Columbia Cogitations: 9/30/2011 Friday

7:00 AM Survey Start with a gorgeous sunrise!

7:28 AM Barge pushed by Tidewater tugboat / downstream

7:32 AM Sunshine bathes the riverside

7:41 AM Sighted harbor seal swimming at surface

7:48 AM Small harbor seal breached.

8:01 AM Harbor seal swimming at surface.

8:10 AM Large ~~ferry looking boat~~ sternwheeler heading upriver, but too busy with seal sightings to get name or port. *Edit: It was pointed out to me in the comments that this boat is actually the "Queen of the West", with a home port of Portland, OR. Apparently at the time of her relaunch, the Queen of the West the first paddle wheeler to sail the Columbia River in 85 years.

8:22 AM Large amounts of debris going downriver. Several logs, an oil barrel like object, and a number of smaller milled pieces of wood, in addition to some large branches have all floated down the river since survey start. More continue throughout the day.

11:37 AM Pan Leader (Hong Kong) / upriver

1:07 PM Pearl Ray (Monrovia) / downstream

2:26 PM A sailboat (did not get name or port) having trouble, but those on board don't appear to be aware of the problems. Their sail is let out too far, and should have changed tack based on the wind long ago. Sheets flapping. Those on deck wandering about, not looking particularly concerned, though one appears to be holding the end of a line as if looking for somewhere to tie it off. Apparently, when they had made it up to the 2nd spotter's position 6 miles upstream from me, another sailboat tried to help them by coming near and talking to them. Then, a gigantic ship came downstream. The one trying to help moved to the other side of the river to make way, but the sailboat with the colored sail didn't get out of their way - even though they were in direct path of the only route the large vessel could take. The ship sounded the 5 blast 'danger' signal, and the sailboat managed to move slightly out of the way, but it was a close call. Those on board apparently still didn't appear to be in concern of their flapping sails or brush with danger.