Palouse River
Overcast early, 45 degrees at sunrise, a slight upriver breeze as we anchor in the Palouse River mouth to explore the Palouse Arm of the reservoir above Lower Monumental Dam. We set a new record for kayakers, with 28 plying the flat water of a canyon decorated by the Bretz Floods. Explorers not traveling by waterborne craft were pleased to visit Palouse Falls by bus and hear Bob Gatten’s explanation of local and regional geology. Those who opted for the Zodiac cruise, stuck in the mud of a receding reservoir water level, met well camouflaged early-morning duck hunters who had bagged mallards, a wigeon, and a lone pintail. The Zodiacs saw California quail, ring-neck pheasants, bald and golden eagles, western grebes, magpies, kingfishers, great blue heron, northern flickers, as well as resident coots and cormorants.
After a barby lunch of ribs, chicken breasts, and veggie-burgers with salads, drinks, and dessert on the aft deck, everyone had an opportunity to relax a bit after a strenuous morning. Some played 42, a Texas domino game that smacks of bridge, while others napped, looked for birds along the shore, or caught up on their reading about Lewis and Clark or otherwise. A few even sought scores of college football games or the World Series (rained out?). In mid-afternoon, historian Bob Gatten presented a program on ‘The Images of the Lewis and Clark’ expedition.
All ‘expeditioners’ gathered in the lounge for cocktails and brie as we locked through Ice Harbor Dam at dusk. We hit the Columbia River during dinner - duck, crab cakes, or eggplant - heading toward the narrow Wallula Gap, a real wind tunnel at times, but relatively placid tonight.
Overcast early, 45 degrees at sunrise, a slight upriver breeze as we anchor in the Palouse River mouth to explore the Palouse Arm of the reservoir above Lower Monumental Dam. We set a new record for kayakers, with 28 plying the flat water of a canyon decorated by the Bretz Floods. Explorers not traveling by waterborne craft were pleased to visit Palouse Falls by bus and hear Bob Gatten’s explanation of local and regional geology. Those who opted for the Zodiac cruise, stuck in the mud of a receding reservoir water level, met well camouflaged early-morning duck hunters who had bagged mallards, a wigeon, and a lone pintail. The Zodiacs saw California quail, ring-neck pheasants, bald and golden eagles, western grebes, magpies, kingfishers, great blue heron, northern flickers, as well as resident coots and cormorants.
After a barby lunch of ribs, chicken breasts, and veggie-burgers with salads, drinks, and dessert on the aft deck, everyone had an opportunity to relax a bit after a strenuous morning. Some played 42, a Texas domino game that smacks of bridge, while others napped, looked for birds along the shore, or caught up on their reading about Lewis and Clark or otherwise. A few even sought scores of college football games or the World Series (rained out?). In mid-afternoon, historian Bob Gatten presented a program on ‘The Images of the Lewis and Clark’ expedition.
All ‘expeditioners’ gathered in the lounge for cocktails and brie as we locked through Ice Harbor Dam at dusk. We hit the Columbia River during dinner - duck, crab cakes, or eggplant - heading toward the narrow Wallula Gap, a real wind tunnel at times, but relatively placid tonight.
