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Umatilla, OR to Lewiston, ID |
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Tomorrow we would tackle McNary and Ice Harbor.
We woke up to a pleasant day, the wind calm and the waters flat. We called McNary Dam and the
lockmaster had things ready for us when we arrived and the lock through was mostly uneventful.
I say mostly because we've definitely got to work on our tie ups a bit more, all through these
dams we've had to work hard at keeping the bow from swinging wide as the lock fills. It's
just not as easy as depicted in the literature put out by these dams. It's quite obvious that
these locks aren't designed for craft smaller than barges.
From this point on the trip became what we had imagined - motoring in the heat of eastern Washington
on calm waters, enjoying the boating, the company, the heat, and the vacation.
But that's not to say our trips continued without incident. No, that wouldn't be par for the
course with this boat.
We locked through the Lower Monumental and the Little Goose dams with our usual Keystone Cops routine,
but enjoyed the weather and water on either side of these structures.
After Little Goose we chose to moor for the night at Central Ferry Park near Garfield. There was
very little information on the charts about the moorages we used coming up river, so we followed
the marked channel in toward the docks. Ahh, but it became quite obvious whomever designed this had
no intention of a 40' boat coming in and we ran aground in the channel. So we backed up and went
looking for a place to anchor for the night. In looking around, sticking the bow of the boat here and
there checking depths (the channel went quickly from 80' to shore), the flybridge shift cable for
the starboard engine jammed and suddenly were stuck with an engine in reverse. So we shut it down and
I had to disconnect it to get control of it at the helm below. But we did get our anchor dropped and
spent a restless night wondering if it would hold (we were very close to shore, owing to the steep
shoreline).
Again we woke up to an extremely pleasant day, knowing that we would make Lewiston by tonight, at
the latest. And we did.
But of course, that too couldn't be without surprises.
Calling the first moorage, Hells Canyon Resort, we were told that the water was too shallow for us
and the harbormaster suggested we tie up at the Port of Clarkston, where the Queen of the West paddle
wheel boat moors. So we proceeded up there and weren't too impressed with the facilities (or
lack thereof).
So we called the Hellsgate Marina and asked if they could get us a slip. They could and all that was
left was for us was to get the bridge lifted at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers.
But this is O'Baby!!, remember. When Debbie called the bridge tender she was told the bridge was
being painted and the bridge could not be lifted until further notice. Sigh.
Passing the Hells Canyon Resort and Marina we had noticed many large craft, including sailboats.
So we made several calls to the harbormaster and determined that there is a sandbar blocking the
entrance, but that many boats just push through it. Well hey, we're damn near 25 tons, we're
diesel with lots of power. We'll dredge that sucker for 'em!
And that just what we did. The depth finder got down to 1.5' (we draw 3.8'), but we went
through without a bump.
That's where the boat is tied up now. Debbie and I, as well as her daughter Dusti and
Dusti's son Dylan are currently in a hotel room in Grangeville, Idaho on our way back to
Winnemucca, Nevada to take Joshy back home. We've still got to get O'Baby!! back down river,
so stay tuned for the sequel...
Chuck Whitt Debbie Guard