Above is the president of the Bridge Watchers’ Club, John with his savage guard dog, Ruby – known at TRM as Rhubarb in her warm Turangi winter uniform.  He called in this morning with his latest photos from yesterday of the new bridge progress below:

He was hoping to catch them hoisting the uprights framework at the Taupahi western side.  But, by now, the photos above are already redundant.  The construction speed has amazed everyone.

So we returned for an update again this morning – Friday – after most of the frost had melted away.

The photos are supposed to tell the story:

Although it is not so apparent in the photos, the new replacement will be higher and wider than the obsolete Major Jones bridge.

Now you are almost as up to date as the contractors.

Fishing Report:

During the bridge inspection, John counted 7 trout (he had polaroids on) in one tight shoal at the tail of Major Jones Pool.  Yesterday he landed six.  Other TRM inmates report similar good catches of fresh run trout yesterday.  The bridge construction team were resting after the big day yesterday, or may have gone fishing?

There is now sufficient convincing evidence to stand any scrutiny, to confirm that at last there has been a decent spawning run to accompany the minus overnight temperatures followed by chilly frosts.   The anglers’ weather forecast for the weekend is promising – it suggests some showers again, but they have been so misleading lately, and it is such a fine pearler today that SWMBO suggests fishos ignore it…

Warning:

Take more care wading!  Over the last few days TRM have had an unhappy procession of anglers returning cold and soggy after taking a dip.  The river bed stones are so slippery that SWMBO insists all inmates must use a wading pole.  OK?