Big Bad Bruce and Belinda B the ex- joined me early Friday morning for a downriver shot from the Washington end of the big bridge to the Ilwaco boat basin, on the Lower Columbia River. Photos here: http://www.pbase.com/bartenderdave/sndtrp We were a little late on the launch to get tidal assist and instead got tidal resistance almost all the way, threading gaps in three massive pile dikes along the outer edge of East Sand Island. A soft gray day made for a peaceful time. Hordes of cormorants and pelicans added spice along East Sand. Lunch on the upper end of West Sand replenished some very whupped puppies enough to make the remaining three miles to Ilwaco across Baker Bay. A dead gasoline engine studded one end of a relict cable ferry arrangement which served the horse seine operations on West Sand Island, fifty years ago or more. Baker Bay also has a couple thousand piles left from fish weirs and similar operations, mute testimony for the glory days of Columbia River salmon runs. Only ten miles, but I was pretty tired at the end from fighting head current. Next time, we'll get up earlier and beat that tide! -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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 Sat Jul 19 2008 - 04:22:20 PDT
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