Autumn is a time of year when many parts of the U.S. are in a transition period with prevailing weather, and the Columbia River is no different, especially still being west of the Cascade Mountains. So, it was not surprising to wake up this morning to heavy cloud cover, cooler temperatures, and light rain. Luckily, that rain slowly diminished as we were approaching our first lock at the Bonneville dam, so it was relatively dry as we gathered with anticipation on the outer decks. So soon after breakfast the National Geographic Sea Bird entered the first of eight locks that we would encounter on our cruise up the Columbia and Snake Rivers! Bonneville was the first dam on the Columbia, with the original powerhouse being fully completed in 1943, although the first lock became functional in 1938. Since that time however, there has been a second powerhouse built on the north side of the river, and a larger and more modern lock completed, this is the one that will lift us about 60 feet to the level of the reservoir above the dam, and on to our morning destination a Cascade Lock!
Almost immediately after we arrived at Cascade, and tied-off in the historic lock, we departed for one of the most well visited attractions along the Oregon side of the Columbia, Multnomah Falls. It was a quick 15-minute bus ride back downriver to this magnificent cascade of water, plummeting many hundreds of feet over the basaltic cliffs down toward the river below! This is a wonderful photographic opportunity for even the newest of photographers, and the conditions this particular day were almost perfect!
Soon it was time to return to the ship, drop the lines, and head toward our afternoon activities upstream at Hood River, a beautiful town that sits around the waterway that is its namesake. It was about a two-hour sail to reach our dock, then once again we were off on our luxury coaches, this time with several choices of places to visit. First, there was the Draper Girls’ Farm for a taste of local fruits and another great photo opportunity. Or a chance to visit the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, an incredible collection of restored, and functioning, airplanes, cars, and motorcycles, some dating from the very early 1900s. After one of those options, there was a chance to visit a winery, spend time in town, or just return to the ship to relax before the evening activities and dinner. Another full day of experiencing the world of the “Mighty Columbia”!
