Reverse-inspired by Rev. Bob and his fantastic trip stories, and knowing I cannot write as well as he can, never-the-less here is a brief trip report. Twelve hardy paddlers set out for the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge along the Columbia River, which separates Oregon and Washington. The weather was cool and slightly windy, bordering on cold. Rain clouds scudded by at a fast clip. Everybody wore ski clothes, wool caps, rain gear. This clearly was going to be a survival exercise. Geese and ducks flew overhead, with a smattering of ospreys, herons, and an eagle or two. The slough that was our conduit from the boat launch to the Columbia River was too shallow in places to paddle, necessitating a nice cool boat drag over barely wet sand. We beached the boats on a smooth strand along the main stem Columbia, built a fire, and roasted hot dogs. A brisk rainshower did not deter us from devouring multiple dogs while huddled under large golf umbrellas. After viewing serious wind and whitecaps out on the river, and not being particularly brave, we decided to not complete the circuit all the way around the wildlife refuge. Turning tail, we performed a strategic retreat along the way we had come, and re-entered the relatively calm domain of the protected slough that would lead us eventually back to the launch area. No kayakers were lost or injured in the making of this adventure, and no one suffered severe hypothermia, although one overly enthusiastic paddler did suffer a plastic fork injury to his hand during lunch. Bradford R. Crain Department of Mathematics and Statistics Portland State University 724 SW Harrison St. 334 Neuberger Hall Portland, Or 97201 Phone: 503-725-3127 E-mail: crainb_at_pdx.edu Fax: 503-725-3661 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Nov 12 2006 - 10:10:33 PST
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