Columbia River Gorge Area: The Dalles to Bonneville Dam
What a full and varied day we have had! The National Geographic Sea Bird arrived this morning in town of The Dalles. At 7:00 a.m., the temperature was a brisk 38 degrees F (but it would warm to the low 60s during the course of the day.) Something else about the environment was changing: there were scattered trees on the slopes surrounding the river!
We visited the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, a wonderful museum with exhibits about the human and natural history of the area, including Lewis and Clark’s voyage. We visited the park-like Historic Columbia River Highway, a meticulously designed and crafted scenic road that opened in 1914. Some of us rode bicycles while others walked a beautiful, curving 4.6-mile portion of the road, which is now closed to motor vehicles.
Along the way, the vegetation changed quite abruptly! We left the ship where trees were scarce on the dry, east side of the Cascade Mountains, but as we progressed westward toward the town of Hood River, we were in the shade of tall trees, and ferns covered some moist, rocky slopes; the surrounding tall mountains account for the slightly moister climate here. Today we glimpsed views of Mt. Hood towering to the south.
After lunch on board ship, we enjoyed continued perfect, and unusually calm weather in the Columbia Gorge as National Geographic Sea Bird headed downstream to Cascade Locks. The scenery was beautiful, and ahead of us, the Bridge of the Gods spanned the very narrow portion of the river. Once again, we had choices: some of us saw the spectacular Multnomah Falls, while others visited Bonneville Dam. The dam visitors watched sturgeon and coho salmon through viewing windows as they swam up the dam’s fish ladder.
We entered the lock at Bonneville Dam during cocktail hour. Sunset painted the sky bright pink, with the white quarter moon overhead.
