It was another marvelous sunshiny day in the Columbia River Gorge today. The sun rose over hills parched from the summer season, and the lightening day revealed a view of Mount Hood on the Oregon side of the river. Exploration of the region delivered us to one of many vineyards for a tour and tasting. Divine orbs thrive in the arid clime, themselves sipping upon the irrigated waters of the Columbia. Visiting Sam Hill’s Maryhill Museum, we saw a collection of native basketry, both beautiful and practical works of art. Whether walking the nature trails, biking, or exploring museums, fresh air and sunshine where enjoyed by all.
4/27/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Astoria, Oregon
We reached the penultimate day of our journey in Astoria, Oregon, where the Columbia River collides with the open ocean. We were met with a typical Pacific Northwest day of gentle rains punctuated by moments of sunshine. The guests were divided to conquer this gem of a city, nestled under bridges; half headed across the river to Washington to visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment, while the other half visited the Columbia River Maritime Museum and Astoria Column. The museum and the interpretive center are both excellent examples of what the west coast can offer with regard to history and culture. Each has thoughtful exhibits that cover broad swaths of topics, and are staffed with informative and helpful faculty. After a hearty lunch on board, the groups swapped in order to have the best of both worlds. Finally, all met back aboard for the week’s final recap and guest slideshow.
