The Narrative Image

Fig. 1     (02-06-2011) color version, click to enlarge Fig. 2     (03-24-2013) Color version, click to enlarge Fig. 3   (01-05-2014) Color version, click to enlarge Fig. 4     (03-15-2014) Color version, click to enlarge Fig. 5     (03-15-2014) Color version, click to enlarge Fig. 6     (03-15-2014) Color version, click to enlarge Fig. 7     (03-15-2014) Color version, click to enlarge Fig. 8     (04-07-2014) Color version, click to enlarge Fig. 9    (10-03-2015) Fig. 10     (10-03-2015) Color version, click to enlarge Fig. 11     (12-03-2016)      Fig. 12     (12-03-2016) ...

They say Native Americans carved petroglyphs at the base of Willamette Falls, an ancient fishing site. I’ve paddled up to the falls a couple of times to find the old markings, but always seem to miss them. The massive horseshoe-shaped falls are over a quarter mile wide and are blended in with concrete and steel industrial structures that make its natural configuration something of a puzzle. I figured a fresh set of eyes would improve my chances of finding the petroglyphs, so I invited Karen, who had previously expressed an interest in learning to kayak. Karen and I are part of the same extended church family, but more like cousins who almost never visit each other. In the past, she has tried to kill me with a heavy piñata stick and also a spring roll (the spring roll wasn't really her fault). Having Karen along makes even the most pedestrian outing more like a life and death adventure — at least for me. Smoke, presumably from California’s wildfires, interfered with the dawn...