Hi again!
We put the kayak in at Scapoose Bay Marine Park. The staff at the Kayak Center were super helpful with suggestions for paddle trips and they had a good map for sale (one used by fishermen that included tips on where to catch fish). We started out on a slack tide moving to a flood tide. We hadn't figured on the stiff wind that we ran into as we left the bay and moved into the Multnomah Channel. We took a break on a little beach to renew our strength. Lots of osprey along the way. They take advantage of dead trees, pilings, abandoned cranes and towers that offer safe nest sites and river view-points. It seemed they'd bought up all the waterfront we passed. Good fishing, I bet. I noticed that they used whatever was handy to build their aeries: rushes, branches, even old plastic bags. We got used to their high pitched complaining cry: cri-cri-cri-cri-cri!
Finally the town of St Helen's came into view. Opposite the town there is an island built from dredging the river and channel over the years. It's name is as you might suspect, Sand Island. Over time a forest of cotton-woods has grown up. St. Helens has built a park there and there are several campsites for travelers. After pulling the kayak up on the beach, I ventured a short ways up the beach until I encountered a wicked burr which I have named Harpoon Hooks. It was the fiercest name I could come up with for this weed that won't let go without tearing holes in your skin. They seem to have taken a foothold with all the other plant colonists on the west side of the island.
The paddle from St Helens is very short and it seems that homeless camp here, too. It is a well built camp ground with a dock, tables, metal fire-pits, and vault toilets. No water, but that's something you have to expect when you visit islands and we always carry several gallons when we're paddling. Tomorrow our plan is to paddle to St Helens for our morning coffee. Good Night All!
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Kayaking on the Columbia with Gil and Jane 8/10/16
Hi There!
Shortly after returning home from my Oregon adventure, I was back on the road, this time driving south on I-5 with a 20 ft kayak on the roof. Jane had been helping a friend move from La Grande OR to Idaho Falls ID, and thanks to a generous new friend, who gave her a bonus certificate, was flying to meet me in Portland. Just as I came rolling into the Arrivals Pick-up, there was Jane. I must say, I was really glad to see her smiling face.
Soon we were on the road to Sauvie Island , the biggest island in the Columbia, several miles north of Portland on Hwy 30. This would be our first time kayaking on the Columbia. Sauvie Island is home to the massive Ridgefield wildlife reserve and at the same time it is a major farming area, supplying vegetables and fruits to metropolitan Portland. That first day we surveyed the island, first checking out the Multnomah channel, which runs along it's east side, and noting launch sites and potential campsites/picnic spots we could make use of. Two good launch sites included the Hadley Dock at the end of Ferry Rd. not far from the Sauvie Island Bridge and the Gilbert River boat launch at the far north end of Sauvie. Here I'd like to mention two good resources that I used: the website of the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and the book " the Lewis and Clark Columbia River Water Trail " by Hay. Sauvie Island is very popular with cyclists, but the roads are narrow with no paved shoulders and the speed limits are too high, 45 mph plus. If you do cycle pick low traffic and daylight hours.
We were both a little tired from all our rushing around, so we hunted for a nearby campsite, which we found a little north and west just off Hwy 30 near Scapoose ( Indian for 'gravel'). It was a little county park "Scapoose Co. RV park". It cost $20/night to tent and the host let us put our tent wherever we wanted. Free hot water showers, too. It was next to the co. airport, and unfortunately, a large development was going in down the road with gravel trucks starting up early in the AM. Well... time to get some rest. See you in the morning.
Shortly after returning home from my Oregon adventure, I was back on the road, this time driving south on I-5 with a 20 ft kayak on the roof. Jane had been helping a friend move from La Grande OR to Idaho Falls ID, and thanks to a generous new friend, who gave her a bonus certificate, was flying to meet me in Portland. Just as I came rolling into the Arrivals Pick-up, there was Jane. I must say, I was really glad to see her smiling face.
