Willamette River | Jackieinpdx's Blog

What that “red neck” houseboat really was

Posted on September 12, 2009 by jackieinpdx

I published this photo on my blog last month in a post titled Rolling on the river – part II. I had just got my new camera and took it down to the Willamette River boat launch to take some photos. My timing was perfect to see both the above houseboat and the Portland Spirit float by.

I heard that the story of the houseboat was covered by a local TV evening news but couldn’t find anything online about it. Yesterday my massage therapist said that she saw a story in the newspaper. So I did some more searching and found the story.

Two friends, a houseboat and a river: A final adventure before real life beckons. – James Mayer The Oregonian

“William Steele has been dreaming about floating down the river since he was 9 years old.

It wasn’t Huck Finn who inspired him, but a book at home on backyard bungalows that had a drawing of a houseboat. The design looked like it would fall over. Steele thought he could do better.”

It is a story of friendship, a dream and determination. Go read the story and watch the video interview.

Filed under: blogging, Local News, Milwaukie, Oregon, photos, Portland | Tagged: interesting photos, milwaukie, Oregon, Portland, Willamette River | 3 Comments »

Rolling on the river – part II

Posted on August 30, 2009 by jackieinpdx

I went down to the Willamette River Saturday to try out my new Olympus Stylus 9000. I thought that it would be a good place to try out the panoramic feature. I need some practice using that feature.

As I pulled into the parking lot the Portland Spirit was turning around for the return trip to the downtown Portland Waterfront.

Then along behind the Spirit was this thing. WTF? A redneck houseboat equipped with a barbque. A man riding a bike stopped and asked me “What the hell is that?” I said “I don’t know, I was just trying out my new camera and there it was.”

I took several photos of the “houseboat” but this has to be the funniest one because that house you see is probably valued at $3+ million or so.

Filed under: Milwaukie, Oregon, photos | Tagged: geese, interesting photos, photos, Portland Spirit, Willamette River | 3 Comments »

Rolling on the river

Posted on August 6, 2009 by jackieinpdx

Portland and Milwaukie both are situated on the banks of the Willamette River. Milwaukie over the last few years has finally had some funds to clean up the riverfront in downtown. I can’t tell you how many times bond measures to fund the clean up and to make improvements along the river were voted down. The riverfront could be a major draw if it had a nice restaurant, more park area and more walking paths.

What has been done recently is a good start but a lot more could be done to make use of the riverfront for the community.

Entrance to the riverfront area

Nice wide sidewalk for walkers and bikes

Looking south toward Elk Rock Island

“Historical Information

The island represents part of an ancient volcano that erupted about 40 million years ago. The large, jagged rocks (Waverly Heights basalt) found throughout the island were formed by lava flows, and may be the oldest exposed rock in the Portland area. The island contains seven distinct habitats, including wetlands, forests and grasslands. A number of birds, including bald eagles and osprey, have been spotted in the area.

Elk Rock Island was part of the original donation land claim of Milwaukie pioneer Lot Whitcomb and was known as Lot Whitcomb Island during the 1860s. It went through six owners before Scottish grain exporter and Portland businessman Peter Kerr (1862-1957) acquired the property in 1910 from the Rock Island Club, which operated a dance hall on the island. He gave the island to the City of Portland in 1940 with the requirement that it be preserved in its natural state. As Kerr put it, “Preserve it as a pretty place for all to enjoy.” On October 29, 1954, the Kerr formally dedicated Peter Kerr Park with a bronze plaque.”

Looking West at the big buck homes in Lake Oswego

Looking north

The last big house on the river belongs to Danny Glover. Penny Marshall has a huge home and lot further south on the eastside of the river in the Gladstone area.

Classic Ike and Tina Turner from 1971