For some people they are a nightmare, because you have to
estimate your time of arrival constantly and they slow you down.  You could plan to get there in time thanks to
all your electronics, and drive the boat accordingly.  Or, you just get there whenever, burning the
fuel necessary, and then wait there “in limbo”, and burn more fuel.  Others don’t seem to care much about these
obstacles.  Maybe because they get lucky
each time they have to deal with one. 
Maybe because they are never in a rush and obtained the right cruising
mentality from the start.    Mark, Darwin, Kali, and I are indifferent to
them.  Most of the time anyway,
especially when they open on the half hour or on demand.  When they only open on the hour, and we are
running late, or darkness is hanging over our heads, or the current has already
slowed us down so much, this becomes a little bit of an annoyance.  Or, when there is a malfunction and you have
to fight the strong current to stay put for an indefinite time, and try to not
smack into the thing…Each time we approach a bridge, we call the bridge tender
with a request for an opening.  Most of
the time, we get what we want within five minutes.  Sometimes, they want to wait until another
boat (not too far away; they have good binoculars) shows up to make the
stopping of traffic worthwhile.  We
always wave to each other and after we pass, we thank the person via VHF.  We also noticed (sometimes they even ask over
the radio) that they write down the name of the boat and the hauling port every
time.  Homeland Security is keeping track
of every boat!All kinds of bridges exist. 
From fixed concrete highway bridges (these are always high enough), to
old railroad bridges (almost always open, because of the lack of trains), to
swing bridges (they turn on a pivot), bascule bridges (they just open
vertically), lift bridges (the whole bridge slides up) or pontoon bridges (a
floating bridge moved with cables).  Some
of these look very interesting.  Whether
they are speed killers, picturesque or a pain, we still appreciate the fact
that they all open at one time or another, stopping “the kings of the road” to
let us through on our way south!