BassmastHER, Abandoned Nuclear Plants, & Exploring Oregon

Here's the latest dispatch.

Apr 20, 2024

Good afternoon,

Welcome to a special Saturday issue of my Substack newsletter. Back to regular Friday posting this week.

For you newbies out there, welcome to Outsider on the Inside. I hope this dispatch from in and around the nation’s capital on underreported topics finds you well.

If you’re just discovering my musings, here’s a backgrounder and make sure we’re connected on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Quick Thoughts

Support and follow the work of IWF’s Center for Energy and Conservation today if you haven’t already.

Madison Hughes’ forthcoming EP, Goodbye to Neverland, will drop next Friday, April 26th. And yes, I’ve already listened to the The Tortured Poets Department. Not a Swiftie, but there are some standout singles like “Fortnight” and “Blackdog.” I find myself agreeing with this NYT review though. Don’t hate me!

That’s all for this week. Stay tuned for next Friday’s update!

Profile: On the Hook with Bassmaster

This week, I was profiled on the Bassmaster website as part of their “On the Hook” interview series profiling bassmastHERS (female anglers). Bassmaster is the self-described authority on bass fishing. It also hosts the annual namesake Classic—most recently in Tulsa, next year in Fort Worth, TX.

From the profile:

Gabriella shares her unique perspective of the fishing community as a Policy Analyst, Journalist & Award-Winning Writer.
…
Experiences and Challenges
For the most part, I’ve had positive experiences that have made me feel welcome—especially on the media and public policy side of things. There have been negative comments online about me fishing—can’t please everyone—but professionally speaking, this is one of the most welcoming industries out there.
Those who don’t understand fishing are quick to lambast female anglers. We saw an influential female angler recently take heat for being authentically herself noodling for catfish. Amazingly, many rushed to her defense and hit back at her critics. Outside of this, the naysayers are increasingly far and few between.
The fishing community greatly values women participants and knows how important it is to attract more females into the sport. Women have greater purchasing power and make decisions in the home—including fishing purchases. Why not appeal to them, as they do men?
Like men, women—especially mothers—are also catalysts behind instilling a love of fishing in kids. Fishing allows women to be their best and most empowered selves, which is why more women are gravitating to the sport today.

On the Hook Profile with Bassmaster

No Tortured Poets Filming in PNW

This week, I journeyed to the Pacific NW states of Oregon and Washington to film a new episode of our “Conservation Nation” video series. I can’t wait to share more about it in the coming months. Until then, here are some of the sights, sounds, and food I enjoyed with my Conservation Nation co-pilot, videographer, and musician Madison Hughes.

Despite growing up in California, I never set foot into these two states. Better late than never, I guess.

I’m aware of the rampant homelessness iSeattle and Portland, progressive politics that invited higher crime during COVID, insane net-zero dictates, etc., that drawn scorn. Rightly so. I also wasn’t too privy about paying $4.30-4.50/gallon, even with my Costco card, for gas and $20-$30 for most meals. But I was able to look past this and enjoy my time in the region. Why shouldn’t I?

After landing in Seattle, we drove down south on my Mother Road, the 5 Freeway, to Tacoma - fittingly in our Toyota Tacoma rental- for lunch before filming on the Oregon Coast and seeing my relatives in Vancouver, WA. We opted for Fujiya Japanese Restaurant for some lite table fare.

Continuing on, we drove through the scenic Olympic Peninsula and caught a brief glimpse of the state capital, Olympia.

Naturally, we were intrigued and surprised to spot the abandoned Satsop Nuclear Plant while passing through town of Elma.

The ambitious Washington Public Power Supply System (today Energy Northwest) project was billed as the largest U.S. nuclear one of its kind. Construction began in 1977, but was halted by 1982 due to costs running upwards of $25B, even though it reached 76% completion. The project was fully abandoned by 1993. Today, it is called Satsop Business Park. What a wasted opportunity, if you ask me…

Nuclear energy is one of the safest and most reliable energy sources out there today. But it’s not lost on me that Washington State would allow this. Watch this video if you’re curious to learn more.

We continued on to Cannon Beach, home to the famed Haystack Rock. I’ve always wanted to visit this spot. With it being off-season, the crowds were sparse and conditions were windy—making it a fun location to film our introduction.

The author poses in front of Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, OR - April 15th, 2024

After wrapping up our first day of filming, we drove through Portland and reached Vancouver for dinner at my aunt’s and uncle’s house. I hadn’t seen them since my sister’s 2019 wedding, so it was a lovely mini reunion. The neighborhood is super charming.

I was also able to catch up with a new friend, Vita, at this fabulous brunch spot called La Provence Boulangerie & Patisserie the next morning. The portions were enormous, so Madison and I split their Caramelized Banana French Toast.

From Vancouver, we drove along the famed Lewis and Clark Trail to Tri-Cities with stops along the way at Bonneville Hatchery & Dam on the WA-OR border and Hood River, OR.

The hatchery was first constructed in 1907 and today is Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s largest facility of its kind. One of its famous residents is Herman the Sturgeon, a former Oregon State Fair feature that has since retired to The Sturgeon Center onsite. He even starred in this music video.

We also drove across the Bridge of the Gods famously shown in the film adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling novel, Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon. Strayed reached this location at the end of her 94-day Pacific Crest Trail hike.

Our short stint in Oregon ended at Hood River - home to gorgeous Mt. Hood views and some delicious Scandinavian food- Swedish meatballs- at Broder Øst inside the historic Hood River Hotel.