1. Tell me about the differences between the three rivers. They got larger as we went on to the sea.

"The Clearwater was definitely the most beautiful - In fact, we want to start higher on it someday. The Snake was always desolate, lava rock - barren. The Columbia started like the Snake, then got prettier on down. The water got murkier as we went EXCEPT right where the Snake joined the Columbia - right there the Columbia was clearer, then it began to get murky as we went... Then we began to get a lot of seaweed which would occasionally tangle our propeller."

2. What surprised you most about the trip?

"How few people were boating on the Snake. We started to get some boats at Umatilla, Hood river - but for the most part, we were alone."

3. What was the most interesting experience you had on the way?

"I thought the most interesting part of the trip was when we met people on Coon Island on the Multnomah channel who lived on their boats. In fact, we're talking about doing that in about 20 years!

"Carl says, the tides."

4. What was it like going through the locks at the dams? Were the people involved helpful and friendly?

"Going through the locks was way cool. The people were VERY helpful and friendly. In fact, they wanted to know about our boat - what is was, etc. Sometimes they would come right over and talk. It seemed to be a big event and several people would come out to look over and investigate our boat. The first lock I made Carl tell them it was our first. They really took time to help us.

"By Bonneville, we were so casual about the locks, we tied up at the top and took a nap because we had 45 minutes before they'd let us down. We had a marine radio - which made it WAY easy. You can ding bells or call from a Cell phone to go thru' on the scheduled downriver 'recreation lockage' - but the radio is best. In fact we heard that barges take precedence over Rec' boats. The Bonneville lockmaster was called by a barge who wanted to go through w/ us - & he refused the barge. He said, 'I got a rec' boat waiting, it's their turn, just tie up and wait. We'll get you through ASAP.' We were SO relieved because a guy in Umatilla won't go thru the locks anymore because the only time he did they put him thru with a barge and he said that was the scariest thing he'd ever done. The tugs have huge power which really churns up the water. He had to go by the barge & the wall to get out & it was NOT fun...."

5. What kind of reactions did you get from people who saw you along the way?

"The reactions were so funny. One guy said, 'You're a bit north for the Grand Canyon aren't you?' But most of all you'd just see people look, then look again and stare. Many people just asked what kind of boat was that - they'd never seen the likes! They'd just say, 'What is that boat for?'"

6. What did you enjoy most about the trip?

"We really enjoyed the trip. Carl said we have NEVER done anything like that before - we mean, being able to stop at docks, get fuel, groceries, etc. We are always on very wild rivers, wilderness - no people. People, once we found them, were SO nice. It was fun to see all the different boats once we got to Portland & down. I loved living on the boat & did not want it to end."

7. What was the scariest or hardest part of the trip?

"The HARDEST part, the waves & wind. It was INTENSE on the Snake, and after the Dalles until Bonneville dam on the Columbia. Sometimes it was scary - not to Carl. But the pounding of the boat on those waves - it was yucky. We started to get up at 4 in the morning to beat them - BUT, they would hit us about 5 AM. We would duck into coves to escape them but the boat would just be tossed by incoming waves. The Dalles was probably the worst. We tied up in a cove for the night & it POUNDED us. We never got to sleep. The pontoons really took a beating. In fact we've got to repair them.

"Another HARD thing was the ticks - but they seemed to peter out after Arlington [was it the flea & tick collars we got in Arlington???]."

8. Tell us about the military jets that buzzed you.

"The first jet to buzz us was when we went up the Paloose river about 3 miles. After that they seemed to seek us everyday & tip their wings. The last one we saw was around Bingen. We'd both seen jets way out on wild rivers before. I think it's fun - Sometimes they get right down in the canyons in Utah. It must be a wild ride!"

9. What did you learn?

"Carl said he needs a better ham radio antenna."

"I learned to appreciate block ice OVER cube. Cube doesn't last a damn in the cooler. Also, that produce is SO much better there than here in Utah. In Umatilla when the marina guy, Warren, gave me his car to go up to the store, I felt like a kid in a candy store in the produce department! It was a riot. I think I just stood there with my mouth open - drooling! We really learned how to live on the boat - & how to cooperate with each other - more than any other trip. Other trips we get off the boat to camp - This was close quarters, sometimes WAY too close! We were on the boat for 22 days!"

10. Would you do it again? Why or why not?

"NO - there are too many rivers we have to do before we die! We do a different major trip every year. Last year it was all the forks of the Flathead near Glacier park. The summer before, Alaska, the summer before, Idaho's Main Salmon & Payette's. Next summer were thinking about more rivers in Montana. We're doing the Grand this next March for a month. Our next BIG expedition in the works is either the Yukon or the Stikine. WHEN we do the Stikine we come out on the Inside Passage in Alaska. So you see how it goes - so many rivers, so little time!"

"The only repeats we really do are our rivers here locally - West Water, Cataract - on the Colorado. We're heading up to do the Snake in a couple of weeks right under the Tetons."

Miller Island sunrise	McNary Dam Lock

	This is the Queen of the West - a paddle wheeler that goes from Astoria to Lewiston. Kate and Carl saw her on the Snake, then going into the Columbia from the Snake & here near the Dalles. Kate said, she "heard" her first - she had an unusul whine that was unmistakable. So even though they were in a cove sleeping, Kate heard this noise, got up and readied the camera. Voila', The Queen!
	This is a giant sturgeon in a pond by Bonneville Dam. The sturgeon won't climb the fish ladders - bummer! Notice the anchor in the sea weed. This was Kate & Carl's last camp near Astoria.