Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
Another Successful Wooden Boat Festival!
I can't speak for everyone else that attended the 10th Annual McKenzie River Wooden Boat Festival but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Thanks to Debbie and Randy for their hospitality, you guys are great hosts! Thanks to everyone that helped out with the BBQ, the float, moving boats, keeping the fire going and everything else that folks did to help out. I think that the population of Nimrod, Oregon probably multiplied by ten times with all the visitors, displayers, floaters and the McKenzie River Guides and their wonderful support staff.
Even though there was enough rain to fill all up the local reservoirs a good time was had by all. The sun came out enough to bring rays of hope and steam to raise off the tents and lawn. The McKenzie River may have been lower than normal but the smiles of the parade participants and the excited residents that waved to us along the river brought even more smiles. I spoke to several folks that had been watching the parade for years and finally came to the festival. They had a good time, one even joined Wooden Boat People while I was there. I am looking forward to seeing her pictures posted here that she showed me.
With the river lower than normal for this time of year Clover Point Rapid was bigger and I watched several boats take on water there. I tried to keep Roger Fletcher dry, I hope I succeeded!
The McKenzie River Guides once again had a home run with their great food. Burgers, sausages, salmon burgers, fresh tomatoes with flavor, big dutch ovens of beans, superior cookies and more. I heard rave reviews of the wines and the beer that was available.
Kurt Selisch and Jack Billings apparently discussing the size of the plates they are going to load up at the Friday night BBQ. Thanks to all that attended and brought food to share. It is always good to get to meet your old friends and meet the folks you have only corresponded with via Wooden Boat People.
Here's a view from the deck of the Eagle Rock Lodge. What a fine place to hold this event. Thanks again Randy and Debbie!
Great job on the food once again, thanks folks!
The brain trust of Derek Kellenbeck, Mike Baker, Robb Grubb and Steve Steele discussing interplantetary travel.
Derek Kellenbeck's fine Briggs style dory. He brought it all the way from Sacramento. Derek, thanks for sharing your boat. By the way it sure looks good, you did a great job of building it!
Jerimiah Stymer brought his 'backyard find" boat. Roger Fletcher thought it was a Karhuus design but no one knew for sure when I was visiting the crew discussing his boat. We all thought that whoever built it was a good craftsman, all the joints are clean, square and well done. His wife shared her artistic talents on the seat backs and oars, another great job. You are doing a great job Jerimiah, keep it up!
Kurt Selisch brought his new boat, it is well built and has a lovely finish, to my eye a Robin's Egg Blue. The hits just keep coming.
That's all for now. I will post some more later but it's time to unpack and repack for my next adventure.
Rick Newman
Views: 547
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on
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There will be more! Hope your event went well too.
Rick
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Permalink Reply by Dan Revell on
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Rick, it was another good event and thanks for your part in contributing to the success.
There is one curiosity in your post when you made reference to "Clover" and the size of the waves. I am certainly no authority on the McKenzie but I've been fishing it for 50 years and boating it for about 33. If you are referring to the rapid right below the cottages essentially in front of the lodge, the old timers that I learned from referred to it as "Cooks" rapid with "Clover Point" located below where the cabin is perched on the rock outcropping - where the clover grows. As with many named locations there's occasion for debate as to who, what and how the name came to be.
Regardless, the waves have gotten bigger there going back about 6 years or so. Don't know if something turned over in a high water event or washed in and got wedged (I've heard there's at least one if not two boats at the bottom there) but it's more fun for sure. I ran through there in my 16' Keith Steele one day last season when the Vida gauge was 3+ ft and a group of kayakers watched from below with one exclaiming "you got air"! I've even snuck it a few times on the far right without spilling a drop.
Wish there were more local events like this. That was one of the best turnouts I've seen. Safe boating all.
Dan
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I asked Roger If I remember right and he said it was Clover Point. My information may not be correct but it was fun and wetter than what I remember.
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Permalink Reply by Ants Uiga on
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This year was my first time to attend. Marsha and I had a grand time. Special thanks to Debbie and Randy for hosting and the countless folks that contributed to the success.
There were many folks I met for the first time. I look forward to the next opportunity to get together. I got sloppy as far as contact information so I am going to use the 'friend' feature of the forum to give me opportunities to meet again.
Ants
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Permalink Reply by Kurt Selisch on
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Rick, it was great to meet you and the other WBP who attended. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the festival. Beautiful grounds thanks to the Dersham's, fun and friendly people, and lot's of boats to view and enjoy. We are looking forward to next year already!
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Kurt, Ants, Dan and everyone else. Thanks for the kind thoughts. The Wooden Boat Festival is really a special event for me and the little bit of work that I do to make it happen is all very worth while. Keep posting and keep floating.
Rick Newman
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