Columbia estuary, storm-bound, vote on winter camp — Patrick Gass: November 8, 1805
Under cloudy skies and a strong east wind, the party traveled about five miles before reaching a bay 12 to 14 miles wide. High waves forced them to coast around it rather than cross. They stopped to dine at a point on the north side near a small river, then continued until rough swells made them wait for the tide to strand their canoes. They named the spot Cape Swell and the bay Shallow Bay. Several men became seasick. The wet, disagreeable day covered about 20 coasted miles but only 9 in a straight line.
cloudy, and there was a hard wind from the east. We went
about 5 miles and came to a bay 12 or 14 miles wide. We
had to coast round it, as the wind raised the waves so
high we could go no other way. We halted and dined at a
point on the north side of the bay where a small river comes
in. We again proceeded on coasting, till we came to a point
of land where the bay becomes much narrower; and the water
quite salt. The waves here ran so high we were obliged to-
lie to, and let the tide leave our canoes on dry ground. This
point we called Cape Swell; and the bay above, Shallow Bay,
as there is no great depth of water. In crossing the bay when
the tide was out, some of our men got sea sick, the swells were
so great. In it there are a great many swans, geese, ducks and
other water fowls. The whole of this day was wet and disa-
greeable; and the distance we made, in a straight line, was not
more than 9 miles; though the distance we coasted was above
20 miles.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Cloudy, and there was a hard wind from the east. We went about 5 miles and came to a bay 12 or 14 miles wide. We had to coast around it, as the wind raised the waves so high we could go no other way. We halted and dined at a point on the north side of the bay where a small river comes in. We again proceeded on coasting, until we came to a point of land where the bay becomes much narrower, and the water quite salt. The waves here ran so high we were obliged to lie to, and let the tide leave our canoes on dry ground. This point we called Cape Swell, and the bay above, Shallow Bay, as there is no great depth of water. In crossing the bay when the tide was out, some of our men got sea sick, the swells were so great. In it there are a great many swans, geese, ducks and other water fowls. The whole of this day was wet and disagreeable, and the distance we made, in a straight line, was not more than 9 miles, though the distance we coasted was above 20 miles.
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