Columbia River Gorge
At dawn views of 620-foot Multnomah Falls and 848-foot Beacon Rock lifted our spirits despite threatening weather. Although we expected rain, the day proved more sunny than showery as we locked through Bonneville Dam, passed beneath the Bridge of the Gods, and entered the Columbia River Gorge. After breakfast, Lewis and Clark historian Jim Hendrix lectured the group on the significance of the Corps of Discovery’s expedition to the Pacific, providing unique details and rarely-considered insights.
Following an early lunch to accommodate a busy afternoon, we debarked in Hood River, and boarded buses for a drive along the Old Columbia River Gorge Highway through the autumn-colored woods for a view of the Columbia River and the surrounding landscape from Rowena Crest. Yellow big-leaf maples alternated with ponderosa; a scattering of red sumac, orange apricot, and yellow locust leaves enlivened the drive. Banner trees on the skyline seemed appropriate on a windy afternoon that still threaten rain, but a rainbow dissolved our apprehension—the rest of the afternoon proved sunny, dry, and warm.
From the Crest we first observed the dry hills of eastern Washington; the north-facing slopes on the Oregon side, angled away from direct sunlight, remained relatively green.
A short tour of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, including a botanical walk with naturalist Verne Huser, offered variety for the group, which then crossed the river to visit Maryhill Museum with its collection of Rodin sculptures and sketches, relics belonging to the Queen of Romania, paintings, dolls, chess sets, and Native American artifacts.
A crew from the Sea Lion’s staff provided a wine and cheese tasting experience at the museum as shadows lengthened in the Gorge and the sun began to set. The Sea Lion had leap-frogged up the River while we’d been traveling by bus. With no landing at the Sam Hill State Park, we reverted to a Zodiac ferry to the ship, our initiation to inflatable Navy operations. With all hands back on board, we headed upstream as the sun set.
At dawn views of 620-foot Multnomah Falls and 848-foot Beacon Rock lifted our spirits despite threatening weather. Although we expected rain, the day proved more sunny than showery as we locked through Bonneville Dam, passed beneath the Bridge of the Gods, and entered the Columbia River Gorge. After breakfast, Lewis and Clark historian Jim Hendrix lectured the group on the significance of the Corps of Discovery’s expedition to the Pacific, providing unique details and rarely-considered insights.
Following an early lunch to accommodate a busy afternoon, we debarked in Hood River, and boarded buses for a drive along the Old Columbia River Gorge Highway through the autumn-colored woods for a view of the Columbia River and the surrounding landscape from Rowena Crest. Yellow big-leaf maples alternated with ponderosa; a scattering of red sumac, orange apricot, and yellow locust leaves enlivened the drive. Banner trees on the skyline seemed appropriate on a windy afternoon that still threaten rain, but a rainbow dissolved our apprehension—the rest of the afternoon proved sunny, dry, and warm.
From the Crest we first observed the dry hills of eastern Washington; the north-facing slopes on the Oregon side, angled away from direct sunlight, remained relatively green.
A short tour of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, including a botanical walk with naturalist Verne Huser, offered variety for the group, which then crossed the river to visit Maryhill Museum with its collection of Rodin sculptures and sketches, relics belonging to the Queen of Romania, paintings, dolls, chess sets, and Native American artifacts.
A crew from the Sea Lion’s staff provided a wine and cheese tasting experience at the museum as shadows lengthened in the Gorge and the sun began to set. The Sea Lion had leap-frogged up the River while we’d been traveling by bus. With no landing at the Sam Hill State Park, we reverted to a Zodiac ferry to the ship, our initiation to inflatable Navy operations. With all hands back on board, we headed upstream as the sun set.
