Today we are anchored opposite the town of The Dalles, Oregon. This traditional shipping, ranching, and agricultural town carries on the tradition as perhaps the oldest (over 8000 years), continuously occupied area in the Americas. It was a center for salmon fishing and trade, and many tribes met without conflict. The forested Cascade Mountains in the west rapidly change into sagebrush steppe/grasslands due to an abrupt gradient of decreasing precipitation, so there is access to a wide variety of environments and resources. The modern economy now includes tech companies and data centers that take advantage of hydropower and the sunny climate to attract a diverse group of residents.
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.
