Cool story. I can relate to the solo rides on a KLR. Many a time have I come to a spot in the trail where I've opted to turn back and try again another day when I've got a partner. That's a pretty neat bridge and I can only imagine how spooky it must have been to a young teenager in the dark with his friends egging him on!
Cool! Some history on the bridge decking.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsden_Matting "As they were made from steel with a high manganese content, the matting was also highly resistant to corrosion"
