We’ve been in the midst of a heatwave here in Portland so yesterday we gathered 2 friends and headed out for a boat ride on the Columbia River in search of some relief.
The Columbia River Gorge has a special wind factory all its own so we knew that even though the temperatures were only slightly cooler, all of our sweat would be blown away!
Taking a ride on the Sternwheeler up and down the Columbia river is one of my favorite warm-weather treats. All year I spend time on either side of the river but to be actually on it, out in the middle of this wide and mighty river is a complete joy for me.
The sternwheeler is a triple deck paddle wheeler with a non-steam powered paddle that was built in the 1980s. This ride is a 2 hour afternoon cruise tracing a path of history that includes Lewis and Clark’s expedition, seeing traditional and still active First Nation salmon fishing platforms, the Bonneville Dam and the graceful Bridge of the Gods where Lindbergh flew his dramatic loop in 1927 as he completed his trans-Atlantic flight flying the Spirit of St. Louis.
Bridge of the Gods
fishing platforms
Another highlight for me is watching the world class windsurfers, parachute surfers and water-sporting athletes in action. Because Hood River is one of the top windsurfing destinations of the world, there are always scores of these talented surfers and often races to watch. They are so much fun to watch practicing their jumps and various other impressive collaborations with nature.
below is an 8 second film of a small jump. You can hear the wind and see the speed at which these athletes are moving
IMG_7131 from Ruth Greenberg on Vimeo.
the south portion of the Bonneville Dam
Throughout the ride, there are stunning views all around at all times, eagles and osprey in flight and catching fish and sometimes a nest can be viewed as well and of course always a steady diet of wind!
Knowing I am traveling a path where so many significant happenings have occurred gives me a sense of my place in history as well as a longer perspective of time. Over time, life for humans has changed so much yet in certain fundamental ways humans haven’t changed a whole lot. We still have a wanderlust, seek adventure, have the drive to innovate, we still need each other deeply and regularly and we crave meaningful engagement in our lives.
pulling into dock the ship
I hope you’re having a gentle Sunday and that these beautiful views and cooling vibes make it even better! I went a little crazy with the quantity of photos, thanks for indulging me.
this whimsical gem of a rendering of the Sternwheeler in metal was hidden away but I saw it on the way to the restroom