July 29-31, 2012 - Jet Ski from Oregon City to the Tillamook Light House
So, it started out like this: “Let’s take the jet skis out.” Yes, that would be fun. I asked a few friends to test them with me but no interest there. I am thinking it might be my attitude. A little is fun but a lot is great. This friend of mine won a free fishing trip at Chinook Landing on the Columbia so I thought it would be good to go see him off and it gave me a place to go.
I filled the tank at $4.29/Gallon and I was good to go. Ilene (wife) dropped me in at the Milwaukie Launch and went back home (2 miles). There is no dock there and the skis like to suck up rocks. I zipped out the Willamette River and into the Columbia at about 50 Miles an hour and was soon at Rooster Rock. It is about 50 miles there - do the math on time. I called but no Dick. He was now at Chinook Landing 10 miles down river. The gas gage had been on half for a little while getting there but I didn’t care. Gas is over rated. I talked to him. Then I was on my way back. I cut it to 40 miles an hour so I would make it back and it worked. Yea.
The test was going well. I made Milwaukie and it was reading quarter tank so I thought “Oregon City” (10 miles). It would be good to go see the sad fishermen there. Yes, as soon as I got around the corner, there was this buzzer that went off. It was very loud. No big thing - you just push the button and it goes off and the gas gage flashes. I kept going. This was a test. Up and back (Oregon City back to Milwaukie). By now the gage was having a fit flashing fast with every nautical mile.
I had called Ilene in Oregon City and she was at the ramp. Total miles: 100 +/- (14 gallons and a 16 gallon tank.) I needed to know how far I could go on a tank. I was thinking Milwaukie to Astoria would work. Now I know if you don’t run full out, and don’t jump the waves from a ship, or take the short cut, you have the tide in your favor, and there is no wind, you have a good chance to make it. If all these things don’t come in to line, it is down the Columbia without a paddle. It’s kind of like pushing your car down the freeway.
Prep is all done. All the facts are in and we have done it before so everything is a go. Yea! Milwaukie Days is going on - ramp is closed to boats and Vellen needed to get his one jet ski on a single trailer. We are running out of time - traffic jam and everything to slow us down. Frustration is setting in but we are stubborn and keep pushing forward. Off to the Gladstone ramp to change the boats and trailers around. (490 lb and 110 hp 16 gallon tank) The river is up we think and the ramp looks good BUT, then Vellen backs off. People power their boats on and the rocks build up at the end of the ramp. Yes, he sucks up some rocks and there goes his $200 high performance impeller that he just put in and had only used once on a short ride. Back to the house and put in his stock one (time) and off to work he goes with only minutes to spare.
We got up at 6 am and did all the little things people do in the morning. It was then off to Myran’s to chow down. Vellen worked swing and was over there at 8 am, and we were off to Oregon City to put the jet skis in the river. We went down the Clackamas River a half mile and through the two construction zones on the Willamette River -27 miles, then into the Columbia River to the light house to rest. It was 80 miles to West Port where the ferry goes across the Columbia - Seven gallons of gas time. Passed up the short cut because it is shallow sometimes and there is a risk of sucking up the bottom. On to Matt’s (son-in-law) swing rope; we named it after him. It is something he spotted the last time he rode this route. He tried it a few times. It is about 100 feet tall with a rope. It has a cable between two rock out-croppings and the rope is tied in the middle with give. There us a lot of bounce so they say. From there it was over to Astoria for another 7 gallons. The next place we jetted off to was bottom fishing and some crabbing at the end of the Columbia River.
Myran did the crabbing. It was stressful for him. I told him to check the run off and see if they hit the bottom before you let them go. He did but then he took his eyes off them and under they went. He looked for them for 15 minutes and found one under the water, then came and got us to help him look for the rest, and found one more. There was one that doesn’t work very well but he found that one too. The buoys go down then come up. You found them about a foot under the water and you had to be within a few feet to see them. It is five miles across at this point. We took them to where the tide didn’t run so hard. (Cost $60.00 each) In this new spot we thought we would just go through the paces. He got one the first pull and the net was just full. Vellen and I were bottom fishing. No fish today, but Vellen helped pull nets and between Vellen and Myran it was 8 crabs - Just right for dinner. Back to Hammond and camp at Fort Stevens. Today it was 144 miles on the jet skis.
The camp was full but so quiet. It took a long time to cook the crab - 20 minutes at a rolling boil - little stove, big pot. The grand kid had fun in the sand in camp.
