Crow Butte Island, 9/29/2022, National Geographic Sea Bird
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Bird
Pacific Northwest
On this bright and breezy morning, the doughty National Geographic Sea Bird anchors in a channel of the Columbia River. We are now east of the Columbia Gorge and in desert shrub country. We take the Zodiacs to shore and set off on hikes to see what we can find—and there is so much to see.
Geologist and naturalist Grace grew up among woods, rivers, and mountains, loving the outdoors, nature and rocks. After high school she became a Registered Nurse and was soon studying midwifery at Queen Charlotte’s Maternity Hospital in London, Engla...
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It was a beautiful, sunny day on the Palouse River! This morning, we got a chance to take Zodiac tours up the Palouse River, through the reeds, and past the stunning columnar basalt of this incredible ecosystem. Guests saw many raptors and waterbirds, heard the hypnotic singing of red-winged blackbirds, and some even saw an albino porcupine. How cool! Then folks took a bus overlooking the 200-foot-tall Palouse Falls Waterfall upriver. After some afternoon kayaking and photo collection for the guest slideshow, we pulled anchor and made way along the Snake River to tomorrow’s destination, Hells Canyon.
Today we went terrestrial to Walla Walla, Washington. Taking our Zodiacs to shore, we soon sped off to several different wine tasting rooms downtown. As we moseyed from the Seven Hills Winery, we experienced petal confetti falling from all the flowering trees lining the streets of downtown. It’s definitely spring in the valley. From the historical aspects of our visit to the Whitman Mission, to the flavorful aspects of wine, local ice cream, and a historic confectionary, it was a full day of exploration.
It was another beautiful day, continuing the trend of glorious sunshine throughout the entire voyage. In the morning, we walked and hiked at Crow Butte where there were many scattered wildflowers and plentiful sagebrush. We also saw an abundance of bird life, including American kestrels and red-winged blackbirds. After a wonderful lunch, we headed out in Zodiacs to cruise the Umatilla Wildlife Refuge. Again, we saw an amazing amount of birdlife, including American white pelicans, bald eagles, and American coots. The river was sunny and still, allowing us to cruise in t-shirts! We finished the evening with a wine pairing during recap, followed by a great dinner and a beautiful sunset.
