We see them every day, but likely ignore this big influence in our lives: What causes tides?

We see them every day, but likely ignore this big influence in our lives: What causes tides?

Jul 23, 2025 | Home Slider, Ship Report Podcasts

Today, as part of the answer to a listener question, I thought it would be good to take a look at why tides happen. This influence is huge in our lives here on the coast and on the river, and it’s interesting and helpful to understand what’s driving it.

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More on the complex topic of tides

More on the complex topic of tides

Jul 22, 2025 | Home Slider, Ship Report Podcasts

I was thinking more about tides and thought we could talk more about this complex subject. Yesterday we talked about how high tide happens about 5 hours later in Vancouver than Astoria on the Columbia.

Today we’ll look at tidal range, the height difference between high and low tides and how that is also different between different places on the river. And a look at how fast the tide rises – is it uniform, and is there a way to tell how fast it will rise?

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Thank you, a bit about music, being brave and, oh – tides

Thank you, a bit about music, being brave and, oh – tides

Jul 21, 2025 | Home Slider, Ship Report Podcasts

Today’s show is a bit of a mix: I wanted to thank the folks who came down to the Ten Fifteen Theater to hear my Ship Report talk and to hear Jerry and me perform on stage (eek!), and then a bit about tides, and how there is a vast difference in tidal schedules between what we  Astoria and Vancouver/Portland.

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We see them every day, but likely ignore this big influence in our lives: What causes tides?

The busy upriver Columbia

Jul 18, 2025 | Home Slider, Ship Report Podcasts

We see a lot of ships go by on the lower river near Astoria, but the river upstream past Longview is often busier, with a variety of vessel traffic all doing local work: tugs and barges  hauling cargo, ship handling tugs, and ships being moved from anchorages to nearby berths.

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We see them every day, but likely ignore this big influence in our lives: What causes tides?

A Ship Report talk in Astoria on Saturday, and some music

Jul 16, 2025 | Home Slider, Ship Report Podcasts

This Saturday the 19th, at 10:30am, I’ll be appearing at the 1015 Theater in Astoria, as part of their big Performathon fundraising event, which runs all day and into the night. I’ll be sharing memories of a trip I took on a cargo ship when I traveled from the Columbia River up to Puget Sound and south to San Francisco. It was an unforgettable experience.

Then at 10:45, my husband, Jerry Middaugh, and I will perform some folk music tunes that we hope will entertain you, and leave you with a feeling of hope about the world.

Many thanks to the organizers for inviting us to perform! We hope to see you there!

So come on down and support community theater – an important thing – a place where locals can share themselves and what they love with their community.

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