Columbia River Gorge
The sun rose in a clear blue sky, lighting the rock cliffs of Mt. Hood and casting long late summer shadows over the Columbia River. The Sea Lion was cruising west, making her way towards her morning destination of the small community of the Dalles. As breakfast was being served our vessel was pulling along side a small dock near the Dalles Marina. Two luxury motor coaches had just pulled up and were awaiting our departure from the Sea Lion to ferry us to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Wasco County Museum.
Once final morning announcements were complete, we were free to make the short walk to our waiting busses. The ride to the Discovery Center was short, and on the way we had our first opportunity to look west—down river—and see the change in terrain begin to take shape. We were traveling through a transition zone, where the climate and precipitation bring about a huge change in the vegetation—from the arid high desert step in the east, we were moving into higher ground, higher rainfall and much taller vegetation. As the busses traveled along the Columbia River we began to see Oak and Ponderosa pine trees along the sides of the banks of the river. In the western skies we could see distant cloud formations, the telltale sign that we were about to encounter the temperate rain forest found on the western slopes of the Cascade mountain range.
Our early morning was spent exploring the Discovery Center including a short walk outside this impressive complex to watch the Sea Lion as she motored towards the town of Hood River. Once back aboard our busