PNW 2022, Columbia River and San Juan Islands

colbysmith · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2022 1:04 am Post subject:

A lot of fishing boats just downstream of Willamette Falls

First view of the Willamette Falls as you turn the corner

Willamette Falls. Yeah, I was pretty close!

The Willamette Locks

USS Blue Back at the Oregon Science Museum in Portland

Byrdman · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2022 9:24 am Post subject:

Great pics. Ive been coming out here since around 2005 and somehow other than one or two cbrat gatherings ive not boated much except around Utsalady and Cornet Bay areas. Thanks for the travel along. Your brothers home is about 100 miles south of Mt. Vernon area. Just making sure you had a land base to do laundry, wash up the boat a bit and restock as needed.
Ill be shrimping around San Juan Iceberg Isl 9-11Jun if winds stay low with changing weather front going thru. Enjoying your vouge.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2022 11:58 am Post subject:

Great pics, Colby! I have driven along I-84 that runs just above the Columbia and quite a few of the locks many times, and have looked at the locks with Google Maps satellite view but never have seen them from water level. From above, it was puzzling where exactly they were!

lloyds · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2022 2:46 pm Post subject:

Many years ago I and a friend took my 13' whaler down the willamette from salem to the columbia. got to go through the lock when it was operational. While in the lock a couple drunk couples were also enjoying the drop down in the lock. But failed to release the lines securing them to the wall. Tipped over and almost dumped them before the cleats tore out. It was an older wood cruiser. You used to be able to make that trip before summer low water until the corps quit dredging late 60's. I saw a 32' uniflite make it to a moorage in west salem and also used to see a 40' aluminium sloop up by buena vista parked in a slouigh.

primative · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2022 2:53 pm Post subject:

Colby,
Thanks for the great boater homing shots, and river exploration. You have been to a number of places I have not, and I live here. I am looking forward to visiting some of those, thanks for sharing.

What is the duffel like object on your boat roof? Would it be your dinghy?

Tom

colbysmith · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2022 11:59 pm Post subject:

colbysmith · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2022 1:55 am Post subject:

View of Beacon Rock as I approach

C-Traveler on the dock with Beacon Rock in the background. As you can see, the winds and current were howling!

Looking back down at the docks. I'm the only boat there now.

Looking down at the Beacon Rock state park docks from part way up Beacon Rock. You can really see the current ripping out in the River.

This is the pathway leading up Beacon Rock. You ascend/descend about 600 feet in a mile.

Proof I mad it to the top! Cool

View about half way back down, with the docks and C-Traveler (if you can see her) in the background.

Byrdman · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2022 11:35 am Post subject:

That rock climb turned you into your own personal drone!
Great pictures.
Well, it is the Colombia river...
Sorry you didnt get to see your brother this round.
Did a Columbia River Cruise last Jun or July... the other companies paddle wheeler took out the docks somewhere that we were scheduled to dock... so we were not able to and changed our itinerary. To drop off and pick up other artist for the cruise, our paddle wheeler just banked it near a parking lot/park area and let down the gang plank (?) as to let a few folks on and off with luggage. But, we were all still able to drink together during all this, but they did run out of Corona Premier (yes Im counting carbs)... Next stop one of the bar tenders personally bought 2 cases and gifted them to me. It would be illegal to sell them to me due to some kind of crazy laws where the vessel could only purchase and resale from "the proper places via WA laws",,,,
Oh well, he took care of 3-4 of us who were drinking them and that was especially appreciated. Guess who got a wonderful disembarkation tip from 3-4 folks
THanks for posting pics.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2022 11:52 am Post subject:

Fascinating, love these pics! Patty and I have stayed at the Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, a very nice place. I confess I had never heard of Beacon Rock, so I Google it! The odds of my hiking up it are less than slim to none! As are the odds of our cruising the Columbia!

Beacon Rock Wikipedia entry

primative · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2022 2:37 pm Post subject:

More great photos, and adventure.

