Columbia River Gorge
We were traveling back in time on our magical motion machine, the National Geographic Sea Lion. Upstream we rode on the Columbia River, its smooth watery carpet under our keel. At sunrise, we approached the Multnomah Falls with its crystal spire splendor glistening in the morning light.
As we continued, we came in sight of the Bonneville Dam and awaited our turn to transit the lock. Almost unbelievably once inside the lock, it took only 8 minutes to lift our ship up 60 feet to the upstream level and we were on our way. Next stop, the town of Cascade Locks. Here we took to Zodiacs and got a special treat of transiting through the remains of the historic lock which has long since been abandoned in favor of the modern larger and more efficient version.
Bikers and hikers got their fill on the Scenic Highway that is just now starting to recover from a nasty mid-summer’s fire. But remarkably, the wildlife sightings were frequent and the undergrowth vegetation is making a significant comeback. Stellar jays, big leaf maples and the forest’s other subjects were all in view.
In the afternoon, we ventured to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and were treated to an introduction to raptors; including an American kestrel and a beautiful peregrine falcon. The Discovery Center introduced us to the story of the Celilo Falls and the changes on the Columbia River that have been both boon and folly in these parts. Adventuring on, we marveled at the eclectic collections at the Maryhill Museum originally created by one of the Pacific Northwest’s celebrated businessmen, promoters and visionary. A wine and cheese tasting in the museum gardens, complete with peacocks, capped the day before returning to our current time and venturing back down stream aboard National Geographic Sea Lion.
