Tribal canoe journey disrupted by tsunami advisory
The Paddle to Elwha was running right around the time the earthquake happened in Russia, prompting global alerts over the dangers of a possible tsunami. Some people in canoes got out of the water late Tuesday and did not go back in on Wednesday until all major alerts were lifted and the waves did not materialize.
The canoe journeys were slated to finish within the coming days, and there were impacts as the groups on shore and in the canoes watched the news.
The good news is that the potential for a tsunami was slated to hit in the early morning hours of Wednesday, not when anyone on the canoe journey would have been in the water. The major concern, though, for some was whether there would be an impact on currents in the later morning on Wednesday, when the canoe journey would get going again.
Chairwoman Frances Charles of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe admitted that a tsunami risk was not at all a concern at the tail end of the canoe journey for many participants.
'Totally unprepared for a tsunami, of course, in regards to that, but we were really concerned about it because it's all about the safety,' she said, adding that when the first alerts went out, everyone taking part quickly assessed the situation, followed the updates, and got out of the water for the legs of the journey late Tuesday. Some waited to see how things would go on Wednesday morning.
The Paddle to Elwha around our region is an annual tradition that has run for decades; the pandemic stopped it, but the threat of a tsunami only stymied it a bit. When alerts went out yesterday, tribal leaders did not take too many risks.
But dangerous large tsunami waves never quite materialized in Washington, and the canoe journey wasn't stopped for long, according to Chairwoman Charles.
'There was concerns of the uncertainty on when those current levels would be for our pullers and also in general with the wind situations we run into,' she said.
The chairwoman of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe said canoe groups a little further out west didn't risk the water and got out and watched the situation. On Wednesday, groups further east near Port Townsend waited for the alerts to be lifted this morning and then safely kept going.
Charles said getting information was quite easy and proved that it was being released fast, 'A lot of good communications had taken place with the emergency response agencies, enforcement, coast guard, everybody that needed to be involved was on the phone conferences every hour.'
'We were closely watching KIRO when they were predicting 7-10 inches, and it ended up being a foot-and-a-half, but our team was on the phones and watching everything, all the reports,' said Russell Hepfer, Vice Chair of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe.
Both Charles and Hepfer feel that the alerts, along with the communications, proved what could go right in the situation. They also stressed that the delays and some people taking canoes out of the water to be safe did not delay the journey. Charles expects canoes to be landing in the next few days to finish off the journey for this year.
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Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Yahoo
Tribal canoe journey disrupted by tsunami advisory
The annual tribal canoe journey that traverses our region was impacted by the tsunami alerts this week. The Paddle to Elwha was running right around the time the earthquake happened in Russia, prompting global alerts over the dangers of a possible tsunami. Some people in canoes got out of the water late Tuesday and did not go back in on Wednesday until all major alerts were lifted and the waves did not materialize. The canoe journeys were slated to finish within the coming days, and there were impacts as the groups on shore and in the canoes watched the news. The good news is that the potential for a tsunami was slated to hit in the early morning hours of Wednesday, not when anyone on the canoe journey would have been in the water. The major concern, though, for some was whether there would be an impact on currents in the later morning on Wednesday, when the canoe journey would get going again. Chairwoman Frances Charles of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe admitted that a tsunami risk was not at all a concern at the tail end of the canoe journey for many participants. 'Totally unprepared for a tsunami, of course, in regards to that, but we were really concerned about it because it's all about the safety,' she said, adding that when the first alerts went out, everyone taking part quickly assessed the situation, followed the updates, and got out of the water for the legs of the journey late Tuesday. Some waited to see how things would go on Wednesday morning. The Paddle to Elwha around our region is an annual tradition that has run for decades; the pandemic stopped it, but the threat of a tsunami only stymied it a bit. When alerts went out yesterday, tribal leaders did not take too many risks. But dangerous large tsunami waves never quite materialized in Washington, and the canoe journey wasn't stopped for long, according to Chairwoman Charles. 