Drawbridges! You may drive over one frequently and not know it

Drawbridges are an important part of our transportation system in the Astora/Warernton area. In fact, we couldn't get around without them. Today I'll answer a listener question about drawbridges and talk about the ones we have here and how they work.

Photo of Youngs Bay Bridge courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

A look at today's schedule, including a ship whose name means "hydrangea" in Japanese

Today a look at the daily ship schedule and a few interesting details about ships, including one whose name means "hydrangea" in Japanese, and the charming cultural meaning of the flower in Japanese culture.

A look at the weather, our waning daylight, and a bit about "tramp" bulk carriers

Today, a look at our changing weather and how much daylight we are losing per day. Also, look at a common type of bulk carrier referred to in the industry as a "tramp" ship, because it changes cargoes frequently.

Kokanee Salmon, a fresh water lake fish native to the PNW

Today we'll talk more about a fish I mentioned on Wednesday's show: The Kokanee salmon, a freshwater lake fish that is also in parts of the Columbia River.

Where does the river end, and the ocean begin?

Today, a listener question about salt water intrusion on the Columbia River: Where does the salt water ocean end and the freshwater river begin? As with most things on the Columbia, it's complicated. We'll also talk about fish that call both river and ocean their home.

Interesting goings-on in the Astoria Anchorage show experts handling ship issues

This weekend a ship experienced some engine issues heading downriver. Observant folks near the Astoria Anchorage noticed some unusual activity - the actions of marine pilots and a tugboat crew at work keeping the ship safe until it could fix its problems and head out to sea, which it eventually did.

The autumnal equinox, and a look at fall near the Arctic Circle

Today, a bit about the autumnal equinox, which happened yesterday in the Northern Hemisphere.

And if you're feeling sad about the shorter days, consider the people of Barrow, Alaska (now called Utquiagvik), who endure 67 days of complete darkness between mid-November and late January.

The USNS Henry J Kaiser heads downriver

Posting this podcast the night before so folks can see her heading downriver Friday morning from Vancouver.

Ship hull colors and why they look that way

White caps and white horses

Today we'll talk about a specific sea state that you might see often off the downtown Astoria waterfront this time of year, and that's: white caps. Also called "white horses" in the UK.

They're the result of a specific set of circumstances involving wind and tide, and they signal choppy conditions that mariners need to know about.