“Weather Disagreeable,” Capt. William Clark
…and so it was with our expedition as we arrived in Astoria, Oregon, at a very early hour. Our first adventure of the day is waking to the melodious sound of the expedition leader’s voice. As the gray mist came in off the ocean, the gentle waves rocked National Geographic Sea Bird and I was reminded of William Clark’s wonderful quote of his experience at the continent’s edge with the powerful Pacific Ocean: “I cannot say Pacific, for I have not seen one pacific day since my arrival…”
Our group of intrepid explorers first approached the heights of Coxcomb Hill and saw stunning views of the surrounding area, then took on the 164 steps up the Astoria Column in less than 15 minutes! After we loaded the two motor coaches, we sped off to the world famous Columbia River Maritime Museum.
After lunch, it was off to Cape Disappointment overlooking the Pacific and inflatable rides on the John Day River. As we contemplate going home tomorrow, Captain Clark wrote on March 23, 1806, as they left Fort Clatsop: “…at 1p.m. we left Fort Clatsop on our homeward bound journey. At this place we had wintered and remained from the 7th of Decr. 1805, and have lived as well as we had any right to expect, and we can say that we were never one day without 3 meals of some kind a day either pore Elk meat or roots, not withstanding the repeeted fall of rain which has fallen almost constantly…”
