Dane and Lynda Kayak

Time: 3.25 hours Distance: 10.52 We originally planned to put in at Hebb park, paddle up the Willamette to the end of the Pudding River and then paddle up but Hebb park was closed due to Covid-19. Instead we drove to around Aurora and put in several miles up. We paddled down-river for about an hour until we hit waters that were too swift to paddle back up and where there was no good way to portage. We then turned around, paddled past our put-in point and up-river for another ninety minutes. It was a beautiful day and the river offered a lot of variety including several places where the current made it challenging to continue paddling up-river. Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda paddling down-river. The Pudding River. A bridge on the Pudding River. Dane going under a second bridge on the Pudding River.

Time: 5.33 hours Distance: 12.58 miles We put in at St. Helens and paddled down-river and around Goat Island. The tide was going out the entire time and the current was some of the quickest we've paddled in. Along the way we also saw perhaps the most number of Bald Eagles we'd ever seen. The trip down was very quick (1.3 hours) but the trip back was agonizingly slow (4.2 hours) making for our longest kayak trip to date. We were exhausted when we got out. Lynda preparing to put in. A Bald Eagle sitting in the tree watching us. Lynda heading down-river. Lynda with a tug-boat passing by. Lynda with a huge barge coming up behind.

Time: 3.25 hours Distance: 9.5 miles We put into Scappoose Bay and made our way down-river past St. Helens and around Sand Island. The current in the Columbia on the way back was very strong and made for slow going. Lynda preparing to put in. Our kayaks on Sand Island as we take a short break. Lynda taking pictures from Sand Island. Lynda watching a barge go by on our way back. Lynda paddling back. Lynda and Dane in the weeds exploring around Scappoose Bay.

Time: 3.62 hours  Distance: 12 miles  We once again returned to the Farmington Paddle Launch. This time we started heading downriver but ran into a blockage at around 1/2 mile. There was no easy portage around the block so we turned back and went upriver to Rood Bridge Park again. Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda going under a downed tree. Lynda going by some old trees in the water.

Time: 3.32 hours Distance: 11 miles Once again back at the Farmington Paddle Launch. When we left the house it was sunny. As we unloaded the kayaks and put in it was dumping cold rain on us and we were lamenting the fact that we did not bring our suits and gloves. The sun came out about fifteen minutes later and then it got cold and rained again an hour after that. All told we went through four rain cold rain showers as we made our way to Rood Bridge Park and back. In between each shower was beautiful weather. A very strange weather day. Dane's kayak in the rain just before putting in. Lynda heading up-river in between rains showers. The river during a rain shower. Lynda just after getting out.