Randy, that friend would be, Jim.
When you say you will be on the Columbia, do you mean at Willow Grove? We put in at the picnic area--not the boat ramp. I always park at the first lot to the right as you enter the park--just east (upriver) of the restroom. That is the closest place to the beach.
I was out there yesterday and it was just like summer. The water isn't even cold yet. That isn't to say that I went swimming, but I'm still just wearing sandles. I don't mean that's all I was wearing; I had on shorts and...you know what I mean.
Anyway, if the weather sticks with us, I think I'll probably be out there this weekend also. Oh man, a ship went by yesterday that made some of the biggest waves I've seen from a ship. I thought for sure one of them was going to break on me and I was about to get very wet, but for some reason it didn't break. I'm sure glad I had the bow pointing the right way, though.