The next day was a slow start. Vellen and Sharon went home at about 10 am. They had to work. No camp reservations so we had to move to another spot. Everyone knows I don’t talk much (Ha), but I never met a stranger. I went up to the Registration Office and the lady said I would have to come back at noon to see if there were any openings. I was talking to her about my blog and she said, “Yea, I have a cancellation in M Circle.” We were in O Circle. It was good I gave her time to think about it. When I got back, we put Myran’s tent on the skis and took it down to the new site. That turned a few heads; it was a big tent.
Myran and I went out on the jet skis to do some fishing. Myran caught 5 bottom fish; I only got two. Then off to crab - 15 Dungeness. It was a 40 mile day.
The big blue thing was so calm and I always said I would like to see Tilly (Tillamook Light House). Well, it went like this. We got up late. Myran Trina and Zayden (4 mo.) went for a walk on the beach by the Peter Iredale. It is a good thing to keep the wife happy and spend time with her. Ilene and Kya (2.5 yrs), and I played on the beach. It was hot in the sand.
We filled the skis with gas - as full as we could get them, and off to the launch. Dry suit on, life jacket – all set. The water was in the low 50’s. Ilene backed the skis down and we were off to see Tilly. There is a lot of history here; it was very hard to build. Take a look at it http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=135
Out to buoy 10 and take a left by the South Jetty where there were about 100 to 101 seals and sea lions. Very loud and the smell was to die for. All kinds of birds and lots of them, but we were on a mission.
The land was warm and the sea was cold. Yes, the wind came up in the afternoon. It was a little choppy – so much so that you couldn’t go fast without cavatating air to the impeller and the motor revs very high - 20 to 25 miles an hour. We were going with the current. We couldn’t see Tilly. Where was she? Twenty miles of chop - I am shorter - blisters on my hands and it kind of felt like someone beating you on the butte with a soft board. Finally we saw Tilly. Yea! I looked at the gas gage. Don’t ever do that - Three quarters when I went around the South Jetty and 20 miles to go. The testing said we could do it, but the test didn’t have chop in it. In the back of my mind I knew we would make it, but the thought was always there. Myran said, “Do you want to turn back? It is still 5 miles.” I had the Bejesus beat out of me for an hour and I could see Tilly. No way was I turning around now. Going with the waves was bad and another five more miles he said he was a bad judge of distance. It was bigger than we thought. Every FEW MILES we stopped to rest from the pounding.
Another hour and we were there. It was worth all the beating and blisters from hanging on. It just loomed up there so high, and to think waves go over the top and pound it with lose rocks. The people that manned it must have been shaking in their shoes when a storm came. I’d seen pictures of it but being there was a big thrill for me. The pictures just don’t do it justice. To get the scope of it you just have to go see it.
We ate and drank a little and it was time to go back. Now the Pacific Ocean runs fast by Tilly and all the rest of the way back. We had to go fast to make time and it went like this: Pull the throttle down almost all the way and get up to 40 miles an hour for about 100 feet, then hit a wave and fly for 15 feet and hope the ski was still under you. We were not going straight on so it was at a slight angle; this made it jerk to the right. Oh no, I looked at the gas gage, aging just a little after we turned around and it read half. This is not bad, half a tank and the reserve. I looked back and Tilly was as big as ever and not going away. My hand with the blister didn’t stop hurting and I could not hold on with it on top as well as I would have liked. It did take my mind off my butte and back. Could this be a good thing? We stopped and drank Gatorade. The Coastguard chopper flew over use and circled us so we took of to show we were not in trouble. It was good they were looking after us. Finally, about two thirds the way back, it flattened out and it was a run to the South Jetty at 45. - Then the river and you would think flat/smooth. It never happened. It was worse than the big blue thing with the tide running out.
Let me sum this up very shortly. I did Terrible Tilly! Will NEVER DO IT AGAIN. It was worth all the pounding but once was just fine for me. It was a lot more than I expected to see.
We had struck camp so Myran drove us home. What a three days - 250 miles, on a jet ski - with the trucks we used over a 100 gallons of gas. I am 70 and act like I am 18. Is that stupid or what? Tell me how you would like to be Byranized. Think of something you would really like to do, then just go out and DO IT!
