Brunch at the Puffin Cafe, L2, 4/30/2023

This trip is limited to members with a wet exit certification (except for level 1 trips when the paddler is not using a spray skirt....if the paddler is wearing a spray skirt on a level 1 paddle, the Wet Exit Certification is REQUIRED).  To successfully register you will need to sign into your OOPS member account, and your account will need to be a member of the "Wet Exit Certified" group if you intend to wear a spray skirt.  Your acceptance is conditional on approval by the Organizer, who may contact you with questions about your skills and equipment.  If the measured water temperature is different enough from that listed below to warrant a change in required immersion protection, the Organizer will contact all participants and the Trips Board member with the update at least a day before the trip.

Cancellations

If you register for this event and find that you are unable to attend please cancel on the website. Members on the waitlist cannot be added to the roster or notified they are now eligible to attend unless your registration is removed from the trip. To cancel, go to the event registration page on the website and click on "Already Registered". A page will open that will allow you to cancel. It would also be helpful if you notified the primary organizer of your cancellation via text, phone or email.

Narrative: Brunch on the Columbia. We’ll launch out of Chinook Landing Marine Park (off NE Marine Drive) and paddle across the Columbia River to Lady Island where we’ll head upriver to the east end of the island. From there we’ll wander up the Washington side of the Columbia just a bit further to the Washougal/Camas boat launch where we’ll paddle up to our dockside lunch spot! No pre-packed peanut butter and jelly sandwich needed for this paddle! On this day, we’ll visit the Puffin Cafe (on the docks!) and enjoy lunch at this cute little floating establishment! We can tie our boats up right next to the cafe and enjoy brunch in the marina! They have both indoor and outdoor seating and hopefully we can get there before the Sunday lunch rush. After our meal, we’ll head downriver and follow the Washington side of the Columbia as it goes under Highway 14. We’ll enjoy the lazy water of the Camas Slough as we paddle around the back side of Lady Island completing our circumnavigation. Our last section of the paddle will be a crossing as we head back to Chinook Landing on the Oregon side.

If you want to preview the menu for the Puffin Cafe in advance you can look it up at www.puffincafe.com. The website indicates that they serve “Caribbean inspired cuisine” and they appear to have many excellent food choices on the menu. Please bring something to use to secure your boat to the dock at the marina while we enjoy our early lunch. There is limited dock space there so we’ll want to leave our boats in the water so they aren’t in the way or a trip hazard to other customers visiting the cafe.

We will meet at the west end of the parking lot nearest the restrooms at 8:45am so we can be ready and on the water by 9:30am. There is a $5.00 parking fee at Chinook Landing Boat Ramp. You can either pay at the kiosk as you enter or there is another kiosk nearest the boat ramp. Port-a-potties are available near the boat launch as well. The boat ramp may be a busy place on Sunday morning so please try to park off to the side if you are unloading a kayak. The ramp on the left (as you are looking at the water) seems to be the least busy. Please be mindful of other boaters as they also try to access the ramp. Or bring wheels with you and you can quickly walk your boat down!

We’ll have a few different options to deal with winds and we can alter the route if needed. Our mileage for the day is expected to be around 9 NM.

Meeting Time: 8:45:00 AM
Launch Time: 9:30:00 AM
Type of activity: Paddle Trip
Put in: Chinook Landing Marine Park
Take out: Same
Route Alternative for bad weather: TBD
Required equipment:
Minimum Immersion protection: Drysuit
Primary Organizer: Tom Waldron
Co-Organizer(s): Teresa George
Has organizer paddled here before? Yes
Has organizer led an OOPS paddle here before? Yes
Organizer's first aid and CPR current? Yes
First Aid /CPR Person:
Maximum number of paddlers: 12
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature: 60
Estimated Water Temperature: 45
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch): 4-5 hours

Tide Station: 9440047 Washougal, WA
Tide times & heights: High 4:12 AM 1.05’ / Low 12:09 PM 0.54’ / High 4:05 PM 1.14’
Current information: 2 knots
Hazards: Shipping traffic
Wind strength: Level 1: 0-7 knots (8 mph)
Swell/Surf size: Level 1: Under 1' waves, no breaking waves
Sea state: Level 1: Waves up to the deck seam; water glassy to rippled, no whitecaps
Landing types: Level 2: Frequent landing opportunities including docks or moderate sloping banks, brush or overhanging trees
Currents: Level 2: Mild currents (up to 2 knots): current increases / decreases group speed by half
Total distance: Level 2: 6 to 11 miles
Open crossing: Level 2: Less than 1 mile
Paddling Environment:
Overall rating: Level 2
Rating Comments:
Location (Optional): Chinook Landing Marine Park, 5201 NE 223rd Ave, Fairview, OR
Photos (Optional):
COVID-19 Status of Trip: Participants of this trip may, or may not, be vaccinated for Covid-19