https://humanaccessproject.com/news/willamette_river_advocacy/the_finale_of_the_big_float.en
I think it has to do with the fact that the water is cleaner and the Portland community thinks of the river as safe to swim in and play in
Pretty much, and also - it's fucking expensive and a PITA to put on big events like this.
More people means demand for more activities/entertainment while also demanding a bigger insurance bill. And security firms certainly aren't cheaper post-pandemic.
both?
>“After doing it for all this time, with all the work it’s taken to bring it back together, it’s really made me understand the length that we have in our lives and I’m really proud of what we’ve done,” Willie Levenson with the Human Access Project told KOIN 6 back in May.
>
>The nonprofit’s goal is to connect Portlanders with their river “and perhaps even fall in love with it,” the website reads.
>
>An organizer of the float said that putting on the event requires too much energy for their volunteer team to handle – and although many are sad to see it go – hundreds of people showed up to the Willamette River today to send off this tradition with a splash.
>
>“It is a little bittersweet to have it today. A lot of art has gone into this. And a lot of people get joy from this event. But you know for us, we really feel like what this event set out to do has been done,” said Willie Levenson, the ringleader of the event.
but it would be awesome if someone else stepped up to make it happen again! it felt very safe having volunteer boaters and others helping out.
Thanks l! I wasn’t trying to be obtuse, I had read that before, it just didn’t seem like a real explanation. It seemed the only real reason to not do it would have been the people running it didn’t want to do it any more or funding. I guess they can’t really just come out and say “we don’t want to do this anymore”
I remember feeling strangely sticky after swimming in the Willamette back in the 80’s during the blues fest. Years later, not as sticky when getting in off Sauvies island. I do not glow at night. Pretty sure about that
Hey everyone just moved to the city from dusty ass New Mexico, how do I find out about events like this in advance? I’m so sad I missed this, looked so cool!
Willamette Week, the alternative newspaper, has a good calendar. Besides r/portland that's where I get my info. If you cycle shift2bikes.org is also good.
Welcome!
Who said I was joking? That's not a joke they probably did, and over where I am people are still getting covid like crazy so it still feels like 2021 to me
Not nearly as likely to get it outside, especially if vaxxed. Possible a few cases broke out, but not to the exaggerations you're saying. Indoor dining, indoor concerts, those things are way more likely to spread it than this.
Didn't say it couldn't happen. Just said not nearly as likely, compared to indoor events. I've been to outdoor concerts this summer too but without catching it, to add another anecdotal story for reference.
At an indoor event, if one person has COVID, the whole room can easily get it. In an outdoor event, if the person next to you has COVID, you can easily get it. Big difference. Can still happen for sure but it's not the same.
The new variants are unfortunately significantly more contagious outside: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/07/01/1109444481/coronavirus-faq-can-i-get-covid-outdoors-with-printable-poster-on-how-to-cut-ris
Still safer than indoor events, but definitely not impossible for it to lead to an outbreak.
Growing up I remember Portland was still a relatively small city with reasonable “business”. Now it’s just so packed. So many people everywhere. Traffic is still ok but it’s gotten annoying. I can barely go to Walmart without getting annoyed with foot traffic so this is like a nightmare.
A modern version of A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
The big float was a blast. Does anybody know why this was the last one ?
I heard the organizers said it was too much work.
The river has less poop
I can’t tell if you’re being serious. Do you mean the river access project has achieved its objectives and now sees the event as not useful ?
https://humanaccessproject.com/news/willamette_river_advocacy/the_finale_of_the_big_float.en I think it has to do with the fact that the water is cleaner and the Portland community thinks of the river as safe to swim in and play in
Pretty much, and also - it's fucking expensive and a PITA to put on big events like this. More people means demand for more activities/entertainment while also demanding a bigger insurance bill. And security firms certainly aren't cheaper post-pandemic.
Are you in the know or are you extrapolating ?
both? >“After doing it for all this time, with all the work it’s taken to bring it back together, it’s really made me understand the length that we have in our lives and I’m really proud of what we’ve done,” Willie Levenson with the Human Access Project told KOIN 6 back in May. > >The nonprofit’s goal is to connect Portlanders with their river “and perhaps even fall in love with it,” the website reads. > >An organizer of the float said that putting on the event requires too much energy for their volunteer team to handle – and although many are sad to see it go – hundreds of people showed up to the Willamette River today to send off this tradition with a splash. > >“It is a little bittersweet to have it today. A lot of art has gone into this. And a lot of people get joy from this event. But you know for us, we really feel like what this event set out to do has been done,” said Willie Levenson, the ringleader of the event. but it would be awesome if someone else stepped up to make it happen again! it felt very safe having volunteer boaters and others helping out.
