After 50-knot gusts and a wind-bound afternoon in The Dalles, Oregon, we had to make up for lost time today, traveling 270 river miles and transiting through 4 locks to our destination of Clarkston. With no time for side-excursions, the day was dedicated to cruising, and expedition leader Sheri Bluestein craftily improvised a schedule to keep us entertained. In addition to the thrill of passing through the locks, we saw presentations by our National Geographic photographer, Smithsonian historian, expedition geologist, and even our expedition chef! The evening cheerfully concluded with beer tastings and trivia night.
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.
