It makes me wonder whether I don't need as much bridging as I think, but then I re-read and think otherwise.

Yes, that past perfect issue is one I struggle with a lot. I glean that the modern approach is to establish the timeframe with some use of it initially and then shift to past tense. Sometimes that sounds all right to me and sometimes it seems too conversational, so my "hads" go in and out and occasionally back in again!