Yes, those crazy fisherman. Back at Coon Is. they would have been fishing for Shad, and I suspect that is what you are seeing at Beacon Rock. They are a lot of fun to catch when getting into a run as you saw back at Coon Is. Some of my Veitnamese friends enjoy eating them, and the way their mother prepared it for us, it was good, but bonier than I have patience for, for future table food. They are considered a premier crab bait, in the herring family, oily, and it is my go to bait for fall crabbing, though I have friends that limit out simply using chicken, and tell me you don't have to handle those stinky Shad. Laughing

Each to their own.

hardee · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:13 pm Post subject:

Great pix Colby. And nice write up too. Sorry I didn't make it. Getting ready to launch for the SEVENTY48 and R2AK with a PIWR training session tomorrow. (PIWR = Person in the water, recovery) done on my own vessel with a 1 to 1 USCG training officer. -- I am stoked.)

Still hope to catch up at some point.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 1:34 am Post subject:

Enjoyed the day at Beacon Rock, and it was a quiet night. A sail boat did show up late in the evening and docked behind me. I left there today, with a good push from the current now behind me. And of course still a head wind! But not as strong as it was when it was blowing from the east. I started out with 10mpg, but as I got farther down the River, things settled out to about 8.4mpg. I ran at 1300 rpm, and settled in at around 8 kts. I don't know what's up at Port of Camas-Washugal. I was told when I called that their Transient dock was still under construction, and they had no room for transients. Yet, when I went by there today, I could see no construction, the dock looked open (I'm pretty sure it's the break water dock), and there were some boats on the inside of it, with room for quite a few more. Saw some interesting ships go by as they were headed to the Portland Rose Festival. Several war ships, specifically 703 and 710. Then there was Ironwood (I believe). Perhaps a training ship? Saw a lot more commercial traffic today. Several large freighters and tows. And one of the American passenger ships. (American West today. Saw American Empress the other day.) Water was pretty calm, with a few what I imagine were tidal swells. I made it to Port of Kalama and relaxed listening to some music in the park here. My brother also stopped by for a short bit on his 3 hour drive back home after work. I am several days ahead of schedule, so will likely pull out Friday, and spend a few more days with my brother. Likely stop at Cathlamet tomorrow. I had 18 gals of gas left, which might be enough if I maintain the 8mpg. I'm not that daring and don't like to burn below 15 remaining, so I put 10 gallons on, which should get me back to Warrenton even with a bit higher fuel burn than I've been experiencing going down river. And still leave me with the 18 gals of buffer fuel. The price of gas here at Kalama is 5.95/gal for regular. Oh, I did see another C-Dory on the north end of the island, just before St. Helens and Sand Island. Couldn't make out the name of the boat, and since I had decided to make Kalama by 5p, I didn't have time to stop and say hello.

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 2:47 am Post subject:

Vancouvers new emergency response boat.
https://www.cityofvancouver.us/fire/page/vancouvers-quick-response-boat

Canadian Warship 710 on it's way to the Portland Rose Festival
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Brandon_(MM_710)

Canadian Warship 703
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Edmonton

The USCGC Ironwood is now used as a training ship for Job Corps.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Ironwood_(WLB-297)

I have not seen a barge like this before.

A view of Mt. Rainier from somewhere between Camas and Kalama

He seems to be a little far from the ocean. He's between Camas and Kalama.

At the north end of Sauvie Island

In case anyone was wondering...

NORO LIM · Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 8:43 am Post subject:

I have been REALLY enjoying your account and pictures of your time on the Columbia. Thanks so much for posting. I have lived in SW Washington for more than 75 years, and have fished and traveled along the river some, but haven't spent nearly as much time there as I would like. It is one heck of a river. I am old enough to have watched dip net fishing at Celilo Falls before they were inundated by the building of the Bonneville Dam.

I think the mountain in the beautiful picture taken from the river may be Mt St Helens (or what's left of it!) rather than Rainier.

Thanks again. I'm living the adventure, if only vicariously!

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 10:59 am Post subject:

Thanks Bill! I stand corrected. I looked at a large map and that is Mt. St. Helens. I should have looked at the map earlier! Colby