Soon we were on the road to Sauvie Island , the biggest island in the Columbia, several miles north of Portland on Hwy 30. This would be our first time kayaking on the Columbia. Sauvie Island is home to the massive Ridgefield wildlife reserve and at the same time it is a major farming area, supplying vegetables and fruits to metropolitan Portland. That first day we surveyed the island, first checking out the Multnomah channel, which runs along it's east side, and noting launch sites and potential campsites/picnic spots we could make use of. Two good launch sites included the Hadley Dock at the end of Ferry Rd. not far from the Sauvie Island Bridge and the Gilbert River boat launch at the far north end of Sauvie. Here I'd like to mention two good resources that I used: the website of the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and the book " the Lewis and Clark Columbia River Water Trail " by Hay. Sauvie Island is very popular with cyclists, but the roads are narrow with no paved shoulders and the speed limits are too high, 45 mph plus. If you do cycle pick low traffic and daylight hours.
We were both a little tired from all our rushing around, so we hunted for a nearby campsite, which we found a little north and west just off Hwy 30 near Scapoose ( Indian for 'gravel'). It was a little county park "Scapoose Co. RV park". It cost $20/night to tent and the host let us put our tent wherever we wanted. Free hot water showers, too. It was next to the co. airport, and unfortunately, a large development was going in down the road with gravel trucks starting up early in the AM. Well... time to get some rest. See you in the morning.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Gil's Oregon Trail- Albany, OR cont.
I'm back...
Visited the Santiam-Albany Canal. It's described as a 19th century engineering marvel, first constructed in the 1860's, improved and lengthened over time. It's now 18 miles long. At first it was used more for transportation, but now is used more for power and water.In 2005 a fish ladder was added.
I rode all around Albany: up and down Bryant Road ( part of the northbound Willamett Valley Trail) along the Calapooia River, where restoration efforts are underway. They grow hazelnuts here. The ground is scraped clean of weeds and packed flat. Each tree is surrounded by plastic barriers. I'd like to grow these in Discovery Bay, since the climate is about the same and wild hazelnut grows all around. I need to study up on orchard farming.
I camped out along the river, watched bats flying overhead in the fading evening light. In the morning a woman at the info center helped me out with maps, both historical and current, and I went off on an exploration of local bike routes. At first I checked out the waterfront using the Monteith and Dave Clark trails. I rode down to a Bowman Park, north of the DC trail, then cruised Water,1st, and 2nd Streets. I picked up a thorn, probably while trundling my bike through the brush. No matter, it was an easy fix. I Got breakfast at Pop's Branding Iron, as you'd expect it had a distinctly western flavor and the food was good.
I explored some dirt trail from Bowman Park which ran a couple of miles or more along the Willamet and neighboring oxbow lakes and sloughs. This was quite do-able on my road bike. Then I bumped into a TV reporter, Amber of KVI? Albany. She was doing a story about some caves dug out into the riverbank by homeless people, which the city had decided to demolish for safety reasons. I could sympathize with the difficult circumstances of the homeless, but recognized how caves could be a dangerous attraction to kids. She interviewed me since I'd been there and had an opinion.
I finished out the day riding exploring the Spring? trail and worked my way back to the RR station. I was lamenting the loss of my Camel-back water bottle when suddenly there it was, right beside the pot-hole that had jostled it out of my bag!
I had a short wait til the north-bound train for Seattle arrived. The trip home was one last long scenic movie highlighting the Willamett Valley and the country life. It was a good trip. I covered 466 miles in 10 days, or about 47 miles a day.
Stay tuned. I will be writing about Jane and me paddling the Columbia from 8/16 to 8/22.
Visited the Santiam-Albany Canal. It's described as a 19th century engineering marvel, first constructed in the 1860's, improved and lengthened over time. It's now 18 miles long. At first it was used more for transportation, but now is used more for power and water.In 2005 a fish ladder was added.
