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Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, since there are still two NWCBC events between now and then, but it's time to start planning for the Saturday, July 11 "Islands of the Columbia Adventure," which should be one of our more memorable 2009 outings.
The main idea will be to explore some beautiful backwaters in one of Washington State's best-kept secrets--Wahkiakum County, on the lower Columbia River. Included will be back channels of Puget Island, near Cathlamet, along with nearby Steamboat Slough and the historic fishing town of Skamokawa.
Cathlamet will be our primary launch point, using facilities at the town's nice marina. Here's a link:
http://www.cathlametmarina.org/index.html
While we'll be boating on the Columbia River, this section of the river should be calmer than what some of us have experienced in the past when cruising from Sand Island to Portland and back...and there will be several quiet back channels to use. Our guide for this lower Columbia exploration will be Tom Horn of Portland, veteran of many of our Slough Run events, who has taken his runabout through many of the quiet backwaters of Puget Island, Cathlamet and Skamokawa.
While the event is scheduled for one day, many of us from the Puget Sound area will head down sometime on Friday, overnighting within striking distance of the Cathlamet launch ramp. (In the past, when doing Sand Island or other Columbia-Willamette events, several of us have stayed at motels in Castle Rock, which has plenty of accommodations, a big Safeway and other amenities. The drive from there to Cathlamet should take less than an hour...and we'll plan to launch at roughly 10:30-11 a.m. on Saturday.
Personally, we plan to take Friday the 10th off altogether and drive straight to the Cathlamet area, staying in one of the cabins at the marina or somewhere else in the general area. (Lots of accommodations in the county, and campgrounds if you're bringing an RV or like tent-camping.)
Besides our boating adventure, other attractions in the area include a Friday afternoon farmer's market on Puget Island (3-6 p.m.); the historic covered bridge at Gray's River, where I've always wanted to photograph a classic boat, and of course the picturesque and historical towns of Cathlamet and Skamokawa.
While we can all drive home Saturday night following the event, I think we'll make a weekend of it and overnight in the general area, doing some boating on nearby Willapa Bay Sunday before heading home.
So, this will be a "must" event for members in Oregon and Southwestern Washington...and at least a "near-must" event for folks who live in the Puget Sound area. If you have any doubts, just ask any member who's participated in past Sand Island cruises, or last year's Willamette River Cruise. It's very easy to get hooked on boating in the Columbia-Willamette region!
Anybody want to indicate their interest in attending?
We'll post more details on accommodations, etc., over the next few weeks...without trying to compete for attention with this coming weekend's big Skagit 31' launch party in Friday Harbor, or the June 27 Alder Lake Treasure Hunt...two other "must" events.
Below are a few shots from previous Columbia-Willamette adventures, just to whet your appetite.
- Marty
The main idea will be to explore some beautiful backwaters in one of Washington State's best-kept secrets--Wahkiakum County, on the lower Columbia River. Included will be back channels of Puget Island, near Cathlamet, along with nearby Steamboat Slough and the historic fishing town of Skamokawa.
Cathlamet will be our primary launch point, using facilities at the town's nice marina. Here's a link:
http://www.cathlametmarina.org/index.html
While we'll be boating on the Columbia River, this section of the river should be calmer than what some of us have experienced in the past when cruising from Sand Island to Portland and back...and there will be several quiet back channels to use. Our guide for this lower Columbia exploration will be Tom Horn of Portland, veteran of many of our Slough Run events, who has taken his runabout through many of the quiet backwaters of Puget Island, Cathlamet and Skamokawa.
While the event is scheduled for one day, many of us from the Puget Sound area will head down sometime on Friday, overnighting within striking distance of the Cathlamet launch ramp. (In the past, when doing Sand Island or other Columbia-Willamette events, several of us have stayed at motels in Castle Rock, which has plenty of accommodations, a big Safeway and other amenities. The drive from there to Cathlamet should take less than an hour...and we'll plan to launch at roughly 10:30-11 a.m. on Saturday.
Personally, we plan to take Friday the 10th off altogether and drive straight to the Cathlamet area, staying in one of the cabins at the marina or somewhere else in the general area. (Lots of accommodations in the county, and campgrounds if you're bringing an RV or like tent-camping.)
Besides our boating adventure, other attractions in the area include a Friday afternoon farmer's market on Puget Island (3-6 p.m.); the historic covered bridge at Gray's River, where I've always wanted to photograph a classic boat, and of course the picturesque and historical towns of Cathlamet and Skamokawa.
While we can all drive home Saturday night following the event, I think we'll make a weekend of it and overnight in the general area, doing some boating on nearby Willapa Bay Sunday before heading home.
So, this will be a "must" event for members in Oregon and Southwestern Washington...and at least a "near-must" event for folks who live in the Puget Sound area. If you have any doubts, just ask any member who's participated in past Sand Island cruises, or last year's Willamette River Cruise. It's very easy to get hooked on boating in the Columbia-Willamette region!
Anybody want to indicate their interest in attending?
We'll post more details on accommodations, etc., over the next few weeks...without trying to compete for attention with this coming weekend's big Skagit 31' launch party in Friday Harbor, or the June 27 Alder Lake Treasure Hunt...two other "must" events.
Below are a few shots from previous Columbia-Willamette adventures, just to whet your appetite.
- Marty
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