Astoria, Oregon
As we approached the city of Astoria, Oregon early this morning, it was crystal clear and starry above the ship. Radio transmissions from other vessels, however, alluded to the fact that this was not likely to continue as approached the mouth of the great Columbia River. The Columbia is a large body of water at its mouth, and it dumps out significant amounts of fresh water to the Pacific Ocean. This area is famous for wind, rain, and inclement weather. Luckily for us, the only challenge we faced was fog. This heavy, dense fog added a layer of mystery to the day and made it apparent why the Corps of Discovery had such a difficult time over the winter of 1805-1806. We were fortunate enough, however, to have nice temperatures, calm weather, and no rain to speak of.
We began our exploration with a visit to Fort Clatsop, the re-creation of the winter home of the Corps over 200 years ago. It was a beautiful, calm, quiet morning in the woods surrounding the fort. Douglas squirrels (locally called “chickarees”) chattered in the treetops overhead and ferociously stripped spruce cones of their scales. Many of us enjoyed visiting the fort, and walking down to the peaceful Canoe Landing on the Lewis and Clark River. We then returned to the dock in Astoria, also home to the Columbia River Maritime Museum. This world-class museum highlights the tumultuous history of the Columbia River Bar and the fascinating Coast Guard training center located here.
After lunch, we split into many different factions. A large number decided to visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center on the Washington shore, near Cape Disappointment. A few others waited until the skies cleared to pay a visit to the famous Astoria Column, continuing on to the Civil War-era Fort Stevens. The afternoon was sunny and bright, and a few decided to wander the charming streets and shops of downtown Astoria. All expeditions were deemed successes and we enjoyed the beautiful weather until the fog encroached again, just before our all-aboard time.
We ended the day—and our cruise— with great conversation in the lounge and at the Captain’s Farewell Dinner. As the sun set again on the Columbia River, we began our short journey back upstream, toward the mouth of the Willamette and the capital city of Portland.
