Floating the Deschutes

The big thing to do in Bend in the summer months is to float the Deschutes River through the middle of town. And yet, until just now in late July, we have not been out on the river. Rennika, our neighbor and friend from McMinnville, texted this week to let us know that she and two friends, Ben and Sarah, would be in town on Friday and that we were all floating the river. That was just the motivation that we needed, especially since they would be providing the tubes and transportation.

We have eyed the floaters, sometimes so thick that you could walk across the river from float to float without ever touching the water, with much envy this summer. But we just haven't gotten around to getting a float for the two of us. Now that we have been in the river, that's going to have to change so that we can make this a regular thing, especially on weekdays when the crowds are lighter.

Our roughly two-hour float took us from Riverbend Park off Columbia Ave. to Harmon Park, across the river from Drake Park. Parking is nearly impossible on the east side of the river at Drake Park, but much easier to find over on or near Harmon Blvd. on the west side. It's also a lot easier to outload the floats at the small dock in Harmon Park than it is to deal with the maddening crowds of floaters across the river.

Except for the rapids in the Whitewater Park north of the Colorado Street Bridge, the water appears to be very placid. The current, however, is deceptively strong as we all found out when getting into our floats. And given that the water is all snowmelt, it is cooler than it would seem given the air temperature in the 90s. But it was refreshing and relaxing all the way around. Life is good drifting down the river, beer in hand, not having a care in the world for a couple of hours.

The photos are pretty crappy because I shot them from inside a waterproof bag, a necessity because of the series of rapids just below the Colorado Street bridge through the Whitewater Park, rapids that guarantee that you will get soaked. I took some video going through the rapids but had to stop quickly as we found ourselves stranded on a couple of different sets of rocks. We also got a couple of strangers to shoot some shots and send them to us while we were on the water.

Getting Set at Riverbend Park

Lashing the Floats Together

On the Water at Last

Entering the Old Mill District

Nearing the Old Mill Pedestrian Bridge

Going by the Amphitheater

Shot by Other Floaters

Taken from Old Mill Bridge

Downstream of Old Mill,
Headed for Colorado Bridge and Rapids

Through the Rapids, Nearing Columbia Park

Columbia Park Footbridge

Nearing the End on Mirror Pond, Drake Park in Background

Lot of Mooches on Mirror Pond

Post Float Beers at Crux