Jetboating on the Willamette
Here in Portland Public Schools, the third grade classes typically study Portland history, including Portland’s bridges. With the first kid, I got to go along on the paddleboat trip up and down the Willamette - but this time around, the third grade teachers surprised the kids with a special jetboat trip during the last week of school.
So I arranged to take part of the day off of work, volunteered to haul 30 lunches down to OMSI in my car, and met my daughter’s class outside the Willamette Jetboat launch a few weeks ago.
Sure, we had a blast doing the ‘gofast!’ thing, with some splashes and spins at the end of the ride (although I had to admit I really wanted to take a shower after getting some of that oh-so-special river water on me - a day or so after another sewer spill, no less.) But our ‘cruise director’ did a great job of making the not-so-fast parts interesting as well - from the giant osprey nests to the bald eagles we spotted to the colony of floating houses on one side; fancy Dunthorpe houses on the other. (The patter was definitely customized for the kids, but there were some appreciative chuckles from the parents on board when more than a few asides floated right over our little darlings’ heads!)
The kids were fascinated looking up through the Hawthorne Bridge to discover that it was mostly see-through; us adults were amazed and sorta stunned that so many people spent time catching fish (and hopefully not eating said fish) from the Willamette!
Then we all held our noses when we made our way down to Oregon City and the paper mills; learned about lock systems on the way back home, and then finished the trip off in style with a few spins and splashes (toned down a bit due both to the cool weather and the terrified nine-year old screaming ‘make him STOP!’, unfortunately.)
But I’ll definitely try to make a return trip - probably on one of those hot August days when the air itself feels like it’ll squeeze the breath out of you. Even if it means I get some river water on me!
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Jealous but conflicted.
Do I take my new $$$++high def DV cam on such a journey, capturing each sparkling drop of spray, or do I just take my regular digital camera?
(Sorry no camera phone- but when I upgrade my BlackBerry I will be equipped thusly.
Um….either way, you’re taking your camera’s life in your slippery wet hands, potentially - especially since you’re asked to hang on with two hands when they really get going.
They also make it clear that they’re not liable should you lose your expensive electronic devices (phones, cameras, etc.)