Morning activities were a choice of a 2.5-mile nature hike, or a 5-mile longer hike. The 5-mile hike was a lovely trek on the first scenic highway in the United States: Route 33. Mr. Sam Hill, lawyer and entrepreneur who wanted access to local waterfalls and scenic views, created the pass. He and his engineer, Sam Lancaster, designed a road of gradual grade, wider areas around corners, and one of the first guardrails. Our section was for walkers only, giving us great views. Ponderosa pines, big leaf maples, and colorful poison oaks were along the trail. Later in the day, we explored the Columbia River Discovery Center, a wonderful interpretive museum with a garden of plants identified by Lewis and Clark. A pond behind the center brought grace to the beautiful garden.
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.
