Lake Pontchartrain Causeway by Kevin Adams

Growing up in a small town on the North shore, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is more than a bridge between two pieces of land. Not only does it change my location but also my mindset. It is a concrete link that connects my reality to fantasy.

The causeway consists of two parallel bridges spanning twenty four miles in length. It is the longest bridge in the world and connects the North shore to the South shore. Hovering Lake Pontchartrain, the bridge provides easier access to Orleans Parish. Midway across the bridge land can not be spotted on either side. When approaching the South shore, the New Orleans sky line is readily visible including the monumental Superdome. The causeway is also home to one of the most breathtaking sunsets in the world. Its significance in Louisiana is comparable with that of the Superdome, Mardi Gras, and the Mississippi River and is one of the most recognizable images of Louisiana.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ujJUUyhnqI

Covington, La, "reality", is a small town located in St. Tammany Parish, better known as the North shore. From a parents perspective it is a great place to raise a family. Quiet, quality school system and low crime are just a few aspects that draw people to the fastest growing parish in Louisiana. But for every reason that makes it a pleasant community, makes it a humdrum place to grow up. Whenever I became mentally exhausted and needed a break from day to day activities, I would depart from reality.

Crossing the causeway to the South shore, fantasy, was my escape from reality. The South shore, most notably New Orleans, provides all the excitement the North shore lacks. Whether it was a Saints game in the Superdome or a concert in UNO arena, there were opportunities for experiences the North shore could not offer. Museums, parks, and art galleries can all be found on the North shore but none with the magnitude of those located in the city also recognized for Mardi Gras, music and food. The city of New Orleans is often referred to as the Big Easy and when I’m there that is just what life is, easy and it is all made possible by the causeway.

Besides crossing over the bridge, I have also crossed under the causeway several times. The nine thousand pilings that support the bridge provide refuge to a legion of fish in turn creating great places to fish. I have spent many serene days on boats relaxing with friends and family hoping to catch dinner but satisfied if not.

For most, the bridge symbolizes a nexus between home and work and therefore most dread the long trip but to me the causeway connotes the beginning and the end of a cherished memory. Each drive across, full of conversation and jokes, was a bonding experience for those present in the vehicle. Without the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, my experiences would be like a book without an introduction and a conclusion.