With much anticipation and nail biting, the Bonneville Lock reopened in the past two days. A failure of some concrete on a sill necessitated a shutdown of the lock and some fast track repairs. None of this hullabaloo was apparent as we calmly and uneventfully transited the lock this morning. At Cascade Locks, we took off for our morning adventure to Stevenson, Washington and the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. An eclectic mix of displays and a very enthusiastic docent kept our attention and assisted us in learning more about this pocket of the Pacific Northwest. A scrumptious lunch was served at Mountain View Orchards and the pear and apple bins were brimming full with this year’s crop. A walk at the Mosier Tunnels finished off the afternoon for some of us while others investigated the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum. Altogether a diverse and interesting day in the Columbia River Gorge.
4/25/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Crow Butte
After transiting McNary Lock and Dam, National Geographic Sea Bird dropped anchor at Crow Butte in the early morning of Thursday, April 25th. After a hearty breakfast, we were delivered by Zodiac to the south side locations for an aerobic walk to the top of Crow Butte, supplemented with a medium elevation nature hike. A more casual history-oriented walk began on the west side of the Island and ended where we were able to get some great photos of National Geographic Sea Bird at anchor. The aroma of the sagebrush in the shrub-steppe environment filled the air, and the gentle but steady winds preceded a light rain in the otherwise arid environment. Returning hikers were greeted by the hotel staff and hot chocolate at the landing site and also enjoyed the playground equipment. Crow Butte is a tear drop shaped island surrounding a core of basalt, and the sandy terrain is composed of debris deposited during the Ice Age Flood events of 12,000-18,000 years ago. The afternoon was spent cruising the Columbia River on our way to dock at Hood River, Oregon.