Even in the calmer parts of the river, boils of water would surface and make a disturbing splash. Watching my sonar, I saw that there were underwater basalt formations that changed depths instantly from 40 to 25 feet and back again. That is what causes the chaotic boils on the surface.

Even in the calmer parts of the river, boils of water would surface and make a disturbing splash. Watching my sonar, I saw that there were underwater basalt formations that changed depths instantly from 40 to 25 feet and back again. That is what causes the chaotic boils on the surface.

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Fortunately, there were metal mooring pegs every 100 feet.

Fortunately, there were metal mooring pegs every 100 feet.

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Kind of a remote area to watch your boat float away down stream.

Kind of a remote area to watch your boat float away down stream.

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I drifted into this eddy and decided to tie up. Nothing but grass to tie on to and I didn't want to leave the boat tied up only to grass. I hadn't seen another boat all day (and didn't until I got back to Richland).

I drifted into this eddy and decided to tie up. Nothing but grass to tie on to and I didn't want to leave the boat tied up only to grass. I hadn't seen another boat all day (and didn't until I got back to Richland).

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I decided to shut off the motor and drift back (partly because I was really low on gas). Mule deer, coyotes, etc., would suddenly stand up and watch me drift past at 2-4 knots.

I decided to shut off the motor and drift back (partly because I was really low on gas). Mule deer, coyotes, etc., would suddenly stand up and watch me drift past at 2-4 knots.

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Several miles past the cliffs, the terrain has opened up, but the river starts to get standing waves. This is Coyote Rapids. Ehh.

Several miles past the cliffs, the terrain has opened up, but the river starts to get standing waves. This is Coyote Rapids. Ehh.

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101 0593

101 0593

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They were here because their nest building material (mud) was readily available. The volcanic ash cliffs actually soaked up water several feet and had a dark wet rim around the bottom, as seen here. The swallows are all flapping their wings because they don't have enough body mass to drive their beaks into the packed ash. They have to "fly" into it.

They were here because their nest building material (mud) was readily available. The volcanic ash cliffs actually soaked up water several feet and had a dark wet rim around the bottom, as seen here. The swallows are all flapping their wings because they don't have enough body mass to drive their beaks into the packed ash. They have to "fly" into it.

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There were more cliff swallows here than on the basalt cliffs. Huge colonies that would swarm out like bees.

There were more cliff swallows here than on the basalt cliffs. Huge colonies that would swarm out like bees.

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It's hard to get a feel for the size of the cliffs from a picture. The trees at the base are 20 to 30 foot cottonwoods.

It's hard to get a feel for the size of the cliffs from a picture. The trees at the base are 20 to 30 foot cottonwoods.

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The cliffs go on for several miles.

The cliffs go on for several miles.

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This looked vaguely like an old fortification, but it is simply the way that the layers of volcanic ash erode. Unlike the basalt cliffs of most of the Columbia, this area has soft clay-like cliffs. The current kept me busy at the helm and photos took second place.

This looked vaguely like an old fortification, but it is simply the way that the layers of volcanic ash erode. Unlike the basalt cliffs of most of the Columbia, this area has soft clay-like cliffs. The current kept me busy at the helm and photos took second place.

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The terrain starts to get interesting.

The terrain starts to get interesting.

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Here is somebody who may have misjudged the current.

Here is somebody who may have misjudged the current.

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There were quite a few obstructions and the current could be challenging.

There were quite a few obstructions and the current could be challenging.

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Then the river started to get lively. This is not a green can buoy. It is marking an underwater obstruction.

Then the river started to get lively. This is not a green can buoy. It is marking an underwater obstruction.

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There is the dome of the old Hanford reactor. No mushroom cloud today.

There is the dome of the old Hanford reactor. No mushroom cloud today.

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So I got there before sunrise. On this part of the Columbia, the McNary dam (25 miles downstream) basically eliminates any current. I headed upstream for the Hanford Reach.

So I got there before sunrise. On this part of the Columbia, the McNary dam (25 miles downstream) basically eliminates any current. I headed upstream for the Hanford Reach.

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I pulled into the launch site in Richland only to find out that a boat show was starting in the morning. There were at least 50 shiny new boats at the park. I was told to get to the launch early and there would not be a problem.

I pulled into the launch site in Richland only to find out that a boat show was starting in the morning. There were at least 50 shiny new boats at the park. I was told to get to the launch early and there would not be a problem.

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M

I pulled into the launch site in Richland only to find out that a boat show was starting in the morning. There were at least 50 shiny new boats at the park. I was told to get to the launch early and there would not be a problem.

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Columbia River Hanford Reach
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Marco Flamingo
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