I will see you on the Providence Bridge Pedal. Ten different bridges this year.
www.mrbontheside.blogspot.com
Turn page to view pictures
So, it started out like this: “Let’s take the jet skis out.” Yes, that would be fun. I asked a few friends to test them with me but no interest there. I am thinking it might be my attitude. A little is fun but a lot is great. This friend of mine won a free fishing trip at Chinook Landing on the Columbia so I thought it would be good to go see him off and it gave me a place to go.
I filled the tank at $4.29/Gallon and I was good to go. Ilene (wife) dropped me in at the Milwaukie Launch and went back home (2 miles). There is no dock there and the skis like to suck up rocks. I zipped out the Willamette River and into the Columbia at about 50 Miles an hour and was soon at Rooster Rock. It is about 50 miles there - do the math on time. I called but no Dick. He was now at Chinook Landing 10 miles down river. The gas gage had been on half for a little while getting there but I didn’t care. Gas is over rated. I talked to him. Then I was on my way back. I cut it to 40 miles an hour so I would make it back and it worked. Yea.
The test was going well. I made Milwaukie and it was reading quarter tank so I thought “Oregon City” (10 miles). It would be good to go see the sad fishermen there. Yes, as soon as I got around the corner, there was this buzzer that went off. It was very loud. No big thing - you just push the button and it goes off and the gas gage flashes. I kept going. This was a test. Up and back (Oregon City back to Milwaukie). By now the gage was having a fit flashing fast with every nautical mile.
I had called Ilene in Oregon City and she was at the ramp. Total miles: 100 +/- (14 gallons and a 16 gallon tank.) I needed to know how far I could go on a tank. I was thinking Milwaukie to Astoria would work. Now I know if you don’t run full out, and don’t jump the waves from a ship, or take the short cut, you have the tide in your favor, and there is no wind, you have a good chance to make it. If all these things don’t come in to line, it is down the Columbia without a paddle. It’s kind of like pushing your car down the freeway.
Prep is all done. All the facts are in and we have done it before so everything is a go. Yea! Milwaukie Days is going on - ramp is closed to boats and Vellen needed to get his one jet ski on a single trailer. We are running out of time - traffic jam and everything to slow us down. Frustration is setting in but we are stubborn and keep pushing forward. Off to the Gladstone ramp to change the boats and trailers around. (490 lb and 110 hp 16 gallon tank) The river is up we think and the ramp looks good BUT, then Vellen backs off. People power their boats on and the rocks build up at the end of the ramp. Yes, he sucks up some rocks and there goes his $200 high performance impeller that he just put in and had only used once on a short ride. Back to the house and put in his stock one (time) and off to work he goes with only minutes to spare.
We got up at 6 am and did all the little things people do in the morning. It was then off to Myran’s to chow down. Vellen worked swing and was over there at 8 am, and we were off to Oregon City to put the jet skis in the river. We went down the Clackamas River a half mile and through the two construction zones on the Willamette River -27 miles, then into the Columbia River to the light house to rest. It was 80 miles to West Port where the ferry goes across the Columbia - Seven gallons of gas time. Passed up the short cut because it is shallow sometimes and there is a risk of sucking up the bottom. On to Matt’s (son-in-law) swing rope; we named it after him. It is something he spotted the last time he rode this route. He tried it a few times. It is about 100 feet tall with a rope. It has a cable between two rock out-croppings and the rope is tied in the middle with give. There us a lot of bounce so they say. From there it was over to Astoria for another 7 gallons. The next place we jetted off to was bottom fishing and some crabbing at the end of the Columbia River.
Myran did the crabbing. It was stressful for him. I told him to check the run off and see if they hit the bottom before you let them go. He did but then he took his eyes off them and under they went. He looked for them for 15 minutes and found one under the water, then came and got us to help him look for the rest, and found one more. There was one that doesn’t work very well but he found that one too. The buoys go down then come up. You found them about a foot under the water and you had to be within a few feet to see them. It is five miles across at this point. We took them to where the tide didn’t run so hard. (Cost $60.00 each) In this new spot we thought we would just go through the paces. He got one the first pull and the net was just full. Vellen and I were bottom fishing. No fish today, but Vellen helped pull nets and between Vellen and Myran it was 8 crabs - Just right for dinner. Back to Hammond and camp at Fort Stevens. Today it was 144 miles on the jet skis.
The camp was full but so quiet. It took a long time to cook the crab - 20 minutes at a rolling boil - little stove, big pot. The grand kid had fun in the sand in camp.
