Dane and Lynda Kayak

Time: 3.02 hours Distance: 10.35 miles   We once again put into the Tualatin River at Cook Park and paddled up-river for just over five miles before turning back. The day was overcast and cool but we got very little rain except for the ten minute period right as we turned around when it came down fairly hard. We encountered no other traffic and winds were mostly light so the paddle was still fairly pleasant. Lynda trying to hide as she prepares to put in. Lynda paddling up-river early in the trip. The Tualatin River. Lynda paddling back down-river.

Time: 2.92 hours Distance: 9.55 miles   We put into the Columbia River at Henry J. Kaiser Memorial Shipyard in Vancouver WA on a beautiful day. We paddled up-river for about four and a half miles against a fairly heavy current before turning back and taking an easy ride back. The day started very calm but wind and swells picked up some about an hour in though they both receded again on the way back. Another pleasant paddle. Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda putting in. Lynda paddling up-river early in the trip. Lynda paddling up-river approaching the I205 bridge. A new entry in Lynda's Buoy Series. Osprey flying above a pylon with Dane in the background.

Time: 2.83 hours Distance: 9.04 miles We put into Lake Merwin at Speelyai Park and paddled East until the end of the lake met Canyon Creek. The day was overcast and cool but dry and there were very few boats. The paddle out was very calm but the winds picked up on the way back and we ran into fairly choppy waters. We'd forgone the wet suits due to the calm at the start but I was regretting that decision by the end. The winds calmed down significantly by the time we made it back so no harm.   Lynda preparing to put in. Dane preparing to put in. Lynda paddling around the point at Speelyai Park and into Lake Merwin proper. Lynda heading for a bridge at the East end of the lake. Lynda paddling in front of a huge cliff face. Lynda at the end of the road on Canyon Creek.   The end of the road on Canyon Creek Dane paddling back down Canyon Creek.

Time: 2.86 hours Distance: 9.05 miles We put into Lake River at the Ridgefield Boat Ramp on a day that started slightly overcast but then became mostly sunny and pleasantly warm. We paddled up-river for about 4.5 miles before turning back. The river was completely empty of traffic and the weather stayed warm throughout the trip. A very pleasant outing. Lynda preparing to put-in. Lynda padding up-river. Lake river looking North.  A very beat-up buoy. A Bald Eagle watching us on the way back down the river.

Time: 3.13 hours Distance: 10.12 miles We put into Scappoose Bay on a cold and overcast morning. We paddled West to where the Bay meets the Multnomah Channel then turned East and paddled up the Channel. We'd originally planned to cross the Channel and explore some of the inlets on the North side but fishing season had just opened and there were quite a lot of boats many of which were speeding up and down the Channel. The weather remained cool with light winds through the paddle but we only got a small bit of rain near the end. Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda paddling across Scappoose Bay shortly after putting in. Looking over Multnomah Channel with Mt. St. Helens in the background. Lynda paddling down Multnomah Channel on the way back. Lynda rounding the corner between Mulnomah Channel and Scappoose Bay heading back in. After beers at Loyal Legion beer hall in Beaverton, OR.

Time: 2.8 hours Distance:   We put into Whitaker Slough at Whitaker Park in Portland, OR on a overcast day expecting the rain that followed us from home to the park to continue. However, the rain stopped as we arrived and other than a very light sprinkle late in the trip we saw no more rain until we got out. The paddle was easy though the water was quite dirty and polluted. We saw quite a lot of wildlife and only a single other paddler in a canoe the whole trip. Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda paddling up the Slough. The Whitaker Slough. Dane going under a bridge on the Slough. Dane entering a culvert near the point we turned back. Lynda paddling back down the Slough.

Time: 3.23 hours Distance: 10.28   We put into the Willamette River at Willamette Park in West Linn, OR on a cool day with a weather forecast calling for intermittent rain. The rain never came and, the wind was light and we only encountered a single boat near the end of the trip. We paddled up-river to just before Hebb County Park and then turned back. Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda paddling on the Willamette River. Willamette River on the West side of the islands around Rock Island. Lynda paddling around the islands.

Time: 2.9 hours Distance: 8.52 miles We put into the Willamette River from Stevens Point and paddled up-river to Foothills Park before turning back. Once again the weather was fantastic and we lamented having to wear out wet-suits. River traffic was non-existent for the first half of the trip though in the second half it did pick up.   Lynda preparing to put in. Lynda setting off with a group of paddle boarders. Lynda passing under the Sellwood Bridge on the way up-river. Lynda paddling up-river. Lynda paddling back down-river in front of huge cliff faces across from Elk Rock Island. The Sellwood Bridge on the way back down-river.