Back Onboard

Today was sweet, I drove to Scappoose, Oregon to get back on board Shatoosh. As I crossed the Columbia the dense fog prevented any sight of the mighty river. The engine fired right up after 2 months of sitting in the cold and rainy weather. I let her run a while, shut her down and checked all her internal fluids, vacuumed the battery and engine compartments and then started her back up just in time for the fog to lift.

How nice it was to cruise down river a bit and make my turn around Coon Island and head back up river with the sun shinning on my face. Three eagles caught my attention, along with lots of cormorants flying here and there. I dodged what seemed like a forest of  floating debris. It  was so good to be back on the river with my trusty steed beneath me.

I do love being in nature, tuning into the rhythms of the water and feeling the incredible pulse of the divine in all things.

The Puyallup River Subsides

The river looked quite high this morning as I drove across the 5th St bridge, but tonight the levels have receded. So I will turn in, knowing that I will sleep peacefully tonight and awake fresh in the morning to see another day of rain and grey skies.

Rainy Days and Nights

The rivers are swelling with all this constant northwest rain. The Puyallup River near my house gained 6 feet in the last 24 hours. It is about 7 feet from reaching beginning flood staage, fortunately for me I live on the high bank side of the river. Remember to go to my right side bar and you can check the river height on any river in the United States.

I'd love to be somewhere warm, dry and cruising in Shatoosh. It is even raining in Hawaii. Oh well, it offers time to plan my summer cruise.

The New Year Brings New Readers

I just checked my blog stats and to my surprise, someone is reading the blog today from Gabon, in west central Africa. If you are out there, please email me and let me know about you. You are my first person checking out the blog from Africa. Another new reader is from Lativa.

Whoever you both are, you have won a grand prize... if you are ever in America, you will be entitled to a free boat ride on Shatoosh. Happy New Year!

hirareid@yahoo.com

2 January 2011 Happy New Year

Well, I am still in the desert area of El Paso, Texas, where I did not see any water in the Rio Grande, as I crossed it the other day into New Mexico. I did get a boating photo of myself taken last September from Zac on the Viola Helen, a custom aluminum cruiser. This is the closest thing to boating or being on the water in a while.

I am taking the Portland Pudgey, for a test drive out of Walker Island Dock.

Happy New Year to all my blogging and boating friends.