Embarkation aboard the Sea Bird began at 4:30 PM. We made our way down a small dock just below the River Place Hotel. The Sea Bird was anchored at a small marina on the Willamette River. As soon as we were all on board our new floating home moved away from the dock and began an approach north towards the Hawthorne Bridge. This metal highway and railroad bridge was being raised for our passage down the Willamette River. We cruised slowly in the last sunlight of the day, enjoying the long shadows against buildings and the many bridges that make up this downtown section of Portland, Oregon. The natural history staff were on the bow, giving information and tales of the Pacific Northwest. We were traveling through a large inland port, one located just over one hundred miles from the Pacific Ocean! We saw many cargo ships and tow-boats receiving and bringing goods that would be dispersed around the world and through out the Pacific Northwest.
Just as the sun set, a lovely tray of freshly smoked local seafood was brought to the bow for our enjoyment. As the clouds began to turn slightly pink and the Sea Bird continued making her way towards the confluence of the Willamette and the Columbia Rivers, we feasted on wild sockeye salmon, oysters, scallops, halibut and sturgeon, all from local waters.
