*Larry Nickerson applying stain to the older south side railings. Photo: Andy Rutledge*

Larry Nickerson, one of the builders of the most recent railings on the Narrows Bridge, and Andy Rutledge, spent a recent afternoon applying a new finish to the bridge railings, to protect them from the elements and to restore the integrity of the wood from the damage caused by the many initials that have been carved into the railings this past season.

*Bridge stain mixture. Photo: Alex Moot*

We are fortunate to have all kinds of expertise in this community. The stain on the south side of the railings, applied in 2013 by Kate Lanou and Pete Lewis, was a mixture of turpentine and boiled linseed oil. This year we applied to several area boat builders to see what might be more durable. Geoff Burke, Ned Eldredge, and Steve Weld all recommended a mixture of boiled linseed oil, turpentine, pine tar, and Japan dryer!

*Andy Rutledge applying stain to the newer north side railings. Photo: Alex Moot*

Thank you so much to Larry and Andy, and to everyone who offered advice. To those of you with a desire to leave a mark in a special place by carving your initials: Hundreds of hours of human labor goes into building and maintaining these railings. Please give the railings a better chance of relative permanence, and instead embrace impermanence in your mark-making: Write your initials in the sand, and trust that as the wind and water sweep them away, your presence here will still be known.

Banner image: Larry Nickerson applying stain to the north side railings. Photo: Lynne Flaccus