Day 1 Going to San Diego

"Dawn comes early on a boat... everyday day just about sun up"

May 27th, 2017

It was best said by the character Captain Ron from the movie of the same name, "Dawn comes early on a boat... everyday day just about sun up".  We gathered at the boat at 5:30am just in time to see the dawn breaking over the Columbia River across the Hayden Bay.

Charing, Theresa, Bill, Paul and his son, and I gathered at the boat and stowed the last of the supplies away.  Bill went to work packing the items need in the refrigerator locker so he knew where things were.  Paul filled the boat's water tanks full, while I did last minute preparations on storing and uncovering the boat.

As 6:00am rolled around we took a quick crew photo and through off the dock lines.

As the sun continued to rise we motored off into the bay and onto the Columbia River.  It was hard knowing that it was the last time I would motor my CarolMarie out of the bay and the Hayden Island where she'd spent all of her life.

When we hit the Columbia the river's current made itself known.  The high amount of rain water from the long winter was all now running off the mountains creating a fast river current.  I immediately called the Interstate 5 Bridge for a lift.  The CarolMarie's highest point from the water line is 62 feet, with the small waves I always ask for at least 64 feet of clearance under the river bridges.

I-5 Bridge

Isn't wasn't long before the bridge tender opened the bridge and we were rapidly push through the pillars by the churning green water.

I-5 Closing

As it closed, I watched and Charing rushed in the car to take a photo of us from the bridge.  Unfortunately she was too late, she got stuck in traffic.

Next was the last swing for us of the Vancouver Railroad Bridge.  As it swung open all I could think about was this was the last time through these two bridges.  Bridges I had opened so many times for cruising and voyaging up and down the river on three different boats.  Now it was time to say good by to them both.

Vancouver Railroad Bridge

With the motor at 1800 rpm (70% of maximum throttle) we did about 9.3 knots SOG (speed over ground) do to the heavy current.

We passes by Sauvie Island as the sun began to warm the air, and the realization of the journey's start sank into me.   For many years working in technology I dreamed about the day when I would go down the Columbia, hit the Pacific and make that big left hand turn.  Well today was the day I thought about so many times before.

I was sad to see the places I had spent my free time at pass by as we made way down river.

Scenic Sauvie Island

Now that we had begun our journey I woke up the fourth crew member Otto, the Auto-Pilot.  Otto works tirelessly without much complaining.

Otto mounted to the right of my foot

Otto has a long remote control cable allowing us to sit anywhere on the boat and steer her.  St. Helen's, Oregon and the end of Sauvie Island came quickly.  It wasn't long before we were passing Rainer coming up to the Longview Bridge.

Rainer, Oregon

Once your at Rainer, bridging the river in front of you is the tall Longview Bridge.  From our home in Oregon there are four bridges to pass to hit the ocean, and we were now approaching the third of four.

Longview Bridge

We traded watches through the day with four hours on and eight hours off. Below Paul is on watch, giving Bill insights into traffic on the Columbia River.

Paul (yellow coat) and Bill (black cap) on watch.

The next milestone to pass was Cape Horn on the Columbia.  Cape Horn is a large ridge that hugs the river acting as a wind barrier for short distance, but later accelerates the wind as you near it's end.  We have been at Cape Horn where the winds were 30 knots on the nose, and other times when it's been calm and still.  As we approached Cape Horn the winds were 15-18 on the bow of the boat.

Approaching Cape Horn

Cape Horn didn't bother Paul at all.  Like an experienced cruising sailor he'd brought an entire brown paper bag full of paperback novels.  Since he wasn't at watch he settled in, and enjoyed the Oregon summer sun.

Paul decked out in his summer attire.

As we approached the open waters of Astoria Bay traffic began coming in from sea.

Traffic on the River

The bay was extremely windy and choppy making the last five or so miles a rocking and rolling ride.

Buoy on the bay

 But finally the welcome site of the city on the hill, Astoria.

Astoria

There was only one more bridge to go under and then we'd enter into the West Basin Moorage in Astoria.

Going under the Astoria Bridge

We had called earlier in the day and reserved an end tie. We came in about 6:30pm a 12 hour ride from Hayden Bay.

CarolMarie tied up at the West Basin Marina

We walked up to a tavern called the Portway, which is famous for being haunted.

After a great meal we took showers, put on our seasick patches and turned in.  Tomorrow we will cross the bar about 2:00pm as slack tide approaches.