Before coming to West Bar I had had several encounters with the mighty Columbia River. The first was in 1963, when my father drove the family car over the river at Vantage during our move from New York State to Seattle. Other car crossings occurred over the years at several locations. During my college years, hobo-style train travel enabled me to cross at Rock Island, Beverly, Pasco, Wishram, and Vancouver. Airplanes flew me over the river a few times too. Twice I have walked across the river on Grand Coulee Dam. There was only one thing left to do: get in the water. Here I am doing just that. It was refreshing.

My personal assistant, Ralph Tripod, stood on the sandy “beach” to hold my camera.