Winter Kayaking on the Willamette River

Wayne and I strapped our "Big Yellow Banana" on top of the Tempo for a drive down to Corvallis, Oregon. Our destination had two purposes. The first was to catch a (winning) USC women's basketball game at Oregon State. The second was to paddle the nearby Willamette River.

The next morning our first stop was Peak Sports. It's a huge store located in vintage buildings over two blocks in downtown Corvallis.

We got some excellent free paddling advice from store personnel. We also purchased a Willamette Water Trail Guide. It comes in two volumes depending on which part of the river you plan to explore.

The guide is available to print for free online if you like to plan ahead at the Willamette Riverkeeper. This organization was "founded in 1996 and are dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Willamette River. "


Based on the recommendation we got at Peak Sports, we chose the Water Trail segment from Corvallis north to Albany. It is listed as "Easy" and can be paddled in all seasons.

We took the Tempo right to the river's edge at Michael's Landing. The cement boat ramp is a bit worn, but gentle gravel slope is perfect for kayak launching.

It was very quiet on a partly cloudy February day, but we did have a cheering squad to send us off in true river style.

Stay tuned. Tomorrow I will take you along with us down the river.

Have you ever wanted to try kayaking? This river would be a good place to learn. You can contact Peak Sports at 800.427.6442 to find out about their summer tours and rentals. -- Margy

Kayaking the Willamette from Corvallis to Albany

Our winter kayak trip on the Willamette River started in downtown Corvallis, Oregon. After our launch (see yesterday's post), the river moved at a respectable 3 mph. That meant we didn't have to paddle too hard. As we passed a bit of graffiti we were reminded we were in Oregon State University territory. I can imagine college students enjoying this river in an inner tube during warm summer months.

The river is wide and deep, with very few snags and no sweepers on this leg. Even though it passes through private farmland, the banks are lined with trees and gravel bars most of the way. In addition, there are lots of designated landings and park land along the way. It's a true natural treasure. A lot of the credit goes to an organization called Willamette Riverkeeper.

It took us about three and a half hours to get to Albany. Along the way we saw lots of great spots for primitive camping on gravel bars and grassy knolls. We want to return to give it a try. Just before Albany we found a narrow backwater bay. The flow was minimal, the shallows were filled with water plants and Kingfishers zoomed back and forth loudly announcing their presence.

There were several landings to choose from in Albany. We picked Bowman Park and were pleasantly surprised to find a boat launch and dock. That made exiting the kayak much easier. Our plan was to get a taxi back to Corvallis. A couple enjoying the park with their toddler son overheard our call and offered to give us a ride for gas money. That sounded like a perfect solution. So off we went to retrieve the Tempo and the end to a very enjoyable day. -- Margy

The Birds of the Willamette River

One of the enjoyable parts of our kayak trip on the Willamette River was bird watching. Even on a cool February day we had quite a few sightings. But birds can be quick to take flight, but I did get a few interesting shots.

On departure, we had our send off from a small flock of Mallard Ducks, and all along the water trail we saw pairs and small groups enjoying their day on the water. They had a knack for catching the fastest part of the current to scoot downstream with no effort.

We found Canada Geese in pairs or small groups walking the gravel bars at the river's edge. We also saw huge flocks flying in V-formation overhead heading home to spend their spring and summer north of the border.

A wonderful surprise was seeing so many Great Blue Herons. One majestic bird stood his ground (snag) as we passed. Then an even bigger surprise, we discovered two Heron nesting sites in tall trees. The bare limbs allowed us to see multiple nests in close proximity to each other.

As we quietly paddled up the narrow bay near Albany, we saw a Grebe diving for fish or other underwater treats. We also saw several Kingfishers flying back and forth across the bay, loudly announcing their presence. But both were too quick for camera extraction.

We didn't see any Osprey, but saw several of the nesting platforms provided by the electric company on power poles. Yes, they are doing a service for the osprey, but they are also helping themselves by preventing nest construction near wires causing service disruption.

I am sure there were many more birds along the Willamette we didn't see or notice, but what we discovered was exciting. If you would like more information, the book Birds of Willamette Valley Region looks like an excellent resource. -- Margy

Canadian, Please

Today is the third anniversary of our landing in Canada as permanent residents. Wayne and I celebrated with a nice dinner out with a Pale Ale toast. We decided in 2006 that we wanted to move to Canada to live full time, and with the help of an immigration lawyer, that became a reality on February 11, 2008. Yes it took almost two years, but it was well worth the wait.

Here is a cute video that tells you why everyone wants to be Canadian.

Thanks to gunnarola for saying it so well. Now the question is, are you ready to be Canadian? -- Margy

Surprising Snow

This winter has been surprisingly mild. We had a cold blast with lingering snow in November, but it has been pretty docile since.

This morning I woke at the cabin to an unexpected snow storm. Not the bitter kind, but a warm, wet one.

It lasted until noon, then turned to rain, washing the lovely white mantle away. -- Margy

Home Again Jiggity Jig

YEA! Today I get to go home. Homecoming is always sweet, no matter how long the absence. Don't you feel that way? Wayne and I discovered our float cabin by chance in 2001 and haven't wanted to be anywhere else ever since.

Since we've been retired, we've been there almost year-round. Well, that is until this year for me. Mom's back surgery and recovery have kept me away from home for over four months. She is doing much better, so this homecoming will be especially sweet!

Wayne is going to drive me to the South Terminal at Vancouver Airport to catch the Pacific Coastal flight to Powell River. From there it's only a 25 minute flight up the Sunshine Coast, a fifteen minute drive to the Shinglemill Marina, and a 25 minute boat ride up Powell Lake to my cabin in Hole in the Wall.

What will I find? I know my floating vegetable garden needs some attention. I never got it put to bed for the winter like last year, so I will need to pull all of my old root crops and chop everything up for the compost pile. I hope my strawberries have survived the cold without being mulched. Maybe I'll use some of my carrot top clippings to cover the roots for the rest of the cold season. Will our resident squirrel still be hanging around looking for peanuts? Will any of the birds returned yet? What will I find?

Actually, it doesn’t matter. I'll find the best place in the whole world. Our cabin on Powell Lake inspired my husband Wayne to write the Coastal BC Stories series. You too can head Up the Lake and Farther Up the Lake through his books.

Do you have a place that inspires you? Maybe it is where you live, or a vacation home or destination. Maybe it is that special place to sneak away to when you want to be alone. Let us know about it and why you like it so much. -- Margy

What I Found

Wayne and I left Bellingham at 10:00 a.m. so I could catch the Pacific Coastal flight from the South Terminal at Vancouver Airport to Powell River. Twenty minutes later I was on final approach for a pretty emotional homecoming. I drove straight to the Shinglemill Marina and was up the lake and in my cabin by 2:00 p.m. Sometimes I forget how easy it is to get from one place to another.

I immediately did a walk around the decks and out to the garden. It was almost like I had only been gone overnight rather than four months. And thanks to Wayne, everything was ready for me to enjoy three days of relaxation.

Yes, my garden needed work, but Wayne had helped by cutting down my asparagus last fall. My strawberries were still okay. Their dead leaves were acting like a natural mulch. My carrots, chard and a bit of spinach were doing so well I decided to leave them in at least for now. Only the woody beets had to go.

I didn't see any birds or squirrels, but I put out some seeds and peanuts just in case. Then this morning I woke to a surprising snow storm. A beautiful way to end the short stay in my little home up the lake. Thank you to Dave and Marg for a lovely dinner back in town. And thank you Jeanne and Wayne for making my whole trip possible. -- Margy