Tag: Chain Bridge

It’s a beautiful day here on the river…

As I sit here at my desk, to my left I see the river sparkling with a fervent, intensely brilliant reflection of the sun. Not a cloud in the sky, with my desk facing south, the sun sits at 11:23 outside of my window.

To the right of my desk, outside of the bay window in which my desk sits, I watch as the ice floes float down stream, creating ever changing patterns.

Housebound as I am for a few more days, I am re-minded every day how blessed I am to live here on the river with my slivers of river views that constantly fill my heart and soul with love and gratitude.

The mighty Merrimack River is rooted in my body, mind and soul. As a small child I grew up along the river in West Newbury. At eleven, we moved to Newburyport and short walk to the Chain Bridge area.

It was one year after moving back to this area (a little over 3 years ago) when I realized that more than anything in this breathtakingly beautiful estuary, abundant in Mother Nature’s gifts, it was the river that most spoke to me.

She lifts me up, she carries me in her bouyant arms, like the mother and she lets my heart and soul float in her love.

(Photo: Winter On The Merrimack River ~~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

Related Images:

I was sitting in my den talking to my daughter and her boyfriend tonight when we heard a copter outside. That’s a rarity around here but a sound she and I are accustomed to after living in L.A. for 19 years. We went outside to see what was going on and saw the Whittier Bridge on I-95 over the Merrimack River in Newburyport – Amesbury, MA, was lined with blue and red lights.

FOX 25 reports:

Police got multiple 911 calls from motorists saying they saw a white Toyota Camry go off the bridge and into the water.

They have spotted skid marks that seem indicate a car went over the rails. According to the State Police, troopers from Newbury Barracks, Marine Unit, Dive Team and the Air Wing all reported to the scene.

With Hines Bridge closed, my daughter and I drove down Rt 110 to Rt 1 and over Green Bridge to try to get a look. Newburyport Police were turning people away from the open side of the Chain Bridge who were trying to get a look.

The Coast Guard’s Station Merrimack River has launched both a 25-foot rescue boat and a 47-foot utility boat. A rescue helicopter has also flown in from Air Station Cape Cod. It’s currenty 8 degrees in Amesbury, just on the other side of the Merrimack River but the water temperature is believed to be about 38-40 degrees. This area of the river is not frozen but it is loaded with ice flows.

There is no word still on how many were in the car and missing or survivors. Local and State Police, Fire Department and Coast Guard are still on the scene.