In the rosy pink dawn, National Geographic Quest cruised upstream on the Columbia, the great river of the west. The intense pink in the clouds reflected off the calm surface of the wide river. Today we relaxed and enjoyed passing through several locks on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. We took pleasure in leisurely time cruising up the Columbia and onto its largest tributary, the Snake River, which we will follow to our destination in Clarkston, Washington. Over the course of the day, we watched for wildlife, marveled at the ever-changing scenic views, and also enjoyed special treats from our bartenders and galley crew as well as educational presentations from our expedition staff.
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.
