Monday, April 7, 2014

Columbia River

Travel conditions were good and distractions few, so we made it all the way across Oregon in one day.  This brought us to the mighty Columbia river, and the boundary between Oregon and Washington.  We crossed the river at Biggs Jct, then just upstream, and just below the John Day dam is my favourite boondocking spot in the area.  There are more ‘civilized’ camp spots across on the Oregon side, but they are immediately beside the Interstate and the railroad, both of which create more noise than I want to deal with.  That said, there is also a highway and railroad on the Wa side, but both are further away and thus a bit less noise.  One thing I like about this spot is the river traffic going through the locks at the dam.  And they are literally within a stones throw from this bank as they enter and leave the lock.

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The tug ‘Sundial’ is pushing four barges upriver.IMG_3743IMG_3744IMG_3746IMG_3750IMG_3747IMG_3751IMG_3753IMG_3754IMG_3755IMG_3760

Approaching the downstream side of the dam.IMG_3762

The lock gate opens …

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The flotilla is all pushed inside..

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And the gate closes …

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After a while, the top of the tug is visible in the lock as it prepares to resume its upstream journey.IMG_3792

Across the river are some native fishing platforms, and the lower end of the huge fish ladder.

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1 comment:

  1. We also love to watch the operation of locks and dams. You sure are entering cool temperatures. A bit cooler than the southwest desert.

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