My last post on our visit to Appomattox, VA. From the bed and breakfast we headed east to Farmville to visit the High Bridge - a railroad bridge that Lee's forces tried to destroy to keep the Union forces from following them. It didn't work, another failure that led to Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.
We arrived in Farmville only to discover that the bridge was outside of town. The railroad bed has been converted to a trail and is now a 30 miles rails to trails park called High Bridge Trail State Park. In downtown Farmville without bikes it would have been a 3.5 mile walk to the bridge. Instead we drove to the next parking lot where it was just under a mile to the bridge.
It was a beautiful morning, low humidity and though it would eventually be a hot day, it was perfect weather for walking.
The bridge spans the wide valley made by the Appomattox River.
This isn't the original bridge that Lee's infantry forces crossed.
There is evidence of that one when you look over the railing.
The artillery and calvary would have crossed through the valley and then over a wooden bridge, long gone.
At several points there are overlooks where the railing is lower but I still found it easier to see by standing on the benches.
People walking the bridge were very friendly. One man we spoke to had work on the renovation of this bridge.
Here's the Appomattox River.
The bridge is a half mile in length.
It was a nice 3 mile walk round trip.
