As we travel along the shores of the Columbia River, we watch as the shoreline changes, birds fly by, and islands come and go. Today we got to head to one of these islands and explore what we have been watching from the rail of the ship. Crow Butte is an island of beautiful sage brush, rolling hills, and blooming flowers that take your breath away. We headed to shore in Zodiacs to reach Crow Butte. We divided into small groups and chose from various hikes. For the next couple hours, we lost ourselves walking among the tall grasses and sage bushes. The sky was blue with drifting, billowy clouds. It was a perfect morning and such a peaceful experience here on the Columbia River.
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.
