Here is my entry for Debbie’s, Travel With Intent blog, One Word Sunday Challenge.
One summer day on June 30, 2009 (yikes that was a long time ago), we took a jetboat cruise from Portland to Astoria, Oregon. For those of you who don’t know the area, our cruise started near downtown Portland on the Willamette River. The trip would end up on the Columbia River in Astoria. It was a gorgeous almost too hot of day in the 90Fs (32C+). We were glad there was a wind and to be on water we thought we were out for a dream trip.
Here is a photo of the jetboat as it approached the dock.
It was fun to pass some of the Portland buildings and photograph them from the middle of the river.
The river splits Oregon and Washington (as well as the Columbia River). So the land you see here is actually Washington State. Here are a couple of photos taken on the Willamette River and maybe the Columbia River. I forget where the two rivers join.
Other small boaters were quite friendly.
Once we were on the Columbia River, it was about this time our three hour ride to Astoria became a nightmare. The waves hit and they were big. Camera were put away and we held on to our seats for dear life. Our little jetboat was lifted 6 to 10 feet with the waves and then we’d fall back down to the water with a big plop. Then we brace for another big plop. This went one for two hours. We didn’t have a lot of people on the ride, but I can claim that Chris and I were the youngest passengers on the boat. Our Captains were very young and loved playing with the waves.
Once we got to Astoria, we had a couple hour layover and so enjoyed being off the water. Here is a photo of a 5 story barge with the waves crashing over it.
So we all had to board the jetboat again and take a the same trip back to Portland. Chris did talk to the Captain and asked him to slow down. Consider the passengers. All I know is one lady had an ambulance waiting for her in Portland. Chris and I had extremely sore back and knees for over a week.
I’ve gathered a list of challenges and their hosts. So if you know a challenge host, please direct them to my blog. Feel free to contact me anytime. I hope everyone will be able to use my lists.
Qi (energy) hugs
Cee
Cee's Photo Challenges 
That was a wild ride and nicely documented! Glad you were able to keep it as a fond memory.
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We fell in love with Astoria that day. It is such a quaint little fishing town and lots of water. Thanks Anne for commenting 😀
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Yikes! It makes a good story though. The first thing I thought of from your title was “Gilligan’s Island.” 😁
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I did that on purpose for those of us who grew up with that show 😀
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I was sure you did. It worked.
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My Goodness! What a 3-hour tour. Great photos and story! 🌺
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Glad you like this post 😀 😀 Thanks for commenting.
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Sounds like a nightmare to me……I would have been freaked out.
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It was a horrible ride. But I fell in love with Astoria 😀 😀
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That makes it worthwhile!
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What a story!! Gilligan’s Island was my favorite show as a kid! ..and I will confess to still watching it from time to time 😁
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We only stream tv or I’d probably still be watching it 😀 😀
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Hmm. an adventure with its – ah- ups and downs …
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To say the least LOL 😀
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🙂 Oh, gosh! I would have been so sick…
Loved Gilligan’s Island – one of those old and fun TV series 🙂
Take care and have a good week!
Claudia :-9
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Hi Claudia. Thanks so much for stopping by. I liked Gilligan’s Island too. Have a happy week 😀
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Too much fun, and it would be beautiful to see Portland to the coast by boat.
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It was. Just don’t take the jetboat ride LOL 😀
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I can see you had to put away the camera and held on to the seat, Cee. We went to Astoria for deep see fishing once. 🙂
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Oh you must have had some fun on the Columbia or did you make it out to the Pacific?
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It was long time ago. I think we drove to Astoria from Portland, and went deep sea fishing. I remember we couldn’t keep the fish under certain weight. After we caught the fish, we traded in for some canned fish.
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Sounds like something we’d do. We are not fish people. 😀 😀 But I adore being on the water. 😀
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Oh wow!
I’d have been freaking out!
You were brave to ride those waves! Xx
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We didn’t have a choice once we were on the jetboat. 😀 😀
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I loved the gilligans island link. I’ve had a similar ride and I remember thinking of the gilligans island song at the time. The absurdity helped me through it.
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I love their their theme. I don’t think I thought of it when I was on the boat though 😀 😀
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Once I saw the words Jet Boat, I knew there was a bumpy ride ahead. Glad you two survived. Not listening to the theme song as I don’t need an earworm all day 😂
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I’ve been on jetboat plenty in the Portland area. I love them. But the Columbia river is a whole different creature. 😀 😀 Should I play the balonga theme instead. 😀 😀
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Wow! That’s quite a trip you took! We love Astoria and visit often, by safely driving across the bridge from Washington. I think I’ll avoid the jet boat!
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I would recommend skipping the jetboat unless you are male and 20 something. I love the Astoria bridge. 😀
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What an experience on the waves… But the views seem nice. On another note, I always love seeing photos from a long time ago!
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That almost as far as I go back except for a few scanned in ones from the film days. 😀
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What an amazing trip and photos Cee!
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Here it 12 years later and finally I have fun memories of it 😀 LOL
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That’s great!
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