Shipmates

One of the worst (legitimate) feelings one can have is to know of a friend in a tough spot, and be completely unable to lend a hand. Having stayed on board my sloop through a hurricane, two serious tropical storms and several other near-misses, I surely understand that he has no choice, and must guard his boat and the fleet.

If I could be there with him at the marina, I'd do so in a flash. Maybe only we sailors know the value of our boats, or maybe we're just plumb crazy. Either way, I'd be proud to face the storm with him, no matter the outcome.

Read his e-mail to me today, and say a prayer for Rivrdog and his great wife, and may they weather the storms, unscathed.

Capt. Jim:

If you ever wondered what a passion for boating does to a man,
consider my case. In the next three days in Portland, OR and
vicinity, we are about to experience the worst winter weather in at
least a decade, and maybe since 1968 (which I drove from SAC to PDX
in). The forecast calls for the arctic front, a rarity even
considering our latitude, over 45N, to penetrate our area and freeze
us solid. This after a week of on and off snow, with three snowstorms
totalling about a foot (also rare, it snows about once every 3 years
here). We will freeze for 2 days, then on Monday, a
Hawai'i-originated Pacific storm will overrun the cold air, and a
blizzard is forecast due to extreme pressure differences between the
interior (1036 mb) and the coast (1004) in less than 400 miles. The
famous Columbia River Gorge will become a funnel for arctic air,
propelled by the pressure difference to Storm force, 65 kts. The dew
point will be just below zero, and the storm has around 4"
precipitable water to let go. This will fall as snow, then freezing
rain, then rain as the powerful winter cyclone finally masters the
solid Arctic High.

I'm Port Captain for my yacht club, Multnomah Channel YC. We have
floating moorage for 21 boats in sheds, and 10 more in boathouses.
The sheds float on the docks and finger docks, and there isn't a lot
of excess flotation, so when the weight of snow piles up, it must be
removed off the roofs, or the whole connected floating structures
sink from the weight, and since the boats are tied to them, the boats
can go down too.

I left my dear wife at home, which is in the mouth of the Columbia
Gorge, 30 miles east of here, to withstand the blizzard alone, and
she will get the worst of it. I am now living aboard the M/V
Whitewater at the MCYC, with a duffel full of winter gear that I got
out of the USAF with, prepared to walk on the icy roofs and shove the
ice and snow over the side to keep the roof weight down. We had to do
this once already this week, but we succeeded and the docks, sunken
when we started, returned to normal height. What will happen in a
blizzard is anyone's guess: no one here has done a roof job in a
blizzard. Add the freezing rain, and it looks grim.

But I'm here to try to save the club if it becomes necessary.

I may wind up going boating in a full blizzard, solo, to seek other
shelter if I fail.

Wish me luck.

God! I wish I was in Galveston Bay right now!

Rivrdog

I sent him a reply with a couple ideas to toss around, and of course, secured his permission to post his original e-mail to me. Rivrdog, you're more than welcome here in Galveston Bay, anytime. A warm Texas welcome is assured, no matter the season.

Good luck and Godspeed, my friend.

Comments

[Ms Anna]

I'll pray for his safety. Sounds very dangerous.

[Denita TwoDragons]

I'll definitely include him in my prayers! With a Dad who has been a towboat captain for more than ten years, I know all too well that feeling of helplessness. If I don't add him to my list I wouldn't be able to live with myself... Good luck and G-dspeed, Rivrdog!

Please keep us updated on any news that comes in, Jim--I'll be here in central Texas, on the edge of my seat...

--TwoDragons

[Indigo]

How awful!! Got them on my list too.

[Rivrdog]

Shipmates we are! Facing adversity, it's great to know that men and women of stout hearts are behind you.

We're in the calm before the storm now, it is cold and cloudy here in Scappoose, but at my home near Troutdale the wind is blowing a half-gale already, the chill factor is zero and the Gorge-effect winds have just started there.

So far, the only damage is we lost water to one boathouse row.

I can feel the power of your prayers, and it will stand me in good stead tomorrow and onward. Your prayers may already be having an effect, as NOAA now says there is a possibility that the storm will change track and strike us only a "glancing blow" with several inches of snow and freezing rain instead of the foot or so that was first forecast, and "only" 55 knot winds in the Gorge.

Thanks again for your prayers, and I'll keep you posted on events here on this comment page.

Rivrdog,
Aboard M/V Whitewater

[Ms Anna]

Rivrdog, we are praying for you.

[baldilocks]

Added to the ever-growing list

[Denita TwoDragons]

I am praying as well--and I also posted about it on my site, Rivrdog, so there'll be even more folks pulling for you. I hope you don't mind that I did...

As I said at the Fire, G-dspeed and good luck, my friend!

--TwoDragons

[Acidman]

Tell me more about "fragile ecosystems." Mother Nature tries to kill us all, every chance she gets. I wish the dog-man luck and I hope he has the wits to survive against the most treacherous bitch you'll ever meet in life. Mother Nature don't play fair, because she doesn't care.

You have to be on your toes to beat her.

[Yellowdog]

Rivrdog,

Our prayers are with you.

[Jim]

To everyone who has posted, you have my heartfelt thanks. I'm sure Rivrdog feels the same, but methinks he's a bit busy right about now.

I'm looking forward to his reappearing here shortly and giving us the full report, and most importantly, letting us all know that he's okay.

Again, thanks y'all. Big time.

Jim
Sloop New Dawn
Galveston, TX

[Wichi Dude]

To Rivrdog: My wishes are with you. I've lived a long time on the coast and I know what you are up against. More power to you, and luck as well, Mother Nature and Neptune are not merciful.

[Rivrdog]

To all the great folks who are praying and pulling for me: an update. The storm just started, with a biting cold wind and light snow. We'll be doing a lot of water system rebuilding here, but that's for later. NOAA now says it will snow for 24 hours, and they're hedging on the change to freezing rain and rain. Still nothing definite on the total snow, but it looks like 8 inches to a foot is coming. If we have to clear the roofs, the trick will be to leave enough to allow the ice crust to form, then we will have one shot at getting that ice off. Then we have to depend on Ma Nature to end the freezing rain and change the weather to plain rain. That's the battle plan anyway.

I can't thank you all enough for your prayers and good wishes. I can feel it way out here, and it gives me great strength.

Acidman, thanks for the warning, but Ma Nature and I respect each other.

More later if time permits.

Rivrdog

[Linda]

(I followed Misha's link to get here. I'll be back.)

Good luck, Rivrdog. We're praying that the storm passes quickly, and with less force than thought.

May Mother Nature, and Nature's God hold you in the palms of their hands. Fair winds and following seas, sir.