Hood River and the Columbia River Gorge
Today our activities centered on the Columbia River Gorge. Leaving the Sea Lion at The Dalles, Oregon, we traveled by bus to the nearby Discovery Center, a museum devoted to telling the story of the Columbia Gorge and its rich natural and human history. From here we traveled to Rowena Crest, high above the river valley for a panoramic view of the majestic Columbia. We traveled along a section of the old Columbia River Highway now noted for its historic and scenic qualities. We motored through the Cascade Range from the dry to the wet side of the Pacific Northwest, with the vegetation growing more luxuriant with each passing mile. Some of us bicycled along a 4.5 mile restored stretch of the old highway closed to motor vehicles. Others of us walked the distance, while a third group enjoyed a more leisurely stroll along a shorter section overlooking the Columbia River. We rejoined the Sea Lion in Hood River and cruised through the heart of the Gorge during the afternoon. Though the sky grew overcast, the clouds did not spoil our view of a scenic series of waterfalls, and when the sun burst through the clouds once again, it was simply glorious. We ended the day with a shipboard tasting of Northwest fruit and other food specialties. There is no better way to see so much of the Columbia River Gorge in a single day than aboard our Sea Lion.
Today our activities centered on the Columbia River Gorge. Leaving the Sea Lion at The Dalles, Oregon, we traveled by bus to the nearby Discovery Center, a museum devoted to telling the story of the Columbia Gorge and its rich natural and human history. From here we traveled to Rowena Crest, high above the river valley for a panoramic view of the majestic Columbia. We traveled along a section of the old Columbia River Highway now noted for its historic and scenic qualities. We motored through the Cascade Range from the dry to the wet side of the Pacific Northwest, with the vegetation growing more luxuriant with each passing mile. Some of us bicycled along a 4.5 mile restored stretch of the old highway closed to motor vehicles. Others of us walked the distance, while a third group enjoyed a more leisurely stroll along a shorter section overlooking the Columbia River. We rejoined the Sea Lion in Hood River and cruised through the heart of the Gorge during the afternoon. Though the sky grew overcast, the clouds did not spoil our view of a scenic series of waterfalls, and when the sun burst through the clouds once again, it was simply glorious. We ended the day with a shipboard tasting of Northwest fruit and other food specialties. There is no better way to see so much of the Columbia River Gorge in a single day than aboard our Sea Lion.
