While we are covering the very same ground as Lewis and Clark, our course has us retracing their steps in reverse. As they forged ever westwards, they endured hardships that we can’t grasp from the comfort of our eastbound expedition. Fully fathoming the technological advancements that have occurred, just in regards to transportation, over the past 200 years since those early explorers takes some imagination. To aid in this regard we endeavored to implement and appreciate the many modes and methods that were not available to them. Warm beds and sumptuous breakfast aside, simply being able to start out a day nice and dry in the Pacific Northwest would have been a wonderful accomplishment for the rugged adventurers. The National Geographic Sea Bird was adroitly maneuvered alongside an impressively built dock at The Dalles, which lays claim to being the first location on the Columbia River that Lewis and Clark arrived upon after their arduous trek. Where they would have found a muddy embankment we saw a bustling highway that has slowly grown from an outpost to a hub of activity in the region.
In a few short minutes by bus we traveled to the overlook of the Mighty Columbia, sun peeking out beneath the clouds to set a glimmering sparkle onto the water. The topography tells the story of this land and for those not as conversational in the dialect of geology our naturalist, David Stephens, expressively translated how the river here is older than the hills themselves. Next up was the Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center, where artifacts and exhibitions from hundreds, and even thousands, of years ago highlight the ways humans have not only eked out an existence but thrived. Attached to this facility is a raptor recovery program for wounded and recuperating local birds of prey that are not able to presently fend for themselves. Currently in residence were the diminutive but determined sparrow hawk, a great horned owl, and a red-tailed hawk.
Headed back to the ship, some stretched out their legs while a convoy of cycling enthusiasts commandeered some wheels and glided down a meandering path that took us along the river at a pleasant speed and individually subjective level of grace that would have been a welcome shift to trudging. In the afternoon we explored the treasures of the Maryhill Museum and even a recreation of Stonehenge before being scooped up by our ship’s small fleet of inflatable boats, a feature that reminds us of the true potential of the tools at our disposal and affords us such freedoms to further explore along our journey.
