Good morning sailors!
Crystal clear skies reflect from the Zamboni-ed smooth Columbia this morning. Cathy and Tom and Freeman are probably on the river already, sending 20 foot walls of spray into the air as they carve around an imaginary slalom course. Wakeboarding and skiing conditions will hold for much of the day today, as Portland strives for 90 degrees, We too will suffer from scalding temperatures today, with forecast highs close to 100. Notice the temperature differential? We'll see just enough west wind by late afternoon to stir the long curls atop my head.
Wednesday brings a more pleasant picture (not that I'm saying sunny skies and 100 degree temps aren't great). Wakeboarders and skiers hold the throne for the morning hours, but west winds stage a coup come late afternoon. As marine air drifts into Portland, cooling those lucky city dwellers, gradients increase in the Gorge. Sailboat racers may be in for an exciting race, as light winds give way to increasing westerlies around 5pm (maybe earlier if marine air makes its way to Portland earlier). Once again, if you are interested in racing (or just going for a cruise, during which you'll be required to change position frequently), show up at the docks around 5:45, or drop me an email for more information. Winds may brush the low to mid twenties in the afternoon, for windsurfing and kiting, but don't count on it; this all depends on the timing of the marine push.
Thursday. Ah Thursday. I'll try and save some of those delicious ginger-molasses cookies I made last night for the drive to Arlington. Thursday is going to be a ripper. We'll have dense, cold marine air (and possibly drizzle) in Portland, as the desert breaks 90 degrees. Models show 30+ from Hood River to Arlington, and I agree. My guess, this far out, is that strongest winds will focus at Doug's (for the "green" crew) and best conditions will be way out east (for those of us who will be planting trees to make up for burning all that gasoline). Southerly upper level flow won't favor The Wall, but Celilo, Avery, Doug's, Mosier (depending on cloud coverage) and Rowena will see small animals searching for shelter.
As for those molasses cookies, here's the link: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/10881
I replace the white sugar with brown and add chopped crystalized ginger. Delicious! First person to offer me a worthy trade item gets one dozen!
Print | posted @ Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:27 AM