It is springtime in the Pacific Northwest. The Columbia River Gorge is wearing a verdant robe of greens with accents of yellow provided by arrowleaf balsamroot, pinks from red currant shrubs, and corsages of smooth desert parsley. This is a brief moment in the season, as the warmth of springtime will turn to the heat of summer and the greens will fade to shades of straw-colored yellows and browns. Until then, we bask in the flush of growth that the return of spring brings to the hillsides.
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.
