For several weeks, I've been utterly fascinated with a ladder that's leaning against one of the main cables on the south side of the western span of the bay bridge. There's nothing special about it-- it looks like it's just an ordinary extension ladder, but it catches my eye every time I drive past. Who uses it? What are they doing with it? And what would it feel like to be standing on an ordinary extension ladder that's leanining against the side of the bay bridge?

A few days ago, I decided to try to take photos of the ladder. I was crossing the bridge near the tail end of rush hour traffic, and I had the digital camera with me. It was on, and set to take multiple exposures when the shutter was depressed, so I was hoping that I could just point the camera in the general direction, hold the button, and get a shot.

My first try was pathetic-- I got one picture of the back of an SUV, and that was it. But I was determined, so I tried again.

This morning traffic was moving fairly slowly. I had the camera in one hand, ready to aim and hope, knowing I couldn't actually frame a shot while I was driving. As I approached the ladder, I was stunned and delighted to see that there was someone on it! That was a first.

I pointed the camera toward him and pressed the shutter... click click click.

After arriving at my destination, I eagerly grabbed the camera and started scanning the images. The first one was blue sky, the second was just a couple of cables. And then, there he was! I managed to get several shots of the ladder and its occupant.


From a distance, you can barely see the ladder leaning against the cable. If you didn't know it was there, it wouldn't catch your eye.


Getting closer, you can see the ladder, and barely make out the guy on it.


And now, the ladder is in clear view, and you can clearly see that someone is on the ladder.


Here he is... my hero! Though I'm utterly relieved to see that he's wearing some sort of harness.