Palouse River

After the past two very eventful days on the National Geographic Sea Lion, we got a chance to sleep a little bit later and relax on board this morning as we cruised up into the Snake River.

Going through two locks belonging to the Ice Harbor, and Lower Monumental dams, we really got the chance to look at how a lock works. The gates closed and concrete walls surrounded our ship. The water started rushing below to push us slowly up and above the walls, into the open. Bundled up for the crisp weather, it was a great morning to be on the deck in the sunshine with the golden canyon high above and the sounds of a train chugging along the river.

Our afternoon was spent on the Palouse River which stretches around 220 miles long. We lowered the Zodiacs and split into groups. One group went up and had the chance to look around at Palouse Falls, a unique waterfall that you look down on from a wide circle of beautiful rock. It falls about 200 feet into a pool far below, shooting up mists and making rainbows with the sunlight above. The other group spent time with our naturalists cruising in the Zodiacs up the small Palouse River. When the groups switched places, a few adventurous guests decided to brave the kayaks around the corner from the ship in a cozy little lagoon. It was the time of evening when the sun was setting beyond the bridge creating an orange glow on the mountains, making the blue of the sky seem darker and the moon above shine brighter, and of course a great time to take photos.
Back on board after a gorgeous day, nice warm showers and a pleasant cocktail hour lifted our spirits high. Cindy’s beaver dam letter kept us grinning all the way to dinner. We now start cruising back up the Snake River one last time, heading towards Clarkston and more Lindblad adventures.