Columbia Gorge and Multnomah Falls
The first day of November greeted our inveterate group of travelers with the first inclement weather of our journey in the Wake of Lewis and Clark. But, as with our exploring predecessors, “we proceeded on” and enjoyed a day of diverse experiences.
Coffee and snacks for early risers were followed by our usual abundant breakfast fare. Then we boarded buses for a visit to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum, presently housing one of the premier Lewis and Clark exhibits, one focusing on the 30 tons of equipment, food, armaments, Indian presents, instruments, tools, and other items carried by the Corps of Discovery. That informative and enjoyable one and a half hour experience was followed by a ride up the Columbia River historic highway, an engineering, construction, and aesthetic marvel when completed in the 1920’s. After a stop at the scenic Rowena overlook at a high point on the highway, we continued to another section where two groups enjoyed hikes ranging from one and a half to four and a half miles, while a third segment of our travelers bused to the quaint town of Hood River for some shopping and browsing.
One o’clock p.m. saw us all back on board the Sea Lion for hot chili, fresh bread, salad, and sinful chocolate cookies! Shortly after lunch, trip Videographer Yves Garceau gave us a preview of the fine DVD he is making of our journey, and he was followed by a lovely slide and music presentation by our Naturalist, Sharon Grainger, on Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest and Plateau regions.
An already full day was augmented by an afternoon bus trip to the stunning Multnomah Falls, all the more beautiful in their some 900’ as the drizzle stopped and gave us the chance for fine walks to gain vantage points from which to view and photograph.
We were back on board by 5:30 p.m., and were greeted by a cornucopia of delights to augment our cocktail hour, samples of dozens of different apples, fruits, and cheeses from the abundant Columbia River valley. As the Sea Lion once again sailed west, headed toward the mouth of the Columbia, we settled in for another delicious supper, and a pleasant evening of relaxation.
The first day of November greeted our inveterate group of travelers with the first inclement weather of our journey in the Wake of Lewis and Clark. But, as with our exploring predecessors, “we proceeded on” and enjoyed a day of diverse experiences.
Coffee and snacks for early risers were followed by our usual abundant breakfast fare. Then we boarded buses for a visit to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum, presently housing one of the premier Lewis and Clark exhibits, one focusing on the 30 tons of equipment, food, armaments, Indian presents, instruments, tools, and other items carried by the Corps of Discovery. That informative and enjoyable one and a half hour experience was followed by a ride up the Columbia River historic highway, an engineering, construction, and aesthetic marvel when completed in the 1920’s. After a stop at the scenic Rowena overlook at a high point on the highway, we continued to another section where two groups enjoyed hikes ranging from one and a half to four and a half miles, while a third segment of our travelers bused to the quaint town of Hood River for some shopping and browsing.
One o’clock p.m. saw us all back on board the Sea Lion for hot chili, fresh bread, salad, and sinful chocolate cookies! Shortly after lunch, trip Videographer Yves Garceau gave us a preview of the fine DVD he is making of our journey, and he was followed by a lovely slide and music presentation by our Naturalist, Sharon Grainger, on Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest and Plateau regions.
An already full day was augmented by an afternoon bus trip to the stunning Multnomah Falls, all the more beautiful in their some 900’ as the drizzle stopped and gave us the chance for fine walks to gain vantage points from which to view and photograph.
We were back on board by 5:30 p.m., and were greeted by a cornucopia of delights to augment our cocktail hour, samples of dozens of different apples, fruits, and cheeses from the abundant Columbia River valley. As the Sea Lion once again sailed west, headed toward the mouth of the Columbia, we settled in for another delicious supper, and a pleasant evening of relaxation.
