Busy river last Wednesday, June 4, 2008

From the Hawthorne Bridge, left to right, the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain. Behind them you see the Portland Spirit.


The raised Hawthorne Bridge allows both tall ships to pass beneath it, going south on the Willamette River, on their way to the mock battle. You can see the Riverplace Marina to the right of the tall ships.


Before I walked past the marina, I took this photo which shows a portion of the Marquam Bridge with the Ross Island Bridge in the background.


The Portland Spirit and the dragon boat I had been watching earlier.


Beyond the Marquam Bridge, the Hawaiian Chieftain cannon fires as dragon boats practice nearby.


The Willamette got really busy. You can see the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in the background, too.




Looks like the Sternwheeler Rose got a bit too close for the Hawaiian Chieftain.






A sailor works on the cannon.




The Willamette Jetboat distracted me from the mock battle.




The ships must have turned around not too long after I took this photo of them close by the Ross Island Bridge. It doesn't open, so they would have had to do that and return to their moorings, after passing underneath the raised Hawthorne Bridge once more.

Tall Ships in Mock Cannon Battle

Thursday from 4 p.m.-8 p.m., I roamed the west side of the Willamette River, always an interesting place to walk but more so with the Rose Festival activities, including the Battle Sail between the Hawaiian Chieftan and the Lady Washington.

I have lots of photos to go through to see if any of them are any good, then I'll start posting more for your to enjoy, hopefully.

Here's a bit about the tall ships from rosefestival.org:

Once again we'll have visits from two ships, the brig Lady Washington and topsail ketch Hawaiian Chieftain, as an advance feature of the Portland Rose Festival's Fleet Week program.

Having appeared in movies (including the Lady Washington's appearance in the original "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie) -- and TV documentaries -- these famous maritime vessels harken from the golden age of ocean exploration.

That be right, mateys -- thar be Tall Sailing Ships moored on the Willamette River at Salmon Street, next to the WaMu Waterfront Village. Arriving on Thursday, May 29, as part of the 2008 Portland Rose Festival's opening day ceremonies, these two famous seafaring vessels will offer daily river cruises (called Battle Sails -- complete with a mock cannon battle), dockside tours and educational programs. (Due to other commitments, these ships will depart on Thursday, June 5.) For reservations, ticket information and further details, please call Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority at 800.200.5239 -- or visit their website at HistoricalSeaport.Org.