This morning the wind and rain at the western end of the Columbia River Gorge did not deter our ensemble from gathering on the bow in bright and waterproof colors to witness our eighth and final lock and dam – the mighty Bonneville Dam, completed in 1938. We then passed by Beacon Rock on the Washington shore, followed by the iconic Multnomah Falls on the Oregon side. After lunch the weather turned sunny and guests gathered on the aft 100 level to enjoy hot apple cider with additional libations of their choice. Mount St. Helens made a brief surprise appearance, peaking above the clouds as we narrowed the distance to the mouth of the Columbia.
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.
