Eastbound and down the river National Geographic Sea Bird sailed. We anchored at The Dalles, Oregon, for a day full of activity. The first stop on the itinerary was the Rowena Crest viewpoint, with marvelous views of the Columbia River Gorge below. Our guest geology speaker told us about the mega-floods that shaped the great river valley. Crossing over the Historic River Highway, the Mosier Tunnels were next on the schedule; a leisurely or aerobic hike, depending on one’s mood. The paved trail led us to two historic tunnels alongside groves of maple, Douglas fir, and ponderosa pines.
4/27/2024
Read
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.
