Boating Season

Today was the opening day of boating season, which usually means, rain and wind and misery.  It seems that the good Lord doesn't like the smudge and arrogant members of the local yacht clubs that parade their boats past the poor folk on the shore.  Today though it was sunny and warm, July-like really.
This day also marks an anniversary of the affects of another warm spring.  Back in 1880 on this date, several dozen fishermen drown in their small crafts off the month of the Columbia River.  Fishermen in those days would ride the outgoing tide through the month of the Columbia and drop their nets.  Then when the tide came in they would be pushed through the month of the river and toward the many canneries on the shore.  But on May 4, 1880, the river was running high and fast due to a early snow melt, so high and fast that the outflow of the river prevented the high tide to wash into the river.  This then meant that the fishermen's boats were washed toward the Columbia Bar and the fierce breakers.  The boats were swamped and the fishermen drowned.
Tonight, to honor the fishermen and the beautiful weather, a shot from Fishermen's Terminal in Ballard on a beautiful spring evening.