Heidi
July 31, 2008, 1:46 pm, Bonneville

This is a shot of Aquarius and her new crew in the Bonneville lock... at least it was sunny and warm... no foulweather gear here!

In the photo are Mark, Louy and Jess... all 3 deciding NOT to look at me.... or are they actually discussing what to do? Hmmmmm.

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Heidi
July 30, 2008, 11:40 am, Hood River/Cascade Locks...

(Photo of crew members Katie and Bob after crossing the Columbia River Bar...)

Aquarius is home.... welllll, she is in her slip in Cascade Locks, 20 minutes down the highway from home.

Mark, Bob and Katie left Garibaldi Friday night after repairs were done... just in the nick of time to get out across the bar, I might add! Then they motored through the night and arrived at Astoria way before sunrise so they stood off the bar until the tide was right and crossed from the mighty Pacific to the mighty Columbia River and in to the Port of Astoria!

Whew....

Jess, Louy and I arrived a few hours later and we did the changing of the guard with Bob and Katie taking my car to head back upriver. I looked at Mark and saw he was REALLLLLY tired so was happy to hear that he wanted to wait until Sunday morning to head upriver through Portland and the locks home.

After a good night's sleep, we left Astoria early Sunday morning to begin motoring up the Columbia. It was cloudy and cool so no sailing, just motoring. There was TONS of vessel traffic from large Hanjin container vessels to even larger car-carrier vessels. We also passed or were passed by barges as we meandered upriver.

During the day, the wind filled in and we were able to set the mainsail and motorsail along at anywhere from 5.5 to 6.5+ knots (we had also left at a favourable tide)

We decided to stop for the night next to Sauvie Island just before Portland and relax before making the final push homeward.

Wellllllll, as we were cooking dinner, we prepared to anchor and at the last minute found that the anchor windlass was uncooperative. So we had to circle while Mark called Kent to find out what repair he had made and changed... so Jessica and Louy finished BBQ'ing dinner and got the table in the cockpit set whilst we re-anchored after the quick fix on the windlass. Never a dull moment even while motoring along the river!

After a so-so night's sleep (for Mark and me... the two teens slept just fine, it seems) we got going at 0545 to be sure to get to Bonneville in time for the 1500 upstream lock time.

Monday morning was sunny and beautiful as Mark and I motored along past Portland and through the I-5 train bridge (they have to swing the bridge for us) and past PDX. We managed to have a little wind to help us along especially as we approached Bonneville Dam. Our SOG was slowing dramatically though as we worked our way through lots of current but we managed to get to the locks in time to be told that there was commercial traffic ahead of us. We waited, circling, below the lock and barges headed upstream and a Coast Guard cutter came downstream. We got through the lock by 1600 and motored the last few miles to Cascade Locks to arrive by 1645.

I was glad to have the extra hands on deck through the locks and docking in CL. Jessica and Louy did great handling lines and fending off the boat in the lock and both of them helped get us secured in the VERY tight confines of the marina. Believe me when I say that a 47' boat in that marina is a tight fit! Cascade Locks marina is clean and well looked after so we are happy to be there, really close to home after all the time we have had Aquarius in other locations: Anacortes, Port Angeles, San Fran, San Diego, La Paz....

And now the work begins! Mark has already been back to CL cleaning and organizing and we are heading there again today to do more.

More adventures later... thanks for reading!

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Heidi, for Mark & the crew
July 25, 2008, 10:17 am, Garibaldi/Tillamook

There are always exciting times aboard a boat... no matter whose boat it is!

As I left my yoga class last night, I got a call from Mark that they had a problem with the water pump and were heading in to Tillamook/Garibaldi. The leak was only a drop or 2 every few seconds but they were leery of it failing at the wrong time (like going over the bar).

Last night they made it in to the harbour with the CG standing by just in case. There is a spare aboard and they were checking to see if it worked. Got a call later that it wasn't going to be that easy so they decided to wait until this morning to source some parts in town. Kent and Bob are our intrepid repairers and installers.

Mark called this morning to tell me that after talking to local who helped him locate a welder, the part is just as it should be (needed something welded?) and they will install it and hope to be going in a few hours... Apparently this gentleman was able to weld it in a few minutes and charged a nominal fee... how wonderful!

Mark went on to tell me that the guy who helped him was a really interesting artist/welder who makes wind sculptures... he has his name and I am going to post info about him... if you are in the area, be sure and look him up.

Kent will be leaving the crew sometime this morning as he has to be back in Hood River later today. I am on standby waiting to hear when and where I'll meet them. Bob and Katie are able to stay aboard for a while more at least.

(photo: Google image of the area at Garibaldi/Tillamook)

Update: If testing on the water pump goes well, it looks like they are going to leave a little later today to get to Astoria sometime late this evening. The weather is good and there will even be favourable winds (W, SW and S at various times).

I am sure that Mark and the whole crew are tired after being on the go for such a long time... They left for SD on July 10th and after making such good time to SF, the 2nd leg has been a lot rougher going and taken more time than they had hoped. Almost home...

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Heidi
July 24, 2008, 10:46 am, Off Lincoln Beach

Heard from Mark this morning at 0730. They had a windy night but the winds did diminish after midnight as the NOAA forecast said. Mark said they just kept on going...

This morning the winds are 10-15knots and they seem to have lost the favourable current, but they are still plugging along at a good rate.

As I looked at the map today I see just how far Mark, Kent and Bob have come since leaving San Diego... and how far even before that that Mark and Antonio traveled from La Paz to SD.

I am driving out to join the ride tomorrow... hopefully with a couple of extra hands, to enjoy those last few miles up the mighty Columbia River. We have a slip waiting for us in Cascade Locks... which is developing a great reputation among 29er, 49er and other sailors as the place to go. Last weekend through to this coming weekend there are loads of racers from all over the US sailing the waters at Cascade Locks. Actually the 29er's US Nationals are from the 25th to the 27th! Check this link out about sailing in the Gorge: Columbia Gorge Racing Association

More later... and HOPEFULLY I'll get some photos from the guys at some point.

OH, I have been neglecting our photo gallery but over the last few days have been adding old photos from the trip down the US coast and the Baja Ha Ha trip in 2005. Seems like SO LONG ago!

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