On Bridge Day each October you can walk across the New River Gorge Bridge—or jump off. Hundreds of parachutists make the 876-foot [267-meter] leap on the one day it's legal. How much free-fall time is safe? 'You'll hit the water about nine seconds after you jump,' advises Bridge Day enthusiast Bill Von Novak. 'It's a good idea to open your chute before that happens.'
— From "New River's Deep Soul," June 1999, National Geographic magazine
Los Angeles is a sunny, friendly place, filled with its own rich lore—stories that range from the days of the Spanish missions to the latest gossip about Hollywood stars.
