The Urban Oarsman. The Siwash Island Circumnavigation.

The Urban Oarsman

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Tide notes for Siwash Island Circumnavigation

Tide notes for Widgeon Creek.

Pitt Lake Water Level Graph

This water level chart for Pitt Lake was taken from the Pitt River and/et Pitt Lake chart #3062.
Some of the lowest water levels for the lake are in the winter.  I need to have a high tide to go here.

The Urban Oarsman Circumnavigates Siwash Island

Crossing the Pitt River Bridge at 9:30am, January 18th, 2014. A little foggy this morning.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The route I took rowing around Siwash Island.

The Urban Oarsman Circumnavigates Siwash Island

Gwragedd Annwn at the Grant Narrows boat launch dock.

The Urban Oarsman Circumnavigates Siwash Island

The wind flag shows almost no wind.

The Urban Oarsman Circumnavigates Siwash Island

10:23am, leaving the Grant Narrows dock. The tide is flowing 1.5 knots upstream.

The Urban Oarsman Circumnavigates Siwash Island

The point North of Grant Narrows is shrouded with fog.

The Urban Oarsman Circumnavigates Siwash Island

A piling on the East side of Pitt River, showing the tide current flowing upstream.  The entrance to Widgeon Creek is in the fog behind.  The low shore line is Siwash Island.

The Urban Oarsman Circumnavigates Siwash Island

Artsy picture of the East shore with the sun peeking through the fog and trees.

The Urban Oarsman Circumnavigates Siwash Island

Until this row, I had never noticed this depth gauge at Grant Narrows.  I wonder what the scale is.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

I stitched together this panorama view of the entrance to Widgeon Creek on the West shore.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

I row across Grant Narrows to Siwash Island.  The Island does not rise very high.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The upstream tidal current is not flowing as fast on this side of Grant Narrows.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Rowing down river against the current.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Downstream Pitt River.  The way is quite foggy.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Looking North.  Widgeon Point is obscured by the fog.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Dead overturned boat on Siwash Island.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

I stop rowing and let Gwragedd Annwn drift with the current.  .7 knots upriver.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The morning fog begins to burn off.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Open sky to the West.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The entrance to Widgeon Slough.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Google Earth picture of my route.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Rowing into Widgeon Slough.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Unlike Widgeon Creek, Widgeon Slough has a speed limit.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The dock just inside the entrance.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

A power boat goes in for a look, the dock is in the background.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The first side channel heading to the South-West.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The second side channel heads to the South-West as well.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Looking North up Widgeon Slough.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The power boat heads back to Pitt River.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

A floating camp.  It is in the Google Earth Picture below:

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

I continue North up Widgeon Slough.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

I startle a flock of Trumpeter Swans.  They fly away up channel.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The sky is clearing from the North.  I am rowing into sunshine!

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

A side channel to the West.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The Google Earth picture shows a structure should be here.  Now there only pilings.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Google Earth image of the structure that is no longer there.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

All that is left of the building.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Bird boxes up a side channel on the West side of Widgeon Slough.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Widgeon Valley to the North.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Widgeon Point is visible to the North.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

I continue rowing up Widgeon Slough.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

This is the passage to Widgeon Creek.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Where Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Creek connect.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Looking South down Widgeon Slough.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Google Earth image of where Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Creek connecting.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

An eagle flies away from me.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

A camping canoeist returns to Grant Narrows after a pleasurable but cold camp-out.
His canoe is powered by an electric trolling motor.
The clouds are moving in from the South.  It is getting noticeably colder.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The Widgeon Creek Depth Gauge.  It is showing 5 feet?  The tide is still coming in.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The no-trespassing cabin.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The tide is high enough to enter the East side channel.  The current is flowing in.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Rowing up the side channel. I row in backwards for maximum visibility.
I will take the side fork that goes to the South-East.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

I row over the log across the channel.  I have to use my oar to push it down so I can cross it.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Back to the main channel.  It leads to the North-East.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Continuing up the channel.  I run aground and turn back.  I need higher water to reach the source.
The clouds are getting lower and lower.  It is now quite chilly and I put on my wind breaker and scarf.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Passing by the Widgeon Creek Depth Marker on the way back to Grant Narrows.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Thirty minutes later I am at the Grant Narrows Depth Gauge.  5 feet?

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The water level is up to the top mark on the ramp.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

The tide does look to be very high.

Siwash Island Circumnavigation Row

Side by side pictures of the Grant Narrow Water Level Gauges.  The tide did come in during my row.

Rowing around Siwash Island took about 2.5 hours.

A wonderful way to spend the day.

one

Happy Rowing!

Mike