Paddle
Oregon
In the fall of 2001 I was asked by the Willamette Riverkeepers
to help
guide 100 or more canoers and kayakers 100 miles down the Willamette River.
Not knowing at all what to expect I joined up for a 5 day trip down the
Willamette River This would be 5 days on the Willamette during its most
scenic
time of year and running through some of the river’s most beautiful places.
The event was catered
and having a hundred or more like-minded paddlers
for company made this an excellent event.
As a pod leader I spent my
first day with kayakers covering basic strokes and giving them pointers on the
best route through moving water hazards. Then
I switched over to tandem canoeing for the remaining days, teaming up with my
friend and mentor Earl McCracken.
We had a great time. We
renamed our “pod” a “gaggle” and earned the nickname “Gaggle of
Geezers.” On the beach on the
first evening we
received lessons
from Olympic champion John Tuttle. We were catered excellent
meals and enjoyed beautiful weather. We camped in our own tents and sleeping bags but the Paddle
Oregon team provided us with showers, bottled water, lunches, first aid, and
even masseuses (for a minor additional cost).
We paddled through the towns
of Independence
(an overnight stay for us), Corvallis, Newburg, and Salem.
We camped at the Willamette Mission and took breaks on remote sun
drenched beaches as we watched the other pods drift by.
OPB was there taping us for Oregon Field Guide and participants in our
pod were even featured on the show.
Much of this event was pretty
typical guide work for me, (See Northwest Discoveries on my “links” page) my
days were long and tiring. But I
had a great time and I am sure that all of the people signing up were enjoying
themselves to a much greater degree. Should
Travis Williams and the Willamette Riverkeepers call me back again, I’ll be
there.
A Gaggle of Geezers looks at the map. Below, members of our pod sight see below Corvallis.
Our tent town in Independence.
Libby:
My friends Randy (L) and Rochelle (R) talking to Dave (center):
