NW Inland Freshwater Rendezvous????

TRG said:
They have removed the homeless camps from Hayden island recently along with the Columbia pirate camp. It’s been a lot nicer this year, they tried stealing my boat last year from the slip but didn’t know it had a battery switch so I found it loose in the marina with dock rash down the sides of it. There is also a nice large boat ramp across the river in Vancouver at marine park, unfortunately there are some homeless vehicles outside the gate if they haven’t chased them off. They lock up the launch area at night and you can leave your vehicles parked in the lot if your out overnight.
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I still wouldnt trust it. I'm not in a position to replace my pickup. And with the lack of sheriff at their own facility, I really dont trust it. For the day would be fine. But not overnight. And not being 79 miles from home.

I would want to cross the river. My permit was a pain as it was. Really dont want to deal with an out of state agency for theirs.

I have use of a slip on that side of the track. He is up in Canada for the summer so someone should use it. LOL
 
wyrman said:
Washington oversize permits are a heck of a lot easier to get than one from Oregon. Oregon is a pain in the ass.
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Idaho is really easy to get a permit for as well. They won't let you tow at night, but that isn't usually a huge issue for us. Priest Lake or Lake Pend Oreille are where we usually end up. Lake Couer d'Alene is only good for boating AFTER Labor Day and BEFORE Memorial Day. It's too crowded and it seems like if you think you have money, you have the right of way.
 
This year, Oregon permit said anything under 14' can tow at night. Shocked was an understatement. But there was more roads closed this year to anything over 9'. And the holiday travel was a little more restricted.

In Idaho, it was said NOT to travel at all on sundays. Only got in trouble one time. Put the turbine out the top of a CAT C12 and compressor out the front of the turbo, late in the day. Had all kinds of law show up. Boss went and got our loader a few miles down the road and we pulled the broke down rig to the jobsite. But yes Idaho is very easy. And it was cheap.
 
For those of you coming on the trip I have an Excel spreadsheet that you might find useful. It mainly applies to the Columbia and shows the mileages from point to point, and also has a page that has the radio call signs and phone numbers for all of the locks on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

If you want a copy, PM me with your email address and I'll send you one.

Fair winds and calm seas.

GFC
 
GFC, didn't you post a VHF operator short form at one point? I've never operated a VHF rig in a boat! I know of channels 9 and 16, but that's only from an internet search. If it was you, would you be so kind as to shoot another copy my way? I've searched the world over and can't seem to locate it.
At this point, the boat isn't going back north until after our cruise. With my somewhat limited time off available, I'm planning on being in Lewiston the afternoon of the 8th and spending the night there, do the trailer caravan to the Tri-Cities and back on the 9th, then head down to our first stop that same afternoon. Thoughts?
 
Here's the channels for the locks.
Unless someone else is going I'm pretty sure it'll be yourself bringing the trailer to the Tri-Cities.
You are welcome to park your rig at my place, much safer than the marina for several days.
There havent been any reports of break-in's, but you never know. If you do decide to leave it at Clover Island, you'll need to call the Port of Kennewick and get an overnight pass. I need to get my boat cleaned up and back in the water, we were just in a 10 day trip with Jim (Sundancer) at Stehekin.
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Nater Potater said:
I'm planning on being in Lewiston the afternoon of the 8th and spending the night there, do the trailer caravan to the Tri-Cities and back on the 9th, then head down to our first stop that same afternoon. Thoughts?
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Those dates work for me for taking you skippers back up to Lewiston. Do they work for everyone else? I have blocked out that whole 7 day period so I can work with you guys on your shuttling.

Nathan, if you would PM me your email address I'll send that whole Excel spreadsheet file to you.
 
At this point we will probably go up and back as well. I'm guessing we'll leave on Tuesday to arrive on Thursday night. Then we'll prep for the downstream run.

