Gripping

An image of Cheeseman Run near Slippery Rock Creek.

Reflection

I was very surprised this turned out as I had taken quite a few shots of water that did not. Slippery Rock Creek.

A Shadow, A Fern

The sunlight on Sunday was quite remarkable. Walking along a path near Slippery Rock Creek, I could not resist snapping this photo.

Cheeseman Run

A small waterfall along Cheeseman Run near Breakneck Bridge.

Pool

A tiny pool of water that my oldest and I spotted.

Swing On Me

This photo was taken along Breakneck Bridge Road that is closed to traffic.

Do Not Enter

My middle daughter and I stopped here for a snack while walking along the closed section of Breakneck Bridge Road. Touch-me-nots cover the area, though my daughter became anxious when she spotted a bee visiting one of the flowers nearby. Needless to say, we did not stay long.

The log made for a great seat as it straddled the length of an old road or driveway. Not pictured are two brick posts and a couple metal pipes that gave the indication of someone trying to keep people out. I assumed the log was a last ditch effort.

Mushrooms and a Leaf

My oldest and I came across this small mushroom patch while hiking in the area around Breakneck Bridge in McConnells Mill.

Eeehhh... I think it is looking at me...

My oldest daughter spotted this unusual plant while walking along Breakneck Road in McConnells Mill. I took a few photos and we identified it as Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) after returning home. It has many nicknames including Doll's-eyes, Bugbane, Necklace Weed, White Cohosh and White Baneberry. The overall plant is poisonous and may cause skin blisters if touched. Eating the berries may result in cardiac arrest, gastrointestinal inflammation or death depending on which article you read. Yikes! It is a monster!

With that in mind, there are a few traditional herbal remedies derived from this plant.

"The American species is considered by the natives a valuable remedy against snake-bite, especially of the rattlesnake, hence it is - with several other plants - sometimes known as one of the 'Rattlesnake herbs.'"
Source - www.botanical.com

"Native Americans used a root tea for various problems including pain, colds and coughs. The Cherokee use it to revive a patient near death. The Chippewa used the same tea for convulsions."
Source - Wildflowers of Southeastern US

Wikipedia notes Native Americans brewed a tea was from the roots of this plant to be administered after childbirth to alleviate pain.

It turns out this monster is just as interesting as it first appeared.

Sources and more info: Wikipedia, www.botanical.com, Wildflowers of Southeastern US, NC State University

Small Waterfall

A small waterfall near Slippery Rock Creek in the Breakneck Bridge area in McConnells Mill.

Breakneck Bridge Road

This is a view of the trail going uphill after you cross the bridge. It follows the closed section of Breakneck Bridge Road.

Breakneck Bridge

According to the book Lawrence County, Breakneck Bridge was originally a covered bridge built in 1874. On August 16 1952, an overweight coal truck fell through the floor of the bridge and caught fire. The driver escaped but later died from injuries. I am not sure how much of a drop it is to Cheeseman Run, but I don't think anyone could survive such a fall. So tragic.

The current concrete bridge replaced the old one, but was closed due to maintenance costs and low traffic.

In this Google Book you can see a 1908 photo of the covered bridge: Lawrence County By Anita DeVivo, Anthony P. Walczak.

If anyone has any more information, please post a comment. I had difficulty finding more information online. Maybe someday I can make it to the library...

Under Breakneck Bridge

This image was captured late afternoon under Breakneck Bridge in McConnells Mill State Park.