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Portland to Astoria in a OC-6 Sat May 5
Shane Baker
05/06/12 #12468
While most were racing in Bellingham I was on the Columbia River paddling with a group of guys from Mountain Home Canoe Club. We paddled an OC-6 from Portland to Astoria, just over 90 miles in 12:30 including a few breaks for snacks. GPS says 90.5 miles total, 12:02 hrs moving, 7.4 mph average, 16.9 mph max, stopped for 32 minutes. Things were going well until we hit a head wind at Cathlamet. The last 10 miles were brutal with 20 mph head winds and 2-4' waves. The sun came out the last 2 miles.It was cold all day. We began in the dark up by the Portland Airport at 4 am and were out of the canoe at 6:30 pm in Astoria. I figured about 45000 paddle strokes. No blisters or hot spots and only slightly sore muscles. I hurt more following a hard interval session.
Shane
Larry <lbussing@…>
05/07/12 #12469
12 hrs of paddling is a long time. Not too shabby for an old guy. But how can you possibly not be sore?
Larry B
Dale McKinnon
05/07/12 #12470
Shane- That wall of wind has a name: Little Cape Horn and it's notorious. It held me down for 32 hours last summer when I rowed the Willamette and Columbia Rivers (Sellwood Bridge to Cathlamet). Battling from Cathlamet to Astoria… Wow. Kudos to you and the crew, although folks unfamiliar with the rivers and their currents will raise their eyebrows at “16.9”. I wish I had been on the beach in Skamokawa to see an OC-6 on the river. What a sight for those that did see you.
Does anyone have photos they've put online?
Shane Baker
05/07/12 #12471
Very few pictures taken, none by me. Too busy paddling. We had a slave driver in the boat calling the shots.
@ larry: I thought I would be wasted but nothing. Sore muscles similar to a good hard days labor. Zero blisters. I did suffer a leg cramp on the drive home. Felt fine yesterday, feel great today. Don't know why I'm doing so poorly in races.
