The Dalles, Hood River & Columbia River Gorge
We began this brisk day with a morning stretch and were greeted with a view of Mount Hood at sunrise. Shortly after breakfast, we disembarked and took a short bus ride to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum at The Dalles. This well designed architecture featured exhibits of the cultural and natural history of the Gorge and Wasco County. Also on exhibit were equipment and supplies of Lewis and Clark.
Later this morning, we headed for the Columbia River Scenic Highway/Mosier Tunnels, no longer open for vehicular traffic. We were divided into different groups. A short, interpretive stroll or a more rigorous hike of 4.5 miles were offered on this well-paved, picturesque road. Some chose to partake of the scenery on bicycles.
A number of guests took a trip with our hotel manager, Anna Maria Becker Hoover, to Rasmussen Farm. Some of us had time to explore the town.
All were gathered for lunch on the National Geographic Sea Bird with special guest, Maui Meyer. Maui is county commissioner, relocated from Hawaii when he fell in love with the windsurfing opportunities in the area. He gave us many insights of the commerce and politics of the Hood River.
After lunch, the bus whisked us to the famous Multnomah Falls, the highest waterfall of the Gorge with a drop of 620 feet. Next, a visit to the Bonneville Lock and Dam where we learned about the fish ladders and toured the generators that power electricity for the three states. We reunited with our ship at Cascade Locks by early evening.
Once onboard, we had samplings of the apples and pears from the farm and baked brie during cocktail hour. We dined on delicious Dungeness crab at dinner. This full day concluded with a sneak preview of the first couple days of our voyage, with our dessert in the lounge.
