We awoke this morning in Astoria to wind and rain; however, the intrepid explorers aboard National Geographic Quest soldiered on, continuing in the spirit of the Corps of Discovery and their wet winter of 1805-1806 at Fort Clatsop. The weather served to bring the experience to life! We learned about the storied maritime history of the region at the Columbia River Maritime Museum and after lunch, we explored the very beach where Lewis and Clark dipped their feet into the waters of the Pacific Ocean 212 years ago. It was a wonderful beginning to our voyage together.
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.
