Home at last...

Phew!  We made it.   580 miles on the Columbia and Snake rivers.  14 days.

The boat performed admirably, never hesitating, splashing through windwaves as easily as cruising a glassy, lake-like river.  It was exciting, beautiful... frustrating and exhausting at times.  Both Glen and I have quite a few bruises from living day-in and day-out on a boat that was meant for 4-hour rescue calls staffed by 20 year-olds.  Our knees are creaky, but we're glad we did it.

It's good to be home.

Choppy river

Happy Birthday, Cap'n Glen!

We started out early from Umatilla this morning and into a nasty headwind on the Columbia.  Choppy all the way to Boardman.  I mean white-water, 10-foot spray choppy.  Tough way to start the day.

But we're here at Boardman, 9:45am, and having a late breakfast and second-tea.  It's a nice facility, with a walking trail we are about to explore...

Smacked by a beaver

One of the great joys of this trip is all the wildlife we've been seeing.  Many, many pelicans, osprey, geese, jumping fish, muskrats and more.

Our first day out of Lewiston, we decided to overnight in Lyons Ferry.  This time, we went to the north side of the river, and explored the Palouse River estuary.  As we sat on the side deck of the boat, our feet dangling over, we saw a beaver swimming across the reed pond.   A few minutes later a second one appeared, and we watched them climb the bank and then dive back into the water.  

The larger beaver swam towards our boat, watching us, then did an abrupt u-turn.  Several minutes later, he came back, came within 15 feet of us, and did another u-turn.  Then we thought he'd gone.  

All of a sudden, we see a streak come from under the boat and pop up just 5 to 8 feet in front of us in the water. It's Mr. Beaver.  He looks at us sideways and swims off with his head high above the water, making a sound like heavy, huffy breathing.  Just as he reaches the end of the boat… SMACK goes his tail in the water.  

We just got severely chastised by a beaver for being in his territory.  (At least I think that's what went on.)  I don't think he appreciated our laughter of delight at his warning.