On Friday, 200 years to the day after David Thompson arrived at the mouth of the Columbia River, we paddled into Astoria Oregon. It was a typical day in terms of distance, about 50 kilometers, and the weather was gracefully calm until the last few kilometers west of Tongue Point into the harbour. The Point is known for big waves generated by the outgoing river current meeting the incoming tides and waves. We had paddled since 7:30am and arriving at the wharf at 2:30pm gave us just 90 minutes to dress and prepare for our final short paddle to the arrival ceremony.
We have done over two dozen arrival ceremonies with audiences numbering just a few or several hundred. We paddle the canoes around in a circle or figure 8 shape and then line up facing shore to greet the people and to request permission to come ashore, sometimes with a black powder gun shot from the North American Land Surveyor boat followed by a second volley from shore. Sometimes we race to the beach and sometimes we proceed in a more orderly fashion. On Friday afternoon the tide was high when we arrived which concealed the old pier pilings in the little bay next to the Marine Museum where we had planned to impress the crowds with our six-week-honed paddling skills.
Pathfinder was the lead boat and was the first to run into a submerged post causing a ripple of confusion into the trailing canoes but the No Way Corveé boat, overflowing with their entire eleven person crew, gave the audience a few seconds of unplanned excitement when they teetered from side to side on a hidden plank before they carefully reversed off their perch.
The mist that began falling when everyone was getting loaded into their boats turned into full rain and before long everyone was soaking wet in their finest arrival costume. Following the welcoming remarks and greetings the Brigade scattered as some went for the comfort of motels while many set up camp in a gymnasium at the local high school. The gym was beside the hallway that hosted the evening's celebration & libation, probably to the disappointment of those sleeping.
On Saturday morning we had a final breakfast and recognition event. There were 51 people who paddled the entire distance and in total, 48% of the paddlers were women which is a substantial increase from the 2008 ratio. Plans are underway for a reunion in November for the video that Jay will produce.
The Brigade wasn't as physically demanding as the 2008 Brigade, but I enjoyed it immensely. There was more time for socializing with other paddlers and the shorter distances meant we weren't as exhausted everyday. Many now wonder when and where will the next big canoe Brigade happen -- perhaps 2017 will deliver a 150th Canadian birthday event.
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