I started the trip at Cedar Park’s boat ramp on the Willamette River in West Linn, Oregon. My plan was to meet up with an old friend at a ship he was working on for dinner and then help him the next day finish installing the back wall before the rain set in. The fish tender was moored near Sauvie Island Bridge 18 miles away.

My Yak - Cedar and Plywood frame mounted to a Northwest Seascape Point 5 – Limo tandem sea kayak and then covered it with marine canvass covering converting it to a long-range Sea Kayak capable of caring a full size guitar, laptop, dog, large Ice chest, folding lawn chase, latrine (marine head), and good food and drink I think you get the idea everything thing you would need at home.

If you look close at the far sand beach you can see a three foot tidal range. I never thought I would be fighting a incoming tide on the Willamette River but that and the relentless north wind cut my average speed to 2.1 knots making a three hour trip into a almost nine hour marathon leaving me stranded after dark for two hours in commercial shipping traffic with only one LED nav light.

Before I could leave I took my ageing dog Abby out on one last little jaunt on the water. She has been a trusted companion on many a yak trip and I fear at 15 years old this will be her last time out.

Abby and I.

The water was placid on this section of the river the reflecting trees and sky off the water looked like a Rockwell painting. You can see Gorge Rogers Park in the distance where the river turns north. My wonderful wife and daughter dropped me off coffee and lunch there, yum thanks!

Soon the shoreline gives way to mega mansions as large as hotels. I half expected Al Pacino to come out on the balcony and introduce me to “his little friend” this house looks just like the one in “Scarface” the movie.

My first stop was at the beach at Oaks Amusement Park I could hear people screaming on the nearby rides it made me feel like I was at Coney Island. I finished the last of my coffee and cracked the first Corona of the day and headed out toured Ross Island still oblivious to my slow progress and late arrival.

After I left Oaks Park and was approaching Ross Island I heard a loud crash from in front of me. At first I thought the tour jet boat usually stuffed with thirty plus passengers had hit a rock and was on fire. But to my relief there was only one person on board and he was now inspecting the bow of the jet boat for damage and the fire was orange colored ribbons tided behind the giant fans that propel the boat. As I approached to see if I could help he speeded past me we exchanged waves and he just shook his head in disbelief “Thank God He Saw Me” was bouncing around in my head.

As I got closer I could see it was not rocks he hit but a very visible florescent green Aid to Navigation buoy. My little voice kept repeating over and over “Thank God He Saw Me”.

I stopped and got fish and chips to go from “Newport Bay’s” floating restaurant at Portland’s waterfront. They where very nice to this yaker for an upscale restaurant. I ate a couple peaces of fish and chips while going bye Portland’s Maritime Museum. The museum is housed in an old Paddle Wheeler used in the movie “Maverick” on the barge next to it is a full size 1930 era Gillnet boat fully restored. As I started to float upriver eating my dinner It sank in I was going to be late but I would be there well before dark.

I felt like I was in a scary movie with the sun setting behind these unfinished condos and gang graffiti scrolled defiantly across the retaining wall. I could feel fatigue setting in but I was not going to stop for a rest here, it was too creepy.

The Port of Portland’s piers stretched out for miles. There was a bridge under construction on the pier; it was amazing I do not know how there going to lift it off the pier. If you look in to the distance you can see the base of a railroad bridge about two miles away, that’s were the Ports piers finely ended. I stopped and emptied my beer out in the darkness at the railroad bridge and when my headlamp shown down oil sheen was bubbling up out of the sand. The oily smell and the sheen on the beach brought home the fact I was standing in the middle of one of the top superfund sites in Oregon. The river won’t be healthy again till we can convince some one to Clean This Mess Up. To learn more contact: willamette riverkeepers

I finally arrived, it was now 8:45 in the evening and my buddy had gone home hours ago. I pulled my yak up on to the work raft it had been a long long day and I only had enough energy left to sneak below and slip into my sleeping bag and I fell instantly in to a deep sleep till the next morning when my buddy called, I have not slept that sound in years.

The Point 5 kayak on work raft with the Dagney’s unfinished wall in background.

Dagney from water with her winter shrink raped cocoon in place.

Dagney’s luxuries galley: I love the mix of the new appliances and old-time woodworking.

My buddy Larry, Master Shipwright at work on the back wall. The best way I can assist him is by staying out of his way.

I praise the owners of this 1904 Schooner for there stewardship of such a maritime trashier. Notes the hull is incased in Ferro-cement to help preserve it for future generations to enjoy.

On the water again, it is almost time for my wife to pick me up at Fred’s Marina she is such a gem.

SneakyWhale.com