Larry and Barbara Richardson, who built a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge on their Kansas farm, cruised under the real thing Tuesday afternoon, after waiting 43 years.

“It’s not our little bridge,” said Barbara, hugging her husband as a Red and White Fleet boat sailed under the superstructure. “I feel like I’m in a dream.”

Generous Bay Area readers sent donations to defray trip costs, and local hotelier Jon Handlery paid their air fare and put the couple up in his Handlery Union Square Hotel.









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Photo: Special to The Chronicle Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Image 2 of 12 Larry and Barbara Richardson get their first glimpse of the Golden Gate bridge from a boat in San Francisco, Calif. Tuesday, June 5, 2012. . Larry and Barbara Richardson get their first glimpse of the Golden Gate bridge from a boat in San Francisco, Calif. Tuesday, June 5, 2012. . Photo: Special to The Chronicle Image 3 of 12 Barbara Richardson becomes emotional as she and husband Larry see the Golden Gate bridge in person on their boat tour in San Francisco, Calif. Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Barbara Richardson becomes emotional as she and husband Larry see the Golden Gate bridge in person on their boat tour in San Francisco, Calif. Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Photo: Special to The Chronicle Image 4 of 12 Larry and Barbara Richardson are all smiles after going under the Golden gate bridge on a boat tour in San Francisco, Calif. Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Larry and Barbara Richardson are all smiles after going under the Golden gate bridge on a boat tour in San Francisco, Calif. Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Photo: Special to The Chronicle Image 5 of 12 Image 6 of 12 Larry and Barbara Richardson get an up-close view of the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco, Calif. Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Larry and Barbara Richardson get an up-close view of the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco, Calif. Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Photo: Special to The Chronicle Image 7 of 12 Larry and Barbara Richardson check out the view of downtown San Francisco during their first taxi ride on the way from the airport Monday, June 4, 2012. Larry and Barbara Richardson check out the view of downtown San Francisco during their first taxi ride on the way from the airport Monday, June 4, 2012. Photo: Special to The Chronicle Image 8 of 12 A table full of gifts awaited Larry and Barbara Richardson when they arrived at their hotel in San Francisco, Calif. Monday, June 4, 2012. A table full of gifts awaited Larry and Barbara Richardson when they arrived at their hotel in San Francisco, Calif. Monday, June 4, 2012. Photo: Special to The Chronicle Image 9 of 12 Larry and Barbara Richardson have a replica Golden Gate Bridge on their property in Mulvane, KS. The suspension bridge was built by Larry, his brother and his father over a 7-8 year time span. Larry and Barbara Richardson have a replica Golden Gate Bridge on their property in Mulvane, KS. The suspension bridge was built by Larry, his brother and his father over a 7-8 year time span. Photo: Steve Hebert Photography Image 10 of 12 Image 11 of 12 The suspension bridge was built by Larry, his brother and his father over a 7-8 year time span. The group started the project in 1994 and finished it up in August 2001. They poured all the concrete they needed by themselves with bags of concrete. Larry said he got the timbers for the bridge for free and the cables too. less The suspension bridge was built by Larry, his brother and his father over a 7-8 year time span. The group started the project in 1994 and finished it up in August 2001. They poured all the concrete they ... more Photo: Steve Hebert Photography Image 12 of 12 Kansas couple finally sees the Golden Gate 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Larry Richardson caught a glimpse of one of the bridge towers back in 1969 when he was a “scared, 19-year-old kid” on his way to being deployed as an infantryman in Vietnam. Crossing the bridge in a troop bus late at night, he woke up in time to see a bridge tower.

“It really was my last look at home before I left,” he said.

Richardson, who served in combat and sustained burns in Vietnam, returned to this country through Washington state and never saw the Golden Gate Bridge again. In 1994, he decided to build a replica on his farm, using a post card for reference.

“We called it comparison engineering,” he said. “We said, ‘Let’s see, it is supposed to look like this.'”

The project took 11 years and over 90 tons on concrete. But even when it was finished, Larry always promised Barbara he’d take her to San Francisco to see the real thing.

When the towers came into view on Tuesday, he leaned down and looked into her eyes.

“I told you I’d give you a kiss,” he said.

And he did.