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Hood River News, Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Kiters and barge in a river drama
Sam Grotte of White Salmon en-
joys taking scenic photos and his
close-ups of hummingbirds are true
micro-examinations of the world
around us.
But on June 24 Grotte’s camera
captured something farther away,
and with a drama of its own, when
he heard five blasts from a barge late
in the afternoon. He looked from his
window overlooking the river.
“A kiteboarder had fallen into the
river and was struggling but proba-
bly was too exhausted to get back on
the board,” Grotte said.
“The tug had already started a left
turn to avoid a collision and the dis-
tance to the downed kiter was less
than 100 yards,’ Grotte said. “Not
much time since they were headed
downstream.” He said it was “cer-
tainly not enough time to actually
stop the tug and barge.”
Then another kiter came to help.
He was close enough to make a dash
in the hopes of helping his fellow
kiter. Then another kiter came along.
“The first kiter made an effort to
boost the stricken kite into the air,
while the second seed to be trying to
mark the position for the barge
pilot,” said Grotte, who watched the
action for about 10 minutes.
“It all worked, and the barge slid
past the kiters to continue on his way
down the Columbia, all of them a bit
wiser.”
— Kirby Neumann-Rea
Photo by Sam Grotte
Cyclist rolls through Hood River on cancer-fighting ‘Victory Tour’
By PATRICK MULVIHILL
News staff writer
A New Orleans man pedaled through the
Gorge last Friday — part of a 7,200-mile
cross-country bike ride across the United
States honoring his wife’s battle with pan-
creatic cancer.
Eric McIntyre, 58, completed the Oregon
leg of his journey over the weekend. The
ride took him from Klamath Falls to Port-
land, then from Government Camp to Hood
River, where he arrived Friday morning.
From there, he headed east to The Dalles
and shot north to Spokane.
Next up are the “dog days,” as McIntyre
described them, the long slog east across
the entire Midwest.
Liz was first diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer in fall of 2012.
“When Liz was diagnosed … it was a gut
punch but we very quickly went into com-
munal and spiritual fighting mode and de-
cided we would do whatever we could,
whatever seemed right in our eyes as peo-
ple of faith,” said McIntyre.
McIntyre said he and Liz and participat-
ed in a couple marathon events in the past
for charity, but he was never a professional
athlete until now. “I was not a cyclist. I was
not an endurance athlete.”
However, he knew he wanted to do “some-
thing big” to raise support for his wife and
other cancer patients. So he decided to go
an epic bike ride, one of such proportions
that it “sounded crazy.”
The original concept for the tour was to
ride around the entire perimeter of the
United States over six months, but his plans
ultimately “crystallized” into a three
month loop that started at McIntyre’s home
base of New Orleans then took in as much
of the United States as was possible in 7,200
miles.
He’s dubbed the adventure the “Pancreat-
ic Cancer Victory Tour,” and has teamed up
with many sponsors, most notably the
Lazarex Cancer Foundation. A non-profit
foundation, Lazarex matches end-stage can-
cer patients by connecting them with FDA-
approved clinical trials, and covers the cost
of travel for each patient.
Eric McIntyre said the clinical trial Liz is
enrolled in at the National Institute of
Health in Washington, D.C., has slowed the
progression of the disease, and her basic
health is “very good.”
“Her journey has been amazing. Other
than that initial pain, she never had disease
symptoms.”
Liz has even accompanied Eric on por-
tions of the journey from the tour van —
but separation is still a harsh factor on
pieces of the three-month tour.
“That’s been very difficult sometimes,”
said McIntyre. “But we believe that our
marriage can handle the separation.”
The couple has been married for 20 years.
McIntyre is a grandfather, with a school age
granddaughter in New Orleans.
For the last portion of his tour, McIntyre
has journeyed with his media teammate,
Tod Hillman of Hollywood Media Services
!
W
E
N
based in Los Angeles. Hillman has man-
aged social media, photography and video
for McIntyre so he can focus on the road
ahead of him.
Hillman described the tour as an exciting
one. “The people we meet along the way are
a reason to keep going,” said Hillman.
“We’re meeting so many supportive, loving
and caring people that it gives wind to our
sails.”
For more information about McIntyre’s
journey and the Lazarex Cancer Foundation,
visit www.lazarex.org/events/pancreatic-
cancer-victory-tour or on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/Pancreaticcancervictor
yfoundation.
Sports Barre
Workout
Strive to build better
posture, core strength
and enhanced
mobility!
Classes Start
late July
Non-member
discounts!
Call 541-386-3230
HOOD RIVER
Sports Club
Photo by Patrick Mulvihill
“HEROIC CYCLIST” Eric McIntyre, 58, made a stop in Hood River June 26 as part of a 7,200-mile
cross-country bike ride to honor his wife Liz’s ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer.
1330 Brookside Drive, Hood River
541-386-3230 www.hrsportsclub.com
F IRST F RIDAY
Please join us
for First Friday
BLUENAMI
RHYTHM & BLUES
Hood River Hotel
July 3rd • 6pm
102 Oak Street, Hood River
We will be having
a Labor Day Sale
through Monday
30-70% OFF
Free Drinks!
www.parts-labour.com
311 Oak St • Hood River
541-387-2787
5 4 1 - 3 8 6 - 1 9 0 0
Follow Your Feet
to Footwise for
First Friday
Open Late for First Friday!
0BL 4U t %PXOUPXO )PPE 3JWFS
t .PO 4BU 4VO
0QFO MBUF GPS st 'SJEBZ t 8FSF PO 'BDFCPPL
July 3 • 5-8 PM
Downtown
Hood River
THE MOTH
LOUNGE
HAPPY HOUR
5-8pm
July 16 BINGO for
Gorge Roller Girls
July 18 Alan Graham
July 22 Brian Litt
July 25 The
FIREWEEDS
July 29 VooDoo
Voltage
MothLounge (formerly
Pint Shack) 105 4th St,
Hood River
r
SER fo
I
A
R
D
N
ival FU Tank•Co tt on
n
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a
C
r
k
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Summ lerGirls! Dun orse and
tH
Rol
Gorge •Sno cones a 0pm
5-7:3
Candy
b
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d
Houn