The confluence of the Snake and Palouse Rivers is a magical place. Time is deep here, and a story ancient as the hills is being told. With our eyes we can see floods of lava, now basaltic cliffs. We can see a cataclysmic flood of glacial meltwater, gouging a plunge pool and gorge into the earth. And if we listen closely, we can hear the life that chirps, whistles, howls, or remains silent in the reeds. On the Palouse River, one is certain to find a beautiful spirit.
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.
