After leaving Portland yesterday afternoon and cruising north, downstream, on the Willamette River, National Geographic Quest entered the great Columbia River and turned west toward the river’s mouth and the lovely little town of Astoria. Our day was filled with explorations of the history of the region, beginning with a visit to the excellent Columbia River Maritime Museum. The rest of the day took us to two historic forts on the south side of the estuary: Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery spent the winter, and Fort Stevens, which is a military battery that defended the entrance to the river in the early 20th Century.
11/4/2023
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Astoria, Oregon
O! the Joy! Hmm, we needed to rethink that one this morning, as we woke to a rainy and blustery Astoria. What this weather did give us was a taste of historic authenticity in relation to the Corps of Discovery and their experiences here in the winter of 1805-06. Our first activity this morning was amongst the magnificent exhibits of the Columbia River Maritime Museum. This world-class facility tells the story of the mighty Columbia and the treacherous results to mariners when the river shoves against the incoming tides of the Pacific Ocean. As our day progressed, we crossed the Astoria-Megler bridge to the state of Washington. At the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center the winds continued but the rain subsided, and we enjoyed a sun-drenched afternoon with an option to walk a forest trail down to Waikiki Beach. The sun and sand were a siren to us and we made an additional stop at the North Jetty to get a water-level view of the waves crashing against the rocks of the Cape Disappointment lighthouse. The day turned out anything but disappointing.