I rode all around Albany: up and down Bryant Road ( part of the northbound Willamett Valley Trail) along the Calapooia River, where restoration efforts are underway. They grow hazelnuts here. The ground is scraped clean of weeds and packed flat. Each tree is surrounded by plastic barriers. I'd like to grow these in Discovery Bay, since the climate is about the same and wild hazelnut grows all around. I need to study up on orchard farming.
I camped out along the river, watched bats flying overhead in the fading evening light. In the morning a woman at the info center helped me out with maps, both historical and current, and I went off on an exploration of local bike routes. At first I checked out the waterfront using the Monteith and Dave Clark trails. I rode down to a Bowman Park, north of the DC trail, then cruised Water,1st, and 2nd Streets. I picked up a thorn, probably while trundling my bike through the brush. No matter, it was an easy fix. I Got breakfast at Pop's Branding Iron, as you'd expect it had a distinctly western flavor and the food was good.
I explored some dirt trail from Bowman Park which ran a couple of miles or more along the Willamet and neighboring oxbow lakes and sloughs. This was quite do-able on my road bike. Then I bumped into a TV reporter, Amber of KVI? Albany. She was doing a story about some caves dug out into the riverbank by homeless people, which the city had decided to demolish for safety reasons. I could sympathize with the difficult circumstances of the homeless, but recognized how caves could be a dangerous attraction to kids. She interviewed me since I'd been there and had an opinion.
I finished out the day riding exploring the Spring? trail and worked my way back to the RR station. I was lamenting the loss of my Camel-back water bottle when suddenly there it was, right beside the pot-hole that had jostled it out of my bag!
I had a short wait til the north-bound train for Seattle arrived. The trip home was one last long scenic movie highlighting the Willamett Valley and the country life. It was a good trip. I covered 466 miles in 10 days, or about 47 miles a day.
Stay tuned. I will be writing about Jane and me paddling the Columbia from 8/16 to 8/22.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Gil's Oregon Trail-Sunday in Corvallis to Albany
Hello Again!
Thought I'd go to church, today. I'm not sure where my friends go, so I picked a Presbyterian Church like my home church back in Seattle.The church was planted by a Presbyterian missionary named John Hannah back in the mid 1800's The text of the sermon was Jesus' visit to John the Baptist. John saw right off who Jesus was. "It's me who needs to be baptized by you!" Jesus insists. He is the reality the Hope stood for. The Messiah has come as a human being. I understood something... that God is enlivening his Word. Not just then but right now! Jesus inhabits his Word. As real as flesh and blood. At that time God gave His stamp by His Spirit: there was the sign of God's Peace, the Dove and there was the voice coming from the Fire ( like the Burning Bush in Moses story) a sign of God's Eternal Presence. Good thoughts to carry with me as I wander in the "wilderness".
I had planned to visit the fair, but sadly I was too late, things had closed down. I've been fortunate, days have been in the 80's, though nights are cold. I think a blanket might be better to carry than my sleeping bag, except for the weight. Maybe a poly-fill 'throw' would work. Vistas very beautiful in the AM, with the sun coming up in the east and everything golden, even the trees are into the golden thing with Fall peering over the mountain ridges. Clouds are moving in and the chance of rain is 20%. I pass the Jackson Frazier wetland, a great place for bird watching. Plants include Bradshaw's Lomatium and Checker Mallow. Queen Anne's Lace is everywhere in the Willamet Valley.
I leave Corvallis by the north and east pedaling into Albany. Sunday's not the best time to arrive in a new town. I couldn't find any shops open, especially bike shops. I missed not having a map. After getting a little frazzled, I decided to slow down. A blackberry sundae at the Mr Freeze helped immensely, I recommend it. I started cruising up and down the streets of old Albany looking at old, old houses, kind of like Port Townsend, but more of them. I roamed Bryant Park which spreads across both sides of the Willamett. I sat on a picnic bench and listened to a Mexican Oompah band, playing for a private barbeque. Then there were the ducks, almost doing head-stands with their rear-ends in the air, while they dabbled for vegetation. More later...
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