Dane and Lynda Kayak

Time: 3.07 hours Distance: 10.03 miles We put into the Willamette River at Steven's Point. It was a bit cool and overcast with a forecast for rain showers which did indeed show up about half way through the trip. We paddled down-river until the North end of Ross Island. There we went back up-river around the back side of the Island taking a tour through the Ross Island Lagoon. We then continued up-river to Milwaukie before turning back and heading back to get out at Steven's Point. The motor boat traffic was fairly limited but we saw more paddle-craft than ever before. We saw plenty of other kayaks, paddle boards, a canoe, single person outriggers, a five-person outrigger, a dragon boat a surf ski and even one long swimmer training for some event. Lynda preparing to put-in. Lynda paddling the Willamette early in the trip. Lynda paddling around two barges in the Ross Island Lagoon. A buoy in the Ross Island Lagoon. Barges in the Ross Island Lagoon with the city in the background...

Time: 2.93 hours Distance: 8.3 miles We put into the Columbia River from Cascade Lock Marine Park on a beautiful and calm morning. The wind and waves picked up withing a short time and we encountered very choppy conditions and sometimes heavy wind as we made our way up-river. We turned off the river and explored side inlets in three different places and mostly avoided the wind and waves there. We finally turned back when we hit heavy continuous winds but immediately upon turning back the winds stopped and we had a relatively calm paddle back. A beautiful picture of the boat dock at the other end of the park where we put in just before we did so. Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda paddling up-river. Looking up-river (East) near the start of the trip. Lynda coming back into the Columbia River from one of the inlets we explored. Dane paddling down-river. Lynda paddling by a small island near the end of the trip. After beers at Gorges Beer Company.

Time: 3.07 hours Distance: 10.13 miles We put into the Yamhill River at Dayton Landing Park in Dayton, OR on a day that was forecast for rain. We came prepared with our suits and rain gear only to find that most of the trip was sunny and warm. The river was up much higher than the times we've been on the Yamhill before (perhaps eight feet higher) and flowing fairly quickly. We paddled down-river for about 2.5 miles then turned around and paddled back up-river, past our entry point and all the way to the Lafayette Locks before finally turning back to make the easy paddle back down-river to get out. The up-river paddling was slow but going down-river was quite easy and a lot of fun. We encountered exactly zero other people. A pleasant paddle all around. Lynda preparing to put in. The Yamhill River right after putting in. Lynda padding up the Yamhill River. Lynda padding up the Yamhill River just after we pass our original put-in point. Lafayette Locks, mostly under water. Dane and Ly...

Time: 3.2 hours Distance: 9.5 miles We put into the Columbia River at the docks in St. Helens, OR on a beautiful day. Temperatures got close to 70 F, there was very little wind and we had mostly sunny skies. We paddled up-river for about two hours before turning back. River traffic was very light with the exception of a couple of large ships, one of which got too close for comfort. Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda on the docks just before getting in. Some old structure in the water near St. Helens. Lynda paddling up the Columbia River with a heavily loaded barge passing in the background. Lynda paddling up the Columbia River. The large ship we got a little too close to. Notice the huge bulge of water at its front. Dane taking a picture as the ship goes by. A buoy for Lynda's "Buoy Series" taken on the way back. The lighthouse near St. Helens on the way back. Dane paddling the last stretch. Lynda paddling the last stretch. After beers at Running Dogs Brewing in St. Helens....