Fun on the McKenzie River, June 15

Our summer parking is really just a stones throw from the McKenzie River.  In fact, the front of the house faces the River and the Reims have a fishing platform they use during the summer for fishing salmon.  Joel has been itching to get a boat with a motor and Walter (Joel's brother in law) also thought it would be a good idea so they ordered a SeaEagle FoldCat, along with a small trolling motor and marine battery.  It is one of those inflatable boats that are suppose to be easy to put together and transport. It didn't take Joel very long to inflate it and put it together, but it looked pretty complicated to me.

The boat fits perfectly on the car, but the seats and oars have to go inside.  Joel and Walt set off for their maiden voyage and launched the boat  just a few miles up the river above the Leaburg Dam.  I followed them and put in my  Kayak and trailed along behind them.    The guys were having a great time fingering out how to use the boat in the river.  When the anchor was lowered to see how the boat would do, the current caught the boat just right and flipped it over and dumped Joel and Walter and belongings in the cold river water.  It was a good thing everyone had PFD on! The water was really, really cold and it took all three of us about 30 minutes to get the boat flipped right side up.  The anchor was stuck and Joel had to cut it loose and the casting bar was also stuck and wouldn't release. I can't emphasize how important it is to wear your PFDs when on the water. They were in calm, flat water with the boat flipped.  Sadly, the next day,  a father and his adult son who were paddling in a canoe not far from us  flipped over  and the father parished.  The father was not wearing a PDF.  So be sure and wear those Personal Floating Devices!!

On a lighter note, a few days later Joel and I put our Kayaks in the water just below the Leaburg Dam and floated by the Reim's house.  Walt was on the deck and took some great pictures.  Below we are checking out the best route through some minor rapids. 

Wow, that was fun!!  

We beached our kayaks on the little beach across from the Reims.  That's their house and the fishing platform. There is a huge drop off on the banks so there is no way to launch or dock the kayaks there. We have to go about 1/2 mile down river to a ramp.  

 I think this is a better picture of the house.

Joel has been too busy to put the sea eagle in the river and the weather has been raining, raining, and more raining.  Stay tuned for the next clear day!