Plenty of sunshine to start the day off right. 
We took it easy dried our gear out a bit, and took off for our second Cape Horn of the trip. This passage was much more mellow than the first, with glassy conditions and warm sun. We stopped at County Line Park for a stretch. It was a nice little roadside campground with water and bathrooms. After refilling our jugs we continued downstream. 
It was warm enough to paddle in just a rash guard, and we enjoyed the sun as we headed down to Puget Island. The clouds and wind came back just as we stopped for lunch, so we geared back at a protected little beach as we ate beef jerky and crackers. Continuing on, 
we passed underneath a bridge, and came upon the marina at Cathlamet. For some reason it reminded me of the Russian marinas I’d read about in a Jon Turk novel, with an older, industrial feel. Then a shiny new Chevy pickup pulled out and drove away, and my eyes drifted up to see the more conventional American town behind it. The funky riverside tavern was tempting, especially with camping just around the corner, but it was just too early in the day to stop. Instead we rounded the bend into Echoloman Slough. Immediately the banks closed in around us. The water was low enough we had to push ourselves along by hand at times, and we wondered if we’d end up turning around. After sliding over one particularly shallow point, thing began to channel back up, and we had enough water to paddle. 
A few twists and turns later, a bald eagle flew directly over my left shoulder chasing a duck. They flew over a low berm, and I could see the eagle looping and diving. A flock of small birds joined in, circling with the eagle. As I paddled around the corner, I watched the eagle continue patrolling, but I couldn’t find the duck. All of the sudden it resurfaced, and the eagle dove at it. This cycle repeated itself several times, until the eagle finally gave up and flew downstream. 
We’d just watched the most incredible bird show of my life, all from 30 feet away in my kayak. After a bit more oohing and aahing, we continued on, and popped out of the slough a short while later. We’d planned on camping at Price Island, but looking downstream at it, couldn’t see any obvious camping sites. We’re camped instead on a low spit of land on the downstream end of the slough. Birds hunt the wetlands to our left, 
while seals fish the Columbia on our right. It’s an incredible view point, and maybe the local makeout spot as well. We can see tire tracks in the sand, and a nice driftwood amphitheater has been built around the fire pit. Dainella whipped up a double dinner while I set up the tent, and we feasted like royalty in the setting sun. Now we’re siting around our driftwood fire with drinks in hand, listening to the river roll by. In the morning we’ll stop in Skamokowa to resupply and get info on camping. Then we’ll make our final westward turn and head toward the ocean!
