SOUTH PORTLAND PEOPLE CHANNEL PROUD MARY

Old painting of a rower

An early morning walk by the Willamette showed the sort of Portland people see before they move here.

A calm scene, placid water, with sun breaking through scattered clouds for a blinking reflection.

With the Ross Island Bridge on the left, and the actual Ross Island in front, dog walkers on their morning constitutional show the sort of peace and tranquility the rest of the informed, woke, world dreams of.

Watching a rower move their stick boat under the bridge arch looked like the famous Thomas Eakins painting at the top.

More than once I’ve thought of rowing the Willamette, about as many times I thought of rowing on Philadelphia’s Schuykill River during my time there. From some angles Portland and Philly look alike.

I’m thinking of the top deck of the Marquam Bridge headed north. That’s the City of Brotherly Love below.

Portland has a better chance to convince me to take a chance. After all, it’s only been forty years of thinking about rowing the Willamette. Don’t want to rush too fast.

I took a shot at rowing when my boys were small and I decided to show them some of the old man’s outdoor skills. We all climbed into the worst canoe ever built and set sail on the Tualatin River. It didn’t go well.

A canoe that wanted to tip over on a cold wet day gave me thoughts of capsizing with the kids, hypothermia, and the brand they save for bad fathers. I fought the fear and commanded the children to sit frozen in place for two hours.

Portland People Canoe Life

This morning in South Portland

The morning rower reminded me of Boy Scout summer camp where I forget to check in after a canoe trip. Camp leaders found me with Troop 156.

I reported to the docks the next morning for punishment, which was listen to them tell about dragging the lake with a grappling hook.

“What do you think this would do to your body? What would we tell your parents?” one of them said. In true Scout fashion I learned to be trustworthy, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. (Did I miss anything?)

Watching the rower enjoy the morning sun while traffic sped across the Ross Island Bridge, the Marquam, up and down McLoughlin across the river, brought back watery memories and an unlikely decision that I will ever join in.

But it could happen.

Follow me here for more developments.