Columbia River Gorge
This morning the sky was bright with stars when we awoke at the east end of the Columbia River Gorge. Other vessels on the river needed to use the John Day lock at the same time we did very early this morning, so we improvised and went ashore at a different location. We disembarked the National Geographic Sea Bird at Horsethief Lake State Park (WA), a site known for its many petroglyphs.
We boarded motor coaches, and drove past dry, grassy, golden hills; we had gorgeous views of Mount Hood on this sparklingly clear day. Then we drove through The Dalles, Oregon, a town known for its cherry orchards, and the maraschino cherries it produces. We visited the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, which has fun and creative exhibits about the natural and human history of the area.
Next, some of us strolled up to the Mosier Tunnels on the Columbia River Scenic Highway, while others among our group opted to walk 4.6 miles, or ride bicycles on the beautiful, restored portion of road. We all met up in Hood River, a quaint town that has reinvented itself with the help of windsurfers and kite sailors who flock to the river gorge for its strong winds.
After lunch, many of us enjoyed beautiful scenery and sunshine on deck as we transited to the west, past tree-covered hills and mountains. Kite sailors and board sailors took advantage of building winds in the afternoon, and they zipped past the ship. In the middle of the afternoon we docked at Cascade Locks, which at one time actually were functioning locks, but now are a convenient docking site.
A small group visited Bonneville Dam, the lowest of the Columbia River dams, completed in 1938. The rest of us visited Multnomah Falls. This waterfall has a total vertical drop of 620 feet, and it is surrounded by lush, green vegetation. We saw Coho salmon spawning in the pool at the bottom of the lower falls!
Think of one surviving salmon egg: what a spectacular place to hatch out and begin life!