'There was concerns of the uncertainty on when those current levels would be for our pullers and also in general with the wind situations we run into,' she said. The chairwoman of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe said canoe groups a little further out west didn't risk the water and got out and watched the situation. On Wednesday, groups further east near Port Townsend waited for the alerts to be lifted this morning and then safely kept going. Charles said getting information was quite easy and proved that it was being released fast, 'A lot of good communications had taken place with the emergency response agencies, enforcement, coast guard, everybody that needed to be involved was on the phone conferences every hour.' 'We were closely watching KIRO when they were predicting 7-10 inches, and it ended up being a foot-and-a-half, but our team was on the phones and watching everything, all the reports,' said Russell Hepfer, Vice Chair of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe. Both Charles and Hepfer feel that the alerts, along with the communications, proved what could go right in the situation. They also stressed that the delays and some people taking canoes out of the water to be safe did not delay the journey. Charles expects canoes to be landing in the next few days to finish off the journey for this year.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Royal tour paintings from Charles's personal collection go on display
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The artist said he had 'no idea' what he was letting himself in for, adding: 'When you haven't got any idea what you're meant to be doing, and probably no idea how to do it, even if you were told – it was quite confusing. 'But, you know, there's some interesting results at the end. I stayed in Hong Kong to paint Chris Patten's portrait as the last Governor of Hong Kong and so I then stayed there quite a while. 'What it feeds into is great, it is just the actual circumstance of the time are like a rabbit in the headlights.' Charles began the tradition of personally commissioning and paying for a tour artist in 1985 when John Ward joined an official trip to Italy at Charles's expense, with the brief to draw or paint whatever inspired him. A watercolour painted by Charles during that 1985 trip is also on view. Works by 43 artists who have accompanied Charles on 70 tours visiting 95 countries are on display. The artists gathered in the palace for a first look at The King's Tour Artists exhibition before it goes on show as part of a visit to the summer opening of Buckingham Palace, running to September 28. They described the role as a unique experience which allowed them to travel, observe and paint in a different way to which they normally do. On Wednesday, Mr Hallifax handed over a small oil on paper portrait of Charles which he managed to finish in 20 minutes during their trip that 'was literally the only point where we had a time to sit down and have a brief chat'. Claudette Johnson made created a soft pastel and gouache on paper portrait of woman after taking part in the first official royal visit to Rwanda in 2022. It is 'time-pressured' and a 'whirlwind,' the artist of Walthamstow, east London, recalled. She added the role was 'a privilege' and you got to see things you would not normally see. Artist Phillip Butah travelled with the King and Queen to Kenya last autumn more than 25 years after he became the youngest winner of the Prince of Wales's Young Artists' Award in 1998. His most memorable painting assignment on tour was a visit with the royal couple to an elephant sanctuary in Nairobi National Park where he tried to recreate the weather, the noises and the elephants behaving like children, playing with each other. Mr Butah, of Colchester, Essex, said: 'It is such a whirlwind. It is so fast-paced. You are moving so fast that you just have to kind of just be ready and be present in the moment. It is a great time but so chaotic.' He added: 'It is the pace, worrying that you are in the right place at the correct time, trying not to get left behind, also being aware that you are there to make work (of art) as well. So you've got all these things on you and you are just being hustled and because the security are everywhere with Their Majesties.' Tim Scott Bolton, a three-time royal tour artist, managed to get separated from the royal party when he was on a tour to Egypt and Jordan in 2021. He said: 'We were in Cairo and I got parted from the Royal entourage that whizzes through the streets with all the police and royal outriders, and so I had to make my way across Cairo on my own. It took me about three and a half hours to get through the Pyramids of Giza. 'When I got there, they wouldn't let me in because the royal party was there. The guard said, `no, no, no, keep away'. 'So I found a cafe with a tall roof and I thought, 'well, I'll paint a picture from this very crowded cafe'. 'When I was packing up, the only place I could put my painting was on the ground, and some man with a really dirty boot went and trod on the picture' The Shropshire-born artist said he gave Charles a picture and the King also bought an image at commercial prices. There is an accompanying book, The Art Of Royal Travel: Journeys with The King, featuring recollections from artists and more than 100 illustrations, telling behind-the-scenes stories of the trips. Exhibition curator Kate Heard previously described the event as 'a fascinating group of works (which) tells the story of 40 years of official travel and artistic patronage'. She added: 'The freedom given to each artist to capture a personal impression of the countries visited has led to the formation of a rich and varied collection. 'Encompassing landscapes, figure studies and still life subjects, these works are testament to His Majesty's deep engagement with and encouragement of artists over the past four decades.'
