Astoria

A murky morning greeted us as we sailed out toward the bar of the Columbia River.
Though the water was reasonably calm on the full tide, a brisk breeze gave us a bit of a chill. Brown pelicans flew from their roosting area to the place where they began to feed.
We began to feel the swells under the ship and reluctantly turned and headed back to port in Astoria. For days we have been on the river in The Wake of Lewis and Clark. We have seen their campsites on the Clearwater River and along the Snake River as well.  We stood in amazement viewing Palouse Falls. We took joy in cruising in the Zodiacs
or paddling kayaks on the flat surface of the river.

We spent time at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles. We enjoyed the
Fall colors as we walked the Historic Columbia River Highway, and we stood on the bow of the ship as we passed through the Columbia Gorge. Now on the last day of our adventure we are concluding by visiting Fort Clatsop. Here we find a new sculpture of Sacagawea and her son Pompy. As we stand and contemplate it we think of some of the places she carried her infant son. Their very lives were in danger much of the time, and hardships were endured as a matter of course. Some have tended to romanticize her role with the Corps of Discovery, but that has not really been necessary. The day to day dependability she showed as she traveled those many miles with Lewis and Clark have
sealed her place of respect with us all.