Columbia River
The short grass covered slopes were a stark contrast to the tall tree studded hills of Portland, Oregon. We sailed down the Willamette River yesterday, to the Columbia. Last evening the Willamette, where we gazed upon forested hills undulating down to the waterfront and colorful dragon boats plying the still waters. This morning the Columbia, where colorful barges move anything from live fingerling salmon to frozen french fries to tons of wheat downstream.
We shared our lockage through The Dalles and through John Day with the Mary Gail and her two barges. She had recently disgorged her cargo of juvenile salmon just below Bonneville. The load was 180,000 or 12 tons of hatchery and wild salmon fingerlings. The waters of the river are circulated through the barges when the salmon are transported. One barge was outfitted with three diesel engines running pumps taking in river water through three intake holes, the other had four engines running water through four intakes. The pumps circulate 15,000 gallons of water per minute through each of the barges in an effort to keep the fish alive and imprint them on the river as they are taxied downstream. Mary Gail was on her way to Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River for another load.
Our morning continued with Harry Fritz, our historian, giving us a presentation emphasizing the foundation for Thomas Jefferson’s grand western purchase and subsequent plans of exploration. Jefferson had a clear vision of what he wanted to accomplish, he chose the leader carefully, gave explicit instructions as to his expectations and trained him thoroughly in a diversity of disciplines. Meriwether Lewis was the perfect choice.
The afternoon was absolutely balmy and perfect for spending time on the bow searching the grassy slopes for wildlife, the blue skies and calm waters for bird life, or basking lizard-like on the deck.
Renee Armstrong, our hotel manager, invited us to experience a taste of regional specialties from the Pacific Northwest and Columbia River Valley. Included were smoked seafoods, cheeses, specialty mustards, wines and the basis of the food pyramid, chocolate.
From dragon boats on the Willamette to salmon sailing westward on the Columbia, we continue our exploration of western waters.
