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About half way between the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle Washington is Grants Pass in southern Oregon. It is a nice place to stay overnight and we elected to be along the Rogue River. Next to the Riverside Inn is a new bar/restaurant which also serves as a starting point for a fast boat trip down the river. We had driven down from Mount Rainier and barely made it in time for the late afternoon excursion that would include dinner downstream. |
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The Rogue River originates at famous Crater Lake and roars for 215 miles through the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. The section near Grants Pass is relatively flat until it hits a couple rapids further downstream. The jet boats take advantage of this part since they are not designed to plunge down waterfalls. However, even in September there is enough water flowing to make the 36 mile round trip exciting, scenic and fun. |
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We passed several nice homes along the river near town. There were several fishermen along the shore and in drift-boats. They were after the salmon that were migrating up the river to spawn. At one point the boat suddenly stopped as we saw a huge fish jump out of the river. However, the fellow who hooked it lost the battle trying to land it in his boat. The fish won. |
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These large jet boats can hold up to fifty people, but can go more than forty miles per hour with three engines delivering more than 1000 horsepower. The ride is relatively smooth until the helmsman decides to abruptly halt or make 360 degree spin. He warned us to be careful with cameras, so I don't have any shots of those wet moments, only the after effects. The lady in front of me protected me several times from a dousing. Wet hair was in vogue. |
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Wildlife were mainly geese and ducks, but we also saw a blue heron sitting on an old pump and several nests with osprey. These birds make their nests on top of poles, bridges or old trees that are close to the water where they fish. |
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Our last part of the river was Hellgate Canyon, a narrow section with large rock formations along the northern shore. This spot is where several movies were made including 'Rooster Cogburn' with John Wayne. After this short passage, we turned around and raced upstream a ways before we landed at the 'OK Corral' for dinner. |
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The setting for the barbeque was quite nice. Besides the ribs and chicken, we had a salad, potatoes and a vegetable. Pitchers of beer, wine and iced tea were all included. For desert the girls came around with blackberry cobblers with whipped cream. It was more than we had expected. Laura, the lady across from us, was celebrating her 40th birthday with her son Lake. |
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Then it was back to the boats and our return trip to Grants Pass. This was also when we heard the roar of this hydro boat speeding up the river. After some more spins and fun with the other two boats, we arrived back at the 'Caveman Bridge'. Soon afterwards the moon was lighting up the Rogue River as we walked to our hotel for the last night in Oregon. It had been a great ending to a short trip north. |
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