As the sun was rising in the east and the full moon was setting in the west, our trusty ship the National Geographic Sea Lion made her way upstream on the Columbia River toward the first activity of the day, transiting through the lock at Bonneville Dam. It was an exciting first step in our day’s activities. Soon after successfully exiting Bonneville Lock, we continued a short distance upriver to our anchorage for the day, near Cascade Lock. After lunch we boarded Zodiacs for a short ride to a small marina, then onto coaches for the afternoon’s activities: Multnomah Falls, Bonneville Fish Hatchery, Beacon Rock, and the Columbia River Interpretive Center. So, after a full day, another wonderful dinner, it was time to relax, get a good night’s sleep, and prepare for another full day of exploring along the mighty Columbia!
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.