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Pomp, pageantry, politesse greet Macron in display of British royals' soft power
LONDON -- The French Tricolor and Britain's Union flag hang from the standards near Windsor Castle. The carriages are primed, the tiaras polished. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, arrived in Britain on Tuesday at the start of a state visit as the two countries highlight their long friendship with conspicuous displays of military pomp, golden carriages and royal toasts. The backdrop for day one is Windsor Castle, a royal fortress for over 900 years that remains a working palace today. Prince William and the Princess of Wales greeted the Macron's at RAF Northolt outside London. King Charles III later formally welcomed the couple later at Windsor Castle, where they rode in a horse-drawn carriage and reviewed a military guard of honor. The first day will end with a state banquet at the castle. Charles and Queen Camilla traveled to France in September 2023 in a visit that highlighted the historic ties between Britain and its closest European neighbor. That royal trip came after years of sometimes prickly relations strained by Britain's exit from the European Union and disagreements over the growing number of migrants crossing the English Channel on small boats. President Macron's arrival in Britain marks the first state visit by a French head of state since President Nicolas Sarkozy traveled to London in 2008. State visits are ceremonial meetings between heads of state that are used to honor friendly nations and sometimes smooth relations between rivals. While the king formally issues the invitation for a state visit, he does so on the advice of the elected government. State visits to Britain are particularly prized by heads of state because they come with a full complement of royal pomp and circumstance, including military reviews, carriage rides and a glittering state banquet hosted by the monarch. The events normally take place in and around Buckingham Palace in central London. But the Macrons will stay at Windsor Castle, to the west of the capital. Buckingham Palace is undergoing extensive remodeling. This is just the fifth state visit since King Charles ascended the throne in September 2022. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had the honor of receiving the first invitation for a state visit during the new king's reign and spent three days in Britain in November 2022. The leaders of Qatar, Japan and South Korea have also received the full royal treatment. More controversially, Charles has invited U.S. President Donald Trump to make an unprecedented second state visit to Britain, which is expected to take place in the autumn. While Prime Minister Keir Starmer is trying to bolster relations with the U.S., some U.K. lawmakers have questioned whether Trump should be awarded such an honor after he torpedoed long-standing norms for global trade, refused to condemn Russian aggression in Ukraine and proposed moving Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip. 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Some 950 service members from all branches of the U.K. military will take part in the ceremonies, including 380 on street-lining duties and 180 in the Guard of Honor at Windsor Castle. Six military bands will perform a selection of both British and French music. The display is seen by the British government as a nod to close defense and diplomatic ties but also hints at the ambition for the visit, which may see new defense and security commitments. But one horse will get special attention. The Macrons will visit Fabuleu de Maucour, a horse given by the French leader to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, when the nation celebrated the Platinum Jubilee marking her 70 years on the throne. Count on the French language to be used both in private and in public. King Charles made a point of speaking French when he addressed lawmakers in the Senate chamber in Paris on the second day of his visit to France in 2023. During that speech, the king said the alliance between Britain and France was more important than ever as he recalled how the two nations had worked together to defeat the Nazi regime. Charles was a frequent visitor to France before becoming king, making 35 official visits to the country as heir to the throne.
