Oregon - Washington October 2025 Sales Trip

 

Left Bend, Oregon at 6:20 AM Wednesday 10/8 morning for a visit to dealers in Oregon and Washington. What a beautiful morning start. Didn’t feel like hearing the news or major audio stimulation so listened to some soundscapes in the truck while enjoying the sunrise and my favorite commute over Mount Hood!

First stop was Alder Creek in Portland OR. I worked here in 2000 and they still treat me like family and are always generous with helping me visit them and get the work done. The crew checked out the new Mocean Ace and Melker Kayaks. We had a good talk about paddles as well and had them try the Aquabound Tetra while test paddling the new Ace and Varmdos. During these difficult times in the paddlesports industry, Alder Creek is keeping engaged with their paddlers through classes, events, deals and a pro staff that is trusted in the community. 

The Paddle Shack!!! I'm so excited for this new venture for new owners Cody and Bri! Their focus is on community and showing the magic that is Scappoose Bay. They have one of the best rental facilities and waters in all of my territory in my opinion. The Bayport RV park is one of the campgrounds that I will use in my travels because it is clean and right in the marina for easy paddling. I’ll be spending lots of time here with Cody and Bri and look forward to helping them dial in their gear line-up as they build new paddlers! Go check them out. Off season paddling is actually my favorite time there as the leaves come off the trees for more visibility and the migratory aviators are plentiful. 

The Paddle Shack is taking over the location formerly known as the Scappoose Bay Kayak Center and this is an operation that is near and dear to my heart. How is my territory that I travel this location has some of the most enticing waters for paddlers of all capabilities. Beginners can go off the dock to the right and venture into a maze of backwater creeks with amazing water, foul and forest life.. Intermediate Cohen Venture down the Bay and enter the Willamette channel with all of its little backwater offshoots and a bit more wind and current. More advanced paddlers can extend this paddle out into the main Columbia river, where everything is thrown out at you and multi day trips Can be launched.

Swung by the new Mocean Facility. The crew has moved into an 18,000 square-foot facility and have done this about a smoothly as I’ve seen a factory move. They formed back stock of parts so that the crew could continue building while the oven shuts down and gets moved. We had a nice two hour morning meeting before loading up my trailer to bring dealers the new Ace and some other stock that will go all the way down to California. 

Here's an Ace Vid I shot a couple weeks earlier

Next, I visited Yeager’s Sporting Goods in Bellingham, Washington. This eclectic store has about everything you need to enjoy the outdoors and more has been in business for over 100 years! I always love the discoveries I find here! When a rep that visits sporting good stores so often finds some things he has not seen before you know the Buying Team is doing things right.

After leaving Yeagers’s, I had a dinner with Dragonfly Kayak Tours. They run some awesome kids camps, and tours on the waters off Bellingham. If you are in the area, Dragonfly Kayak Tours is a great operation to check in on to safely get guided into these waters.

I spent Thursday evening driving back down through Seattle and around Tacoma and up the Olympic Peninsula. I had a load of Moceans on board, including the new ace to deliver to Olympic  Outdoor Center. I love arriving at the store in the later evening hours and taking a bit of a walk and enjoying the sights and moods of the Sound. Quiet sleeping in the rig and a nice morning appointment and back on the road Friday by noon to head back toward Portland.

Columbia River over the I5 Bridge …calm today.

Alder Creek visit two.

Making my way home...

There is a special feeling whenever I pass over Mt Hood and start to make my way back to Central Oregon. Part of the reason I moved out of the Valley 20 years ago was to give myself some distance from the hustle and bustle of the I5 Portland/Seattle corridor where I do so much of my work. When I lived there, getting on the road to visit dealers was always staring me right in the face when I woke. Definitely convenient but I like that now my road trips come with more intention and planning. Stopping in the forest of Mt Hood and soaking up the last of the moist environment is a common routine I like to do. Helps resent the mind and stretch the legs after I5 traffic.

Here is the home on the road below. I have had every version of road camping set up from Van to Camper to travel trailer.  The more I do this, I find that the simplest system is the best for me. A warm dry place to sleep, a simple one burner stove and the ability to with live a bit messy! Embrace the chaos! 

This trip started Wednesday am and the only time I stopped moving was for two sleep sessions that began at midnight and ended at 6am. Two 18 hour days and the final return day was 14 hours. Now I spend a few days in the office for follow up.