The Dalles & Hood River, Oregon
As dawn broke on the Columbia River this morning, the National Geographic Sea Lion was due to arrive at The Dalles marina around 8:30am. We were about to enter the lock at the Dalles dam which would take us down about 88 feet. Conditions were cloudy and misty, but spirits were high as we prepared to continue our exploration in the wake of Lewis & Clark. But then, the unexpected! A malfunctioning indicator light meant that the lock was temporarily out of service. We wouldn’t be able to make the marina. A quick assessment of the situation by the captain and ship’s officers, however, resulted in a simple solution. Captain Sinclair backed the vessel out, and we tied up just at the entrance of the lock. From there, it was a short Zodiac ride to a small floating dock, where we met our busses. We were back on track.
The Discovery Center, located in The Dalles, is a treasure-trove of artifacts and information covering the geology of the area, the history of the Columbia River and its use, and of course a plethora of Lewis & Clark. We enjoyed over an hour in its exhibition halls this morning, and then departed for a variety of activities. We had the chance to explore a portion of the old Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway, whether by bike or on foot. Others of us carried on into the town of Hood River to browse its Main Street. Although November announced its presence through light rainfall, we found refuge in the shops and cafes of this attractive town.
After returning to the vessel at the Hood River marina, we spent the remainder of the day underway, bound for Astoria. The afternoon brought a number of activities. We locked through our final dam, Bonneville, and were treated to freshly-prepared apple cider on the bow as we were lowered a final 60 feet. The scenery in this stretch of the river is breathtaking. This is where the Columbia pierced through the Cascade Mountain Range, and tall cliffs towered above us as we pushed through the gorge. Multnomah Falls passed by our port side, crashing down 620 feet. No matter where we were today, the brilliant colors of fall have given truth to the changing of the season. After an unseasonably warm autumn, temperatures are falling, and there’s a crispness to the air. The broad leaves have put their yellows, reds, and oranges on display; and our minds drift back to the struggles that the Lewis & Clark party endured on their trip: the cold winters, the treacherous rapids and often the scarcity of supplies and food. We’ll take the warmth and comfort of the National Geographic Sea Lion any day!
As dawn broke on the Columbia River this morning, the National Geographic Sea Lion was due to arrive at The Dalles marina around 8:30am. We were about to enter the lock at the Dalles dam which would take us down about 88 feet. Conditions were cloudy and misty, but spirits were high as we prepared to continue our exploration in the wake of Lewis & Clark. But then, the unexpected! A malfunctioning indicator light meant that the lock was temporarily out of service. We wouldn’t be able to make the marina. A quick assessment of the situation by the captain and ship’s officers, however, resulted in a simple solution. Captain Sinclair backed the vessel out, and we tied up just at the entrance of the lock. From there, it was a short Zodiac ride to a small floating dock, where we met our busses. We were back on track.
The Discovery Center, located in The Dalles, is a treasure-trove of artifacts and information covering the geology of the area, the history of the Columbia River and its use, and of course a plethora of Lewis & Clark. We enjoyed over an hour in its exhibition halls this morning, and then departed for a variety of activities. We had the chance to explore a portion of the old Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway, whether by bike or on foot. Others of us carried on into the town of Hood River to browse its Main Street. Although November announced its presence through light rainfall, we found refuge in the shops and cafes of this attractive town.
After returning to the vessel at the Hood River marina, we spent the remainder of the day underway, bound for Astoria. The afternoon brought a number of activities. We locked through our final dam, Bonneville, and were treated to freshly-prepared apple cider on the bow as we were lowered a final 60 feet. The scenery in this stretch of the river is breathtaking. This is where the Columbia pierced through the Cascade Mountain Range, and tall cliffs towered above us as we pushed through the gorge. Multnomah Falls passed by our port side, crashing down 620 feet. No matter where we were today, the brilliant colors of fall have given truth to the changing of the season. After an unseasonably warm autumn, temperatures are falling, and there’s a crispness to the air. The broad leaves have put their yellows, reds, and oranges on display; and our minds drift back to the struggles that the Lewis & Clark party endured on their trip: the cold winters, the treacherous rapids and often the scarcity of supplies and food. We’ll take the warmth and comfort of the National Geographic Sea Lion any day!