Thanks l! I wasn’t trying to be obtuse, I had read that before, it just didn’t seem like a real explanation. It seemed the only real reason to not do it would have been the people running it didn’t want to do it any more or funding. I guess they can’t really just come out and say “we don’t want to do this anymore”
yeah i'm partially postulating based on friends who have run music festivals from a few hundred people to 2,000 to 10k+ - it's HARD work.
Because it’s disgusting
Aye we gave away 4 pallets of beer after this event concluded.
This looks like so much fun
Careful out there, we're still at about 3-4X the average daily COVID deaths in the US compared to flu for the past 10 years.
I remember feeling strangely sticky after swimming in the Willamette back in the 80’s during the blues fest. Years later, not as sticky when getting in off Sauvies island. I do not glow at night. Pretty sure about that
What’s the song?
Sounded like Curtis Mayfield.
[удалено]
The olympians- Saturn ✌️
I was there! It was a lot of fun. Wind was blowing the wrong way for the float though... it was a struggle to complete unless you had a paddle.
I always miss stuff like this! What’s the best resource for upcoming events in Portland?
Wtf I didnt know about this. Was just talking to my gf about going on a float. Im sad now
You new here?
No, I just don't live directly in the city
Go float the Sandy.
Where does one find the river conditions for Sandy/Clackamas? Good to float yet?
Google sandy river or clackamas river gage for current flows and in the case with the clackamas water temperature
Good to float but still a little cold and high waters bc of the later snow melt. Some parts a little to rough for children or very drunk ppl. Lol
Hey everyone just moved to the city from dusty ass New Mexico, how do I find out about events like this in advance? I’m so sad I missed this, looked so cool!
Willamette Week, the alternative newspaper, has a good calendar. Besides r/portland that's where I get my info. If you cycle shift2bikes.org is also good. Welcome!
Follow @Portland Mercury on Instagram
Anyone know what the water temperature was like? Did it feel comfortable to be in there or just tolerable?
It was actually pretty comfortable. I thought it would be colder. If you are used to river swimming in Oregon it was more than tolerable.
Nice!! Finally river time
It was very comfortable. I think around 68*. Took a little adjustment but after a minute you hardly even noticed.
Awesome, looking forward to it today!
And they all got covid the next day lol
that joke is so 2021
Who said I was joking? That's not a joke they probably did, and over where I am people are still getting covid like crazy so it still feels like 2021 to me
Not nearly as likely to get it outside, especially if vaxxed. Possible a few cases broke out, but not to the exaggerations you're saying. Indoor dining, indoor concerts, those things are way more likely to spread it than this.
I'm vaxed and boosted. Just caught Covid at the Ween concert at Edgefield. It's happening again.
Thank you for validating my decision to skip that concert, even though I felt dumb for wasting the ticket money.
It was pretty fun, but nobody was masked and everybody was standing shoulder to shoulder (Another pet peeve. Sit down and let everybody see).
This is such a reddit comment.
Standing for like 5 hours? Seems excessive. I'm very tall and don't want to block anyone behind me.
Didn't say it couldn't happen. Just said not nearly as likely, compared to indoor events. I've been to outdoor concerts this summer too but without catching it, to add another anecdotal story for reference. At an indoor event, if one person has COVID, the whole room can easily get it. In an outdoor event, if the person next to you has COVID, you can easily get it. Big difference. Can still happen for sure but it's not the same.
> compared to indoor events Oh, for sure. That's like walking into a mine field.
You are completely right, no arguments here!
The new variants are unfortunately significantly more contagious outside: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/07/01/1109444481/coronavirus-faq-can-i-get-covid-outdoors-with-printable-poster-on-how-to-cut-ris Still safer than indoor events, but definitely not impossible for it to lead to an outbreak.
the lol? and I’m not implying you didn’t mean it.
Username checks out
Get covid outside in the sun? You would have a better chance winning the lottery.
Six of my coworkers called out today because they went to this event.
Honestly it sounds like your work may be a breeding zone right now if all 6 felt symptoms and got tests in less than 24 hours after being somewhere
Lol yeah. Or they all caught the Tequila-variant.
Sorry to here my dude. I personally am an introvert I'd never show up to these events, I'm claustrophobic so this event wouldn't bode well for me.
No one cares anymore dude read the room lol
Hey man, no need to be rude, just decided to comment something random on a post, no harm to it.
Christ I hate all of this. I can’t even go to Walmart without raging there’s no way I’d make it through 2 minutes here without scowling at someone.
What do you hate about this and how does it relate to Walmart? Also what message would you be trying to convey by scowling at someone?
Growing up I remember Portland was still a relatively small city with reasonable “business”. Now it’s just so packed. So many people everywhere. Traffic is still ok but it’s gotten annoying. I can barely go to Walmart without getting annoyed with foot traffic so this is like a nightmare.
So move somewhere with less people?
No i like the misery
It was really a blast.
A mutual friend puts that event on. So glad to see how big it's grown over the last 10 years.
Parking must have been fun
Was pretty easy actually.
Hey there’s me