Astoria
Today would be the last on our journey in the wake of Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery. They endured a horrible experience as they were stuck in the “dismal nitch,” as they called it, while on the Washington side of the Columbia River. We visited both the Oregon and Washington sides today exactly 200 years ago to the day that the Corps was here. The changes in this area have been many during the preceding centuries, but you don’t have to squint very hard to imagine what they gazed at as they were fighting the winds, current and waves crashing into their small campsite for over a week. We enjoyed the luxury of a ship, bridges, motor coaches and incredible weather for our last day.
After a mornings visit to the Columbia River Maritime Museum and the Astor Column, we spent the afternoon with some of the reenactors of the Corps that have made their way from St. Louis all the way across the nation to the western edge of the continent, just as Lewis and Clark did. We also visited Cape Disappointment and gazed out to the Pacific Ocean which actually was a pacifying sight this day.
The mighty sun set and the full moon rose, two beacons of light and myth that have shown explorers the way for millennia. It is the end of this trip and the end of another successful season on the Columbia and Snake River. The M/V Sea Lion will next be heard from in Baja California, Mexico.
Today would be the last on our journey in the wake of Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery. They endured a horrible experience as they were stuck in the “dismal nitch,” as they called it, while on the Washington side of the Columbia River. We visited both the Oregon and Washington sides today exactly 200 years ago to the day that the Corps was here. The changes in this area have been many during the preceding centuries, but you don’t have to squint very hard to imagine what they gazed at as they were fighting the winds, current and waves crashing into their small campsite for over a week. We enjoyed the luxury of a ship, bridges, motor coaches and incredible weather for our last day.
After a mornings visit to the Columbia River Maritime Museum and the Astor Column, we spent the afternoon with some of the reenactors of the Corps that have made their way from St. Louis all the way across the nation to the western edge of the continent, just as Lewis and Clark did. We also visited Cape Disappointment and gazed out to the Pacific Ocean which actually was a pacifying sight this day.
The mighty sun set and the full moon rose, two beacons of light and myth that have shown explorers the way for millennia. It is the end of this trip and the end of another successful season on the Columbia and Snake River. The M/V Sea Lion will next be heard from in Baja California, Mexico.
