Friday, January 10, 2020

this is how Bobby Sheldon crossed the tannana river near Delta Juction Alaska, he was the first to drive from Fairbanks to Valdez in 1913. Load and unload easy, load on the mud flat at low tide and float off on the high then run aground at the destination and when the tide goes out drive off with the ramps.

4 comments:

  1. The problem is there is no tide on a river. A pretty steep bank in the picture behind them. Maybe they pulled up next to the river bank sideways and unloaded that way. Sounds difficult either way. Thanks for the great and always interesting site.I learn something new almost every day! Thankful for all your hard work that goes into keeping this going. Hope you have a great New Year!

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    Replies
    1. Wow, you're welcome! I'm glad I've been entertaining. As for learning something new every day, well, umm, how to put this.
      Ahem, umm, rivers are not all alike, and those that empty into the ocean, in the area closer to the mouth of the river and it's proximity to the oceans, are effected by tides, and the oceans. As anyone who lives next to the ocean will certainly correct you, in come cases the river runs backwards.
      There can be a fast or slow tide, depending on the region of the planet referred to, but, as with most industrial rivers, the loads heading in or out of that area, such as the river flowing all the way inland to Olympia Washington, will only run at high tide to put extra distance under the keel.
      Now, it's easy to look up Tidal Rivers online, but I'm in San Diego, and the river empties into the Pacific and where it does the interstate 8 runs alongside it on the south side, and Friars road along the north bank, and anyone driving around San Diego that has wanted to get to Ocean Beach, or Mission Beach, will have seen the variation in depth of the San Diego River in that area. 10 feet or more of depth, just on the tide.
      I guess right about now you might be laughing, as you stated clearly that there is no tide on a river, and that contrasts with complimenting me on bringing you stuff that you learn from every day.
      I hope you're still in a good sense of humor!

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    2. In fact the term "head of tidewater" refers to the place on a river downstream of which there is a tidal influence, and upstream there is no tidal influence.

      For most of the rivers on the Southern Oregon coast, tidewater extends about 20 miles above the river mouth.

      Don in Oregon

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  2. You are right. of course. I guess I put that comment wrong .I'm sorry.I was referring just to the Tannana river near Delta Jct, Alaska which you mentioned .It is several hundred miles from the ocean. I would be very surprised if there was a tidal influence that far inland. I lived on the coast for many years and you are correct that there can be a tidal influence on a river , I think on the Amazon it extends far , far inland. So ,yes ,I misspoke. Sorry. And yes I do have a sense of humor,luckily. Looks like I need one!

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