Columbia River Gorge
A wonderful high-pressure weather system has blessed us with good weather this morning! The Sea Bird passed through the Dalles Lock and Dam by 7:00 am and was making her way towards the Dalles boat landing. Two motor coaches appeared just before 8:00 am, ready to take us to our first destination of the day.
Once the boat was securely docked and breakfast was finished we gathered our belongings for the mornings activities. We were still located at the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge, but looking forward to spending the day moving from east to west through the Cascade Mountain range along the Columbia River. Our first stop would be the Columbia Gorge Discover Center and Wasco County Museum. Part of our morning was spent exploring the natural and cultural history presented at this fine museum.
Once our visit to this fine museum was concluded we boarded our motor coaches and began a short journey to Rowena Crest Lookout. A twenty-minute ride up and along the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway brought us to a wonderful lookout. We were high above the Columbia River, able to see both east and west up and down river. The change in the botanical environment was much more obvious from this vantage point. To the east we could see the trees slowly disappear, as the land became the high desert steppe or channeled scablands. To the west, the forests began to take over the basalt cliffs....we were looking at the eastern side of the temperate rain forest. Douglas firs, Western red cedars and maples mixed with thick undergrowth. But, first we would explore this transition zone, of the eastern gorge, with a lovely diversity of wild flowers, and wonderful stands of Gary oaks and Ponderosa pines!
Once pictures were taken, flowers were explored and explained and/or named, we returned to our coaches and continued on to our late morning destination. Some of us would be biking, some of us would be hiking; long and short....but all of us would have a chance to explore a restored four and one half mile section of the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway. This particular section has been set aside for hikers and bikers. We divided into our various choices for exploration, and began the journey. A much needed use of energy, a long quiet period of time to listen, watch and stretch our legs while enjoying a special place and each other. A wonderful pace set in for each of us as we made our way uphill for a short period of time, and then gradually down and up heading towards the west end of this well known trail.
We all gathered at an interpretive center in the west-end parking lot and awaited our coach and the return trip to the Sea Bird . Once onboard, we were greeted with a wonderful lunch of pizza and mixed green salad! How perfect, after a long walk or bike ride! As we were eating lunch the Sea Bird made ready to continue her westward trip down river heading for Bonneville lock and dam. Time was given to see the fish ladder and hear the Army Corp’s introduction to the operation of the powerhouse and spillway.
Once back on board we entered our last lock on the Columbia and were dropped to seventeen feet above sea level and entered the free flowing Columbia River. The weather had stayed lovely all day, and we made a slow cruise down river stopping for long looks at the many waterfalls that grace the Oregon side of the river. One of our last falls was Multnomah Falls. Over six hundred feet tall and one of the most visited sights in Oregon, it was particularly special to sit in the middle of the river and watch the water cascade down over a small cliff and drop rapidly into a plunge pool, hidden from our view. We remained on the bow in the early evening light, letting the power of falling water drop before our eyes.... imagining the soothing sound, we relaxed into the end of our day...
A wonderful high-pressure weather system has blessed us with good weather this morning! The Sea Bird passed through the Dalles Lock and Dam by 7:00 am and was making her way towards the Dalles boat landing. Two motor coaches appeared just before 8:00 am, ready to take us to our first destination of the day.
Once the boat was securely docked and breakfast was finished we gathered our belongings for the mornings activities. We were still located at the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge, but looking forward to spending the day moving from east to west through the Cascade Mountain range along the Columbia River. Our first stop would be the Columbia Gorge Discover Center and Wasco County Museum. Part of our morning was spent exploring the natural and cultural history presented at this fine museum.
Once our visit to this fine museum was concluded we boarded our motor coaches and began a short journey to Rowena Crest Lookout. A twenty-minute ride up and along the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway brought us to a wonderful lookout. We were high above the Columbia River, able to see both east and west up and down river. The change in the botanical environment was much more obvious from this vantage point. To the east we could see the trees slowly disappear, as the land became the high desert steppe or channeled scablands. To the west, the forests began to take over the basalt cliffs....we were looking at the eastern side of the temperate rain forest. Douglas firs, Western red cedars and maples mixed with thick undergrowth. But, first we would explore this transition zone, of the eastern gorge, with a lovely diversity of wild flowers, and wonderful stands of Gary oaks and Ponderosa pines!
Once pictures were taken, flowers were explored and explained and/or named, we returned to our coaches and continued on to our late morning destination. Some of us would be biking, some of us would be hiking; long and short....but all of us would have a chance to explore a restored four and one half mile section of the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway. This particular section has been set aside for hikers and bikers. We divided into our various choices for exploration, and began the journey. A much needed use of energy, a long quiet period of time to listen, watch and stretch our legs while enjoying a special place and each other. A wonderful pace set in for each of us as we made our way uphill for a short period of time, and then gradually down and up heading towards the west end of this well known trail.
We all gathered at an interpretive center in the west-end parking lot and awaited our coach and the return trip to the Sea Bird . Once onboard, we were greeted with a wonderful lunch of pizza and mixed green salad! How perfect, after a long walk or bike ride! As we were eating lunch the Sea Bird made ready to continue her westward trip down river heading for Bonneville lock and dam. Time was given to see the fish ladder and hear the Army Corp’s introduction to the operation of the powerhouse and spillway.
Once back on board we entered our last lock on the Columbia and were dropped to seventeen feet above sea level and entered the free flowing Columbia River. The weather had stayed lovely all day, and we made a slow cruise down river stopping for long looks at the many waterfalls that grace the Oregon side of the river. One of our last falls was Multnomah Falls. Over six hundred feet tall and one of the most visited sights in Oregon, it was particularly special to sit in the middle of the river and watch the water cascade down over a small cliff and drop rapidly into a plunge pool, hidden from our view. We remained on the bow in the early evening light, letting the power of falling water drop before our eyes.... imagining the soothing sound, we relaxed into the end of our day...
