Boating, floating logs & oil trains on a warm Mother's Day

Multnomah Channel, Oregon - The wet, chilly weather cracked open to nearly full-on summer for the last few days, prompting all manner of aquatic activity - including dunking in the 50-degree Multnomah Channel river water.

I'm serious.

I didn't take a plunge, but two brave neighbors did. And another amigo regularly dips in the river water regardless of temperature. Not this sailor. Not until the water hits at least 60 degrees. An even 70 degrees Fahrenheit would be even better.

Biscuit and I did take the maiden voyage in the latest addition to our fleet of boats - Evermore, a vintage, 10-foot long Gig Harbor Navigator dinghy. When we cruised Mexico we owned one which we used as a dinghy for our 48-foot every time we anchored. Evermore has a sailing rig that will make for some fun scooting about, too.

I had forgotten how tippy these small dinghies can be when you step in. I almost dumped it at the dock as we departed. Small dinghies are like aircraft - takeoffs and landings are the most  risky.

The warmer weather came after a long stretch of rainy days that helped feed  a hike in the water level of the river. Because our floating home, well, floats, a rising river is no big deal. But with a concomitant increase in river current, we had lots of miscellaneous debris floating by including logs. Among the miscellaneous debris were pieces of furniture, including an intact drawer from a dresser. 

One of those logs to avoid 

The warmer weather also cleared the clouds, making for some good star gazing, (including the Aurora Borealis for two nights) and brilliant daytime views of Mt. St. Helens to the north.

All this warm weather and fun for me evaporated when I heard the distant sound of a freight train. Train whistles reminded me the diesels were likely pulling tank cars to and from a terminal called the CEI Hub - an industrial facility environmentalists believe presents serious danger to residents. 

Activists have demanded the state legislature create a law to require companies to update local officials and emergency responders about petrochemicals and toxins transported and stored at the Hub. They also are asking public officials at various levels of government to make serious inquiries about all areas of concern.

They ended a letter to officials with this: "We are all just one earthquake, one train derailment or one human error away from tragedy."

I enjoyed the day on the water. But thinking about the potential environmental disasters waiting to happen, I need to ship the oars on Evermore and suit up in my journalist's uniform to check it out. Sooner rather than later.

A brief introduction to The River's Bend

MULTNOMAH CHANNEL, OREGON - Eagles swooping, fishing boats churning by trolling for salmon or sturgeon, logs passing quietly day and night. It's all part of life along this stretch water on the west side of Sauvie Island, northwest of downtown Portland.

That's a very brief description of my tiny slice of life in this corner of the Northwest.

The River's Bend was created to chronicle life along the river channel where this is being written but also the greater Portland, Oregon area, where rivers and water are a major part of life. You can barely get anywhere without having to cross a river. And that means bridges. Lots of bridges. If it works as planned, you will likely see also reports about things from Seattle and points east as well as occasional tales from even inland Oregon and Washington.

For those who have followed my writing in the past, you'll remember when I wrote under the banner of The Backpack Journalist. I'm returning to those roots, both here and on Substack where I currently publish essays under the name Write On and On. And my East Coast column, published in the Geneva, NY Finger Lakes Times will continue, too. Yes, it's named Write On.

The culture I came from - California's San Francisco Bay Area - has a lot in common with this place. Just add lots of rain and weather that shifts so quickly you have to check the forecast at least once an hour to have a half a chance at staying dry. But it has many differences, many of which I am still adjusting to after three years of residency.

I have discovered that my skills manipulating this blogging software are more than a little rusty. Thus some versions ended up with two rainbow pix. I'll tune up on it tomorrow.

More on all that later. Right now I hear sea lions splashing off my deck and a eagle just gave out a cry that might mean it's captured some prey. I need to check them out.