Pairadice and ASD Columbia River Adventure 2018

[GFC]

John and Tom and Eric, we'll all get together at Ice Harbor Brewing at the top of the docks when they show up here. The way the current is running against them they may make it here just in time for July 4th fireworks!


That's OK, the Klondike Bars will still be frozen and my offer for buying the first round still stands.


Good luck with Bonneville. Your upstream entry into the locks will be against a strong current caused by the heavy spill over the spillways. Here's what it looks like in a heavy spring runoff year....

 

[BandB]

That's OK, the Klondike Bars will still be frozen and my offer for buying the first round still stands.

Wifey B: I'd have to go buy more Klondike bars as the ones you have now would be eaten at the rate they're moving.

 

[Crusty Chief]

We decided to stay put put here at beacon rock for another day. The girls climbed it today while Tom and I solved issue’s here at the dock. Plan is to head into Bonneville on Sunday Morning.
Only another 160 miles to go, must be on vacation.......oh ya, were retired, I forgot!
Cheers all!

 

[GFC]

John and Tom, when you get to Bonneville Dam you're going to run into a strong current on the north side of the river. IMHO your best approach to the lock would be to stick close to the south shore. Here's what it looks like with the river's heaviest current shown in red and your best approach shown in green.

It won't be bad and you two will do just fine. Take a few photos as you're heading into and going through the lock.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

So from Beacon Rock it was suggested we stick to the north shore until we hit your green line then cross over.

What say you Mike?

 

[Crusty Chief]

From Mrs CC

Hiked Beacon Rock yesterday 838’ above sea level, an ancient volcano. 53 switchbacks. The Columbia River is the highest we’ve ever seen it! Tons of recent snow melt! Heading east through the locks tomorrow.

 

[hollywood8118]

John and Tom, when you get to Bonneville Dam you're going to run into a strong current on the north side of the river. IMHO your best approach to the lock would be to stick close to the south shore. Here's what it looks like with the river's heaviest current shown in red and your best approach shown in green.

It won't be bad and you two will do just fine. Take a few photos as you're heading into and going through the lock.

GFC,
I think your path shows the green line to the entrance of the old locks.. not the currently used big lock?
HOLLYWOOD

 

[gsholz]

Agree with Hollywood. Last time we went upriver ( a few years ago) we used the new locks. I don't think the old locks are still in use.

 

[schrater]

Agreed, should be the southernmost lock

 

[GFC]

Geeese, I'm glad someone has hit ship together! Thanks Hollywood, great catch.


OK, let me try this again, but please everyone double check my work. I had a battle last night with a bottle of good Tequila at a party and I think, from the way I'm feeling today, that the Tequila won.

Here's the right path. Stick to the north shore but don't go north of the islands. Stay in the main channel, on the north side of it, until you can sorta see around that corner you're going to pass on your starboard side.

At that point you'll be out of the main current and headed toward the RIGHT lock, not the old one that as was previously mentioned, is closed.

Now I think I feel a great NAPPORTUNITY coming on.

 

[Crusty Chief]

Thanks gang for the clarification. The Quality assurance management team here is the bomb! That is the exact route we took today.
Pics to follow.

 

[Crusty Chief]

Keeping Tom off the walls is a tough order. Pleading with the lock master to close the stern gate, just so the rookie could pull ASD onto the bollards Pairadice took the middle of the lock so he could take any spot he needed. Struggle as did and blaming his poor Admiral for ever minor incident he finely was able to tie up.
We are no longer lock virgins.

Hope to spend a few days here at Hodd River Marina.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Well I am at Hood River, almost in one piece....

 

[GFC]

John and Tom, glad to hear you are no longer virgins and that you made it through relatively unscathed. Good job guys.


If you two are tied up at the guest dock, the one that sits in front of the fuel dock, let me know if you have any issues with their power pedestals, would you?? We had all kinds of problems getting power there.


You're going to have quite a head start on me. We won't be able to pick the boat up until Saturday, June 2nd. I'm going to run on plane all the way home (weather permitting) because we have to leave town for a 2 week trip on 6/7. I'm planning doing 6/7 at either Hood River or The Dalles, 6/8 at Arlington and 6/9 home.


I hope to see you two somewhere along the way. Be safe and have fun.

 

[mramoo]

Why is your line tied to the railing instead of a cleat?

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

If you two are tied up at the guest dock, the one that sits in front of the fuel dock, let me know if you have any issues with their power pedestals, would you?? We had all kinds of problems getting power there.

Hey. Yes we are at the guest dock. I had issues with the electric. I would turn on my panel and it would pop the C/B. I then tried switching on one circuit and then the other. So far I am running OK.

John is running good too and didn't have any issues.

The problem is they install GFI plugs.

Wish they would have put water to the dock.

 

[GFC]

You are having the same problems I had when we went downriver and stayed at Hood River. Their GFI's are too easily tripped, but I don't know a way around that.


Take a stroll over to the fuel dock, they may have water there.


CC, nice pics. Thanks for posting them.


Jealous Mike

 

[gsholz]

You'll find more and more marinas with GFI pedestals as time goes on. If the GFI trips you have a ground fault on the boat, i.e. some of the current is returning via the ground conductor or water. Ground faults to water are lethal to swimmers in fresh water (because the body is a better conductor than fresh water). You should get that fixed.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Beacon Rock to Hood River

We left Beacon Rock early. We figured we needed an hour and half to make the 9 AM lockage. As soon as we hit the main channel our speed was 1.5kts. We were also behind a barge. Funny he was traveling faster than we were at 2-3 kts.

We made it to the lock and the wind came up, blowing 30 mph! Well this just sucks! The tug we were following got locked up and then we had to wait for a tug to be locked down. This took awhile. We tried to tie up to the pilings, but the wind was blowing to hard we couldn't get to them. The one time I did make it close I bumped my bow pulpit and the huge lines attached to the piling couldn't be wrapped around anywhere on our boat. So we just hoovered with the wind.

We finally made it inside and as John stated we had a heck of a time hooking up to a bullard. After several tries and moving in front of Pairadice we lucked out. I think the lock operator felt sorry for me and closed the doors. Well we are no longer lock virgins.

Exiting the locks and getting back in the main channel the current was cooking again! It finally calmed down once we got around Cascades Falls. It was interesting to see all these platforms that the First Nations use to dip net salmon.

The run to Hood River was windy, but on our stern with following seas. The AP worked hard. Yep love my AP!!

You can tell when you get close to Hood River as wind surfers show up all over the place. There were a few times I had to lay on the horn. That opened up a hole. When we pulled up to visitor dock, I was lucky to have the wind in my favor and blew ADS into the dock.

We will be staying here a few days. Pull up to the fuel dock to get our water tanks topped off. Wish they would install a water line to the dock.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

few more picks...

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

You'll find more and more marinas with GFI pedestals as time goes on. If the GFI trips you have a ground fault on the boat, i.e. some of the current is returning via the ground conductor or water. Ground faults to water are lethal to swimmers in fresh water (because the body is a better conductor than fresh water). You should get that fixed.

I have checked it and I have installed some GFIs on my old boat. The problem is the older boats trips the dock GFI because of the way they were wired.

If the above is true, then it would trip the GFI 100% of the time. Currently it has been holding since yesterday afternoon.

This GFI is a good subject in another thread.....

 

[GFC]

Yup, pretty typical to have the wind on your stern. Makes those downstream waves just stand a little bit taller.


You guys are making pretty good time. On your run from Bonneville to Hood River (~25 mile trip) what speed were you able to cruise at and how long did it take you? What was your speed over ground and your speed through the water?

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Hood River OR to The Dalles OR

Man, the wind can blow in the Columbia River Gorge. We set up plans to leave at 7 AM, thinking the wind would be a little less. The wind started to blow at 4 AM and only increased. So why did we choose to go? On any given day at Hood River in the summer it blows. It is only 21 miles to The Dalles at the other end of the gorge. The wind blows here to, but not as bad.
We left the dock at 7 AM and I was pinned to the dock, so I rolled off the dock. Next thing I hear from Kay “We lost a fender!!” I tried to go after it, but it was blowing too much. Oh well, there goes $110.

The waves were high but blowing at our back. The waves would just roll under us. Auto Pilot helped a lot! It was also hard to see with the morning sun. We came up to this real narrow part called Memaloose Island. And when I say narrow enough room for one tug and barge. No passing in here. Then I hear Kay yell: Fish net!!!! Tom Fish Net!!! Sh#t…… Released the auto pilot and did a hard to port turn! Barley missed it. Dang that was a pucker factor of 10+!!

The scenery starts to change here too. Less forest and more barren brown high desert and farm land. Lots of wineries too.

We made it into the Dalles at around 10 AM. Tied up at a nice dock. Unfortunately, they had a fire in the yacht club and there is no water. If we can’t get water at our next stop, I will have to de-pickle the water maker.
Tomorrow, we will be travelling 42 miles and 2 locks to Arlington OR.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

A few more pics. Hope this isn't too much......

 

[dhays]

Not too much at all.

 

[IRENE]

Enjoying your story, thanks!

 

[GFC]

I've never been on that river so I'm enjoying all these great pics!

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

I've never been on that river so I'm enjoying all these great pics!

Yeah right. Klondike bars and maybe a few AAs. Although Crusty has your adult beverage

 

[hollywood8118]

ASD,
If your looking for a couple spots to anchor on the trip upriver the hook on the NE side of Miller Island and the West side of Crow Butte and pretty decent. We surfed Volunteer all the way from John Day Dam to Arlington in 30kts of wind. Arlington has great docks and in heavy wind a tricky entrance and was interesting.
Have a great time on the rivers
HOLLYWOOD

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

We lucked out today. No wind. Should make Arlington this afternoon. Lots and lots of nets on the north side of Miller.