Ocean-going cargo vessels can enter the Columbia River, a huge river, from the Pacific Ocean directly, go upstream the river for about 100 miles, and then call at the Port of Portland. They say that an aircraft carrier also navigated the river.
Container ships about 1,000 feet in length, bulk carrier ships, and barge ships came and went along the river. Their speeds were much faster than the speed which I imagined from their size, and their noises were much more silent than. Therefore I was totally not able to sense their massive body like an overturned-high-rise-building creeping up on me from behind. The ocean-going vessels cannot stop and turn quickly, and moreover an escaping speed of kayak is too slow. Therefore, if I am on the course of the ocean-going vessels when I am not aware of them approaching close to me, I will be run over to death. I was constantly vigilant about it in some corner of my mind although I enjoyed the grand river, and I frequently looked behind to check vessels twisting my body about quite hard while I paddled the kayak.
I ate bagels for lunch on the kayak. The bagel comes in handy because it keeps well for a long time and doesn’t take a lot of space.
I landed on a small island where I was able to see only a bush at 7:50 p.m., and then pitched the tent. I paddled continuously for seven hours for 22 Miles.
I ate a tin of sardines and bagel for dinner. Canned provisions are luxury foods because they are heavy.