I did call Boyer Marina to check on fuel prices. They are currently running $6.00 a gallon. Not as bad as Stehekin at almost $9.00 a gallon! Glad I didn't need any fuel up there!! I'll check with Lyon's Ferry today to see what they are charging. I get somewhere around 1.25 miles per gallon and I'm guessing the current will reduce that by 10% or so going upstream. The mileage is 143 from Clover Island to Lewiston and around 110 to Boyer Marina. Using the 1/3 rule, I should be able to make it but would probably add a few gallons at Lyon's Ferry just to be sure(or maybe I'll carry an extra gallon?). Lyon's ferry is only 65 miles from Clover Island, so a few gallons would be insurance to Boyer Park. I'll see if I can find fuel prices in Lewiston for Wyrman (Greg) and I if we need fuel there. I would expect it to be cheaper in Lewiston, but who knows!

I'm not opposed to a night in a Marina, but we'll see. I'm comfortable on the hook at night, but sometimes the Admiral's dictate otherwise! I'm easy either way. Boyer Marina indicated they would have room.
 
Dang Jim, you're on it! We'll be dropping the pups off at our friends, so we're open to overnight anywhere we end up at.
We should exchange phone numbers.
Jim has mine, I'll pm mine to you Nate.
 
Boyer just sent me a note and failed to mention they will be SHUTTING DOWN Sept 6 to remodel the marina and put in a new fuel pump. DOH!!! No place to stay there at all. I'm not sure how they missed that, but at least we know ahead of time.

I'm waiting for Lyon's Ferry to call me back with fuel prices and moorage costs should we need it. Looks like I'll be fueling up there since Boyer won't HAVE fuel.

I'll keep you posted!
 
Lyon's Ferry is only $7.78 gallon for premium, non-ethanol. Apparently, they don't have just regular. Ouch! Oh well, what's 50 gallons of fuel in a once in a life-time trip? Doesn't Charbonneau have gas? I can't find a number but I'll keep looking. I guess I'll take a look at where to stay in Lewiston/Clarkston and where the good fuel is at there too.
 
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So what are the exact date for the start? I went back a few pages and can't find anything in ink.
 
JHornsby3 said:
So what are the exact date for the start? I went back a few pages and can't find anything in ink.
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This is a secret, covert operation. Only those who need to know, know.

Actually, some will leave on Tuesday after Labor Day and head up to Lewiston by boat. We'll meet Nater up there and head back to Tri-Cities later on Friday after Nater has moved his truck and GFC has ferried him back up to Lewiston. I'm leaning toward boating up and back at this point. I'm not sure if there is anybody else willing to partake in this risky venture but anyone daring is welcome! Did I mention this will take me back to my roots in Lewis and Clark? I'm related to the Clark part of the expedition, and this is about as close as I'll ever get to something similar! LOL!
 
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We'll be boating both ways also Jim.
We didn't talk about it last week when we were hanging out, but we need to talk about the lock schedule for heading up river.
I couldn't find a schedule for this year, this is from 2020, but they don't seem to change.
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Sundancer said:
This is a secret, covert operation. Only those who need to know, know. LOL!
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Funny Jim.

I got decals coming. I was going to send some to GFC or Jim and have them hand them out. I just wanted to make sure I got them sent in time. I guess they will come in late now.:rolleyes::p:p:p:D
 
So Nate is the only one I'll be driving back to Lewiston?

Where are you other guys going to launch then drop your trucks/trailers?

P.S. The lock schedules don't change from year to year. FYI, the locks go to their winter schedule on 9/14. When they do that there is no set time during the day when you can lock through. It's "on demand" so you can lock through whenever y you arrive at the lock heading upstream or down.
 
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My boat will already be in the water at Clover Island.
I can't speak for Jim, but he usually puts his in there also.
Him and Nate can park where they want, but my place is probably about seven minutes away.
I have plenty of room here to park a couple of trucks and trailers.
 
Since I can't tow in the light traffic over here after noon on Sunday before Labor Day or Labor Day, I'm guessing we'll just drop it in the water and show up at your house with the trailer Tuesday morning. Do I need to schedule an Uber back to the launch? Shooting for a 9 AM lock or noon through Ice Harbor?

I don't think we'll bring the kayaks and probably don't really need the dinghy either. Pretty bare bones on the boat! We'll just bring our zero grav chairs for the back of the boat or the dock. I can bring the Blackstone too if that helps? No need to double up on all of the cooking instruments!
 
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