COLUMBIA RIVER AND SAN JUAN BOATING ADVENTURES

The Columbia River shoulders its way through narrow gorges in places and spreads out like the photo to be wide and remote. The photo was taken between the Snake River entrance to the Columbia and The Dalles, where the familiar Columbia Gorge begins. Here, though, the few inhabitants along the river are engaged in grape-growing and ranching.

Historically, down river a short way the river plunged over Celilo Falls, a mainstay site for Indian fishermen. The locals accepted an offer to purchase the Falls by the government, and a dam eventually was built there to smooth the way for upriver transportation by barge or boats. Although it appears that, for once, the government did reimburse the Indians fairly, the tribes still mourn the decision, as the Falls were an important part of everyone's lives and traditions.

Downriver a bit more is a mecca for wind surfers because of the usual strong winds that are formed by the gorge. The area becomes a colorful panorama of bright sails skipping across the ruffled waters.

Back in Bellingham, my area, summers are hot, almost too hot at more than 80 degrees and generally dry for most summer months. Our refuges from heat become the San Juan Islands or Lake Whatcom, about 15 miles long at the very edge of the city, or other smaller lakes. Bellingham Bay blossoms with the sails of larger boats, sometimes host to major sailing races. I have enjoyed both boating on the Columbia, 200 miles distant, or locally in the San Juans and Bellingham Bay at my doorstep, especially the research for my book, Columbia River (Caxton Press, 2013) on the historical and present happenings along this 1200+ mile river. My own family has had a small cabin in the San Juans for decades, so I already had enjoyed many experiences and conversations with fellow islanders to contribute to the San Juans: Into the 21st Century, and to share them with you.

While doing a magazine article about a major race beginning in Bellingham some years ago, I had to brace myself on the deck above the "doghouse" and quickly crawl around to the other side when the sailors "came about." They told me not to fall in, because they wouldn't come back to pick me up until the race was over.  BRR, Bellingham Bay and San Juan waters are from the North Pacific and are COOLLLDD.) I stayed on deck on all fours or seated.