Here we are in The Dalles, Oregon. It is not ‘Dalles’ or ‘Dallas,’ but rather ‘The Dalles,’ one of the most historic towns in the state. It was called Le Dalle by the early French trappers, which means flat topped rock or flagstone, as seen in the flat-topped basalt islands that surround the Highway 197 bridge. After dinner last night, we transited two dams, the John Day Lock and Dam and The Dalles Lock and Dam just before sunrise. The Dalles Dam has had the greatest impact on the history and culture of the Pacific Northwest. When it was closed on March 10, 1957, many native locations were submerged behind the dam.
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.
