With much anticipation and nail biting, the Bonneville Lock reopened in the past two days. A failure of some concrete on a sill necessitated a shutdown of the lock and some fast track repairs. None of this hullabaloo was apparent as we calmly and uneventfully transited the lock this morning. At Cascade Locks, we took off for our morning adventure to Stevenson, Washington and the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. An eclectic mix of displays and a very enthusiastic docent kept our attention and assisted us in learning more about this pocket of the Pacific Northwest. A scrumptious lunch was served at Mountain View Orchards and the pear and apple bins were brimming full with this year’s crop. A walk at the Mosier Tunnels finished off the afternoon for some of us while others investigated the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum. Altogether a diverse and interesting day in the Columbia River Gorge.
4/27/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Astoria, Oregon
We reached the penultimate day of our journey in Astoria, Oregon, where the Columbia River collides with the open ocean. We were met with a typical Pacific Northwest day of gentle rains punctuated by moments of sunshine. The guests were divided to conquer this gem of a city, nestled under bridges; half headed across the river to Washington to visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment, while the other half visited the Columbia River Maritime Museum and Astoria Column. The museum and the interpretive center are both excellent examples of what the west coast can offer with regard to history and culture. Each has thoughtful exhibits that cover broad swaths of topics, and are staffed with informative and helpful faculty. After a hearty lunch on board, the groups swapped in order to have the best of both worlds. Finally, all met back aboard for the week’s final recap and guest slideshow.
