At sunset last night, we began our journey eastward from the mouth of the Columbia River, passing by Portland in the predawn and reaching the Columbia River Gorge just after breakfast. Fierce winds of 35-40 mph blew from the east as we prepared to Zodiac ashore for hikes up Taylor Creek canyon, a visit to the Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery, and world famous Multnomah Falls. After lunch, we passed through the locks at Bonneville Dam and then skirted the remains of a mega-landslide, known as the Bridge of the Gods, which once blocked the Columbia River. We anchored for the evening at the town of Hood River, Oregon.
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.
