Cruising Washington’s & Oregon’s Wine Country
After leaving Portland yesterday afternoon, we awoke with clear blue skies, heading east along the “Great River of the West.” Today we spent the day cruising through numerous locks and dams, heading for the most eastern point of our expedition, Clarkston, Washington. Before breakfast we went through a narrow passage called “Hell’s Gate,” where we got our first looks at some of the famous basalt cliffs and saw a few mule deer grazing on a hillside.
As we sailed through the many lakes that are created by the dams, we learned how the locks raised the ship at each dam, in some cases over 100 feet. We watched as barges carried products up and down the river, and trains passed carrying their cargo by land. Indeed the river has changed much since the time of Lewis and Clark, but none the less it is still the most important waterway in the west.
The Columbia River also serves as the main irrigation supply to the many farms, vineyards, and orchards, which dot the shores along the river. In the afternoon we were treated to a wine and food tasting, featuring many local treats and flavors. The weather was fantastic and we enjoyed the wine and food tasting on the sun deck. The foods ranged from smoked salmon and seafood, to mustard, jams, fruit, and cheeses, but of course the highlight was the regional wines.
Washington is second only to California in premium wine production in the United States. There are over 400 wineries in Washington, many located on the shores of the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Washington state produces over 18 million gallons of wine each year, of that over half (nearly 60%) is red. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah are most prominent. At last count, Oregon is home to just over 300 wineries. The Willamette Valley is home to the Pinot Noir grape, for which Oregon wineries in the region are known for.
Just before dinner we entered the lock at Ice Harbor dam, and we watched with excitement as we locked through with a very large grain barge. We had seen many barges during the day, but being right next to one gave us a new appreciation for their enormous size. Captain Kay skillfully maneuvered Sea Bird into position next to the barge just in time for dinner. The weather, the scenery, the food and wine - what an incredible beginning to our voyage, “In the Wake of Lewis and Clark.”
After leaving Portland yesterday afternoon, we awoke with clear blue skies, heading east along the “Great River of the West.” Today we spent the day cruising through numerous locks and dams, heading for the most eastern point of our expedition, Clarkston, Washington. Before breakfast we went through a narrow passage called “Hell’s Gate,” where we got our first looks at some of the famous basalt cliffs and saw a few mule deer grazing on a hillside.
As we sailed through the many lakes that are created by the dams, we learned how the locks raised the ship at each dam, in some cases over 100 feet. We watched as barges carried products up and down the river, and trains passed carrying their cargo by land. Indeed the river has changed much since the time of Lewis and Clark, but none the less it is still the most important waterway in the west.
The Columbia River also serves as the main irrigation supply to the many farms, vineyards, and orchards, which dot the shores along the river. In the afternoon we were treated to a wine and food tasting, featuring many local treats and flavors. The weather was fantastic and we enjoyed the wine and food tasting on the sun deck. The foods ranged from smoked salmon and seafood, to mustard, jams, fruit, and cheeses, but of course the highlight was the regional wines.
Washington is second only to California in premium wine production in the United States. There are over 400 wineries in Washington, many located on the shores of the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Washington state produces over 18 million gallons of wine each year, of that over half (nearly 60%) is red. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah are most prominent. At last count, Oregon is home to just over 300 wineries. The Willamette Valley is home to the Pinot Noir grape, for which Oregon wineries in the region are known for.
Just before dinner we entered the lock at Ice Harbor dam, and we watched with excitement as we locked through with a very large grain barge. We had seen many barges during the day, but being right next to one gave us a new appreciation for their enormous size. Captain Kay skillfully maneuvered Sea Bird into position next to the barge just in time for dinner. The weather, the scenery, the food and wine - what an incredible beginning to our voyage, “In the Wake of Lewis and Clark.”
