By Nancy Hiser
Sixteen people enjoyed burrito dinners at Fred’s Marina and then piled into two 29-foot canoes to paddle leisurely 2 ½ miles south on the Willamette to Cathedral Park on a warm evening in late July. The free trip, specifically for Linnton residents, was courtesy of the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and funded by a Metro Central Enhancement Grant. Tour guides provided fascinating historical information along the way, identified a number of bird species, and guided passengers within feet of a huge auto cargo hauler anchored near Cathedral Park. Paddlers saw lovely natural stretches of river shoreline, prompting visions of what restoration of the Willamette could look like someday.
Willamette River Paddle