The next day was a slow start. Vellen and Sharon went home at about 10 am. They had to work. No camp reservations so we had to move to another spot. Everyone knows I don’t talk much (Ha), but I never met a stranger. I went up to the Registration Office and the lady said I would have to come back at noon to see if there were any openings. I was talking to her about my blog and she said, “Yea, I have a cancellation in M Circle.” We were in O Circle. It was good I gave her time to think about it. When I got back, we put Myran’s tent on the skis and took it down to the new site. That turned a few heads; it was a big tent.
Myran and I went out on the jet skis to do some fishing. Myran caught 5 bottom fish; I only got two. Then off to crab - 15 Dungeness. It was a 40 mile day.
The big blue thing was so calm and I always said I would like to see Tilly (Tillamook Light House). Well, it went like this. We got up late. Myran Trina and Zayden (4 mo.) went for a walk on the beach by the Peter Iredale. It is a good thing to keep the wife happy and spend time with her. Ilene and Kya (2.5 yrs), and I played on the beach. It was hot in the sand.
We filled the skis with gas - as full as we could get them, and off to the launch. Dry suit on, life jacket – all set. The water was in the low 50’s. Ilene backed the skis down and we were off to see Tilly. There is a lot of history here; it was very hard to build. Take a look at it http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=135
Out to buoy 10 and take a left by the South Jetty where there were about 100 to 101 seals and sea lions. Very loud and the smell was to die for. All kinds of birds and lots of them, but we were on a mission.
The land was warm and the sea was cold. Yes, the wind came up in the afternoon. It was a little choppy – so much so that you couldn’t go fast without cavatating air to the impeller and the motor revs very high - 20 to 25 miles an hour. We were going with the current. We couldn’t see Tilly. Where was she? Twenty miles of chop - I am shorter - blisters on my hands and it kind of felt like someone beating you on the butte with a soft board. Finally we saw Tilly. Yea! I looked at the gas gage. Don’t ever do that - Three quarters when I went around the South Jetty and 20 miles to go. The testing said we could do it, but the test didn’t have chop in it. In the back of my mind I knew we would make it, but the thought was always there. Myran said, “Do you want to turn back? It is still 5 miles.” I had the Bejesus beat out of me for an hour and I could see Tilly. No way was I turning around now. Going with the waves was bad and another five more miles he said he was a bad judge of distance. It was bigger than we thought. Every FEW MILES we stopped to rest from the pounding.
Another hour and we were there. It was worth all the beating and blisters from hanging on. It just loomed up there so high, and to think waves go over the top and pound it with lose rocks. The people that manned it must have been shaking in their shoes when a storm came. I’d seen pictures of it but being there was a big thrill for me. The pictures just don’t do it justice. To get the scope of it you just have to go see it.
We ate and drank a little and it was time to go back. Now the Pacific Ocean runs fast by Tilly and all the rest of the way back. We had to go fast to make time and it went like this: Pull the throttle down almost all the way and get up to 40 miles an hour for about 100 feet, then hit a wave and fly for 15 feet and hope the ski was still under you. We were not going straight on so it was at a slight angle; this made it jerk to the right. Oh no, I looked at the gas gage, aging just a little after we turned around and it read half. This is not bad, half a tank and the reserve. I looked back and Tilly was as big as ever and not going away. My hand with the blister didn’t stop hurting and I could not hold on with it on top as well as I would have liked. It did take my mind off my butte and back. Could this be a good thing? We stopped and drank Gatorade. The Coastguard chopper flew over use and circled us so we took of to show we were not in trouble. It was good they were looking after us. Finally, about two thirds the way back, it flattened out and it was a run to the South Jetty at 45. - Then the river and you would think flat/smooth. It never happened. It was worse than the big blue thing with the tide running out.
Let me sum this up very shortly. I did Terrible Tilly! Will NEVER DO IT AGAIN. It was worth all the pounding but once was just fine for me. It was a lot more than I expected to see.
We had struck camp so Myran drove us home. What a three days - 250 miles, on a jet ski - with the trucks we used over a 100 gallons of gas. I am 70 and act like I am 18. Is that stupid or what? Tell me how you would like to be Byranized. Think of something you would really like to do, then just go out and DO IT!
I will see you on the Providence Bridge Pedal. Ten different bridges this year.
www.mrbontheside.blogspot.com
Turn page to view pictures
posted by Byran on the side at 8:40 PM
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