"Oh, Joy! Ocean in View!" The elation that the Corps of Discovery felt upon sighting the Pacific Ocean for the first time could well have been the result of mixed emotions. A cold and windy November greeted them. Their journey had been long and hazard laden. Relief would have been an understandable reaction. And yet a thrill must have run through each soul as their goal was at last attained.
Today we wandered the firm wet strand of the Oregon coast with these same thoughts. Our voyage was drawing to an end so a touch of melancholy crept in. But there was joy in the completion. We had followed the path of the river from mountains to the sea. From the steep canyons of the Snake, through colonnades of basalt and cascading waterfalls we headed forever west. Here on the Pacific shore the sand was dark, laden with mafic minerals that aligned themselves in patterns on wind or water drawn ripple marks. In the distance low mountains were charcoal shadows against an ashen sky. The silver surf rose and spread into foamy white before rolling in waves to tickle our toes. As each motion retreated a mirror reflection was left to cast back images of ourselves as we stood and listened to the ocean roar.
