The Ross of Ross Island

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In the Willamette River about two miles south of downtown Portland is a place where the river widens to about 4/5ths of a mile across, and in this widening is a bit of land that looks like a lobster's claw. 

It is what remains of two islands that were mined TF out over a period of years by the Ross Island Sand and Gravel Company, an era which finally ended about five years ago. This horseshoe, the left half of it, is what remains of Ross Island, named for an early colonial settler.

At the east end of its namesake bridge, there is a plaque installed that tells you about him. 

The island on the left, Hardtack Island, could be named because its position might cause boats passing the islands on the east to turn really decisively, but I prefer to imaging that Sherry Ross liked hardtack a lot. 

Hey, he got to and from his property by boat. It could have happened!

Holgate Slough, Corbett and California

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Most of the photos I've been exploiting over the last few instalments have been from the picture-taking expedition to the wilds of South Portland. The ideal viewpoint we located was the intersection of SW Corbett Avenue and California Street ... that's where the big downhill grade begins.

It offers gifts in more than one direction, though, it must be said. As witness:

What you can see from there is the Willamette, where it widens out to encompass Ross Island and Hardtack Island, two large gravel bars that would eventually be tied together at the south end to provide a lagoon for Ross Island Sand & Gravel to quarry for all those years. That charming floating home community is lined along the side that becomes what is called Holgate Slough. Of particular note is the blue building perched on the bluff overlooking the river, in the upper right of the frame. The mural on it is famous and the target of many a fellow amateur photog and blogger, and it's on the back side of Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral home. It's reputedly the largest mural in the United States of America.

We journeyed to this corner of town to find street blades with the new South directional; we found none (though those odd brown blades in the South Waterfront continue to annoy in more ways than one). We expected something since the City o'Portland is apparently locked and loaded to run out and slap a decal on all suitable blades and then replace those that need replacing, but nothing. Nada one. So despite the City insisting this be a problem and fixing it nonetheless, we can still go out there and pretend to the preferable reality that it didn't happen. However, looking at the weathered blades at the corner, it's still a known thing that they went from merely worn to instant antiques. Sic transit gloria mundi.