaka3897]

Forest secret area (athletic song)

[@damienredd9068]

There's no such thing as phobia 😱

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Thanks!