Author: seamarsh

Sailing and Climbing the “Three Peaks” of Washington

How do you explain the attraction of the Pacific Northwest to a visitor? You might focus on the political, the cultural – or even the meteorological climate. Or you might begin with the geography – the physical shape of the mountains and the coast, and describe the ways that sea and shore meet and create… Continue reading Sailing and Climbing the “Three Peaks” of Washington

Cannons from 1846 Wreck Spotted on North Oregon Coast

2014 discovery of Cannons Excites Town of Cannon  Beach The two half-ton cannons found on the Oregon coast have returned after a six-year restoration at the Center for Marine Archeology and Conservation at Texas A & M university. They were finally put on display at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria on May 24—and… Continue reading Cannons from 1846 Wreck Spotted on North Oregon Coast

The Salvage Chief-Still Going Strong at 70

When an empty fuel barge went on the rocks of North Head last month, the US Coast Guard and Washington State Department of Ecology were in charge of a salvage effort led by Sause Brothers (owners of the barge) and Foss Maritime (owners of the tug). They in turn called in two oil-spill response organizations… Continue reading The Salvage Chief-Still Going Strong at 70

2014: Cycling Historic Waterways from Quebec City to Buffalo

(Cycle-Touring the St. Lawrence, Lake Champlain and Erie Canal) If you are a regular reader of Bicycle Paper, you may recall I’ve written about my discovery of the lost art of canal biking in my home city of London, and followed it up by riding across southwest France on the canal from the Mediterranean to… Continue reading 2014: Cycling Historic Waterways from Quebec City to Buffalo

2014: Escape to the Olympic Discovery Trail

Have you ridden the Olympic Discovery Trail? I hadn’t even heard of it until I reached Washington’s North Olympic coast on a “last-minute” bike tour this past September. In fact, it took a string of coincidences to put me on the road around Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula and back to my home in Astoria, Ore.… Continue reading 2014: Escape to the Olympic Discovery Trail

Chasing the Tillamook Steam Train — by Bike!

Some of my most memorable cycling moments have been entirely unexpected … like the time I found myself participating in that classic western scene — the train robbery! It was last summer and I was staying at Rockaway Beach on the north Oregon coast, visiting some friends. I was about to hop on the bike… Continue reading Chasing the Tillamook Steam Train — by Bike!

Vakea 19 Reborn–My 42 Years in D.I.Y. Trimaran Design

The boat in the title began life as 19′ schooner VAKEA in 1981. It was built from a rough sketch in 20 weeks, and first featured in Multihulls magazine the next year. I added a new, longer bow in 1983 raising the length to 21’/6.5m and changed to a sloop rig. I renamed the boat… Continue reading Vakea 19 Reborn–My 42 Years in D.I.Y. Trimaran Design

PM: My World on Wheels

My World on Wheels: By coincidence, 1962 was the year I discovered both bikes and boats and I have bounced between both sports/passions ever since. I have to admit it is a lot easier to practice cycling every day–for the last 14 years I have made a daily 5-mile commute along the Riverwalk  in Astoria.… Continue reading PM: My World on Wheels

2015: Fremont Tug’ 100 Years Service on Lake Union

1915 was a big year on Lake Union. The Lake Washington Ship Canal and the Chittenden Locks were about to connect the lakes and northern Seattle with Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. Activity on and around the lake had increased in anticipation of the opening of the waterway: the Fishermen’s Terminal was open for… Continue reading 2015: Fremont Tug’ 100 Years Service on Lake Union