As the No. 14 bus headed west over the Hawthorne Bridge, I spied something I’d not yet seen in the 14 months I’ve lived in Portland. It's a barge named New Vision--I see that on the front corner of it--and a tug named The Chief, right in the middle of downtown, on the Willamette River. Neat!
I got right off that bus at its first stop and walked back east, heading north along the river. They were slowly moving downstream. I walked and walked and walked, until I could get the entire barge and tug in the photo.
Look at that blue sky, reflected in the river. Didn't I luck out at what I consider a momentous moment (sorry) in the story of my life in Portland? I think so. And did you know that the Willamette River runs north, to its mouth and the intersection with the Columbia River which then runs west to the Pacific Ocean? That's why I was walking north and the barge and tug were moving downstream.
Here's another angle. The green metal struss bridge is the Hawthorne Bridge, and the double deck cantilever bridge beyond it is the Marquam, home of I-5 as it crosses the river.
If you like ocean-going vessels, you ought to look at my other blog, Mama and Me from PDX, in the August Posts. Scroll on down to August 16 (which takes you by my Aug. 23 parody of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," which I entitled, "Always Delete the Spam from Your Life") to see a huge yacht at the marina on the other side of the Hawthorne Bridge.
Here's a tidbit from the barge company’s Web site:
Tidewater—more than a barge line. In operation since 1932, Tidewater has traditionally offered a variety of barge transportation services on the Columbia-Snake River System. Today, in our endeavor to provide extended services to our customers, Tidewater has evolved into a multi-modal transportation company serving the Pacific Northwest with its integrated system of towboats, barges, and terminals. We appreciate the privilege of operating in the Pacific Northwest and are committed to performing in a manner that will preserve the livability of this region for future generations.
