Oh yeah, there was nothing interesting on the backside.

https://historylink.org/File/11007

>On January 12, 1936, early on Sunday morning, the freighter SS Iowa,
outbound from the Columbia River to the Atlantic coast via San
Francisco with 34 crewmen aboard, is driven onto Peacock Spit at Cape
Disappointment by hurricane force winds. The radio operator manages to
send a distress signal but the fierce storm will prevent rescue vessels
from approaching within range of the foundering vessel. Within a short
while, enormous waves break up the Iowa's hull and she sinks into the
sand with only her pilothouse, masts, and king posts visible above the
surf.

Hey wait a minute. I just realized today is January 12. I swear this happened.

87 years ago

The graveyard of the Pacific. The maritime museum in Astoria OR has amazing history on the Columbia and surrounding coast.

Because of the strong current from the Columbia?

I think 'current' isn't the right word...

Current, crazy high waves, wind, and tidal influence fighting the outgoing current all make for a shit show. I grew up crossing that bar a lot with my grandfather, in a fiberglass boat he built himself. Eventually, while crossing it alone, he broke his hip and would never be able to make the trip again. I've got a lot of fond memories fishing out there, and most of them involve dodging incoming freighter ship traffic. Once he lost his rip-cord while trying to restart his main motor and we had to crawl back on his trolling motor. The Coast Guard stopped to see if we wanted a tow and he refused.

Now I'm all teary eyed. Granpda died about a decade ago from cancer. His boat was half buried on his lot in Winlock, rotting and being chewed on by horses.

I’ve crossed the bar a few times, even on the nicest of days it can be crazy.

What a cool find and a distressing event...

There is an entire professional group of Columbia Bar Pilots because the area is so complex and hazardous. Every vessel has to wait for a pilot to come guide them through. If I remember correctly, the pilot actually boards the vessel and leaves after they are over the bar.

Yes, this museum is great!! They have a display to try and show you how crazy the bar is: an actual small vessel, riding almost vertically on a wave. Truly awesome, in the biblical sense of the word.

It can be a horrifyingly nasty place at times

I commercial fished out of Ilwaco. I remember sitting in the " chicken coup " waiting for a break so we could sneak out. Returning was a different kind of spooky with waves rolling astern

Atlantic?? Via San Francisco?

Sounds like some great memories with a great man. I'm sorry for your loss - and glad you shared his story.

Hey. I'm a boater, and love hearing about our elders.

Write up a a short story about him. Use his name. I'll read it.

Thank you for carrying him in your heart.

> In 1935, the ship, now called the Iowa, was relegated to intercoastal trade, hauling lumber and general cargo from West Coast ports to New York and Philadelphia. 

Aww, nice. Thanks.

My grandfather wasn't a huge boater, but he did like to swim (in the Sound sometimes).

The grandparents got a vacation home up on Whidbey, and got a small rowboat. They called it the Alphar, with the idea being the second boat would be based on Beta, and so on through the Greek alphabet. Well they never got past the first boat, and it's being used as a planter up at the old cabin.

Well they wouldn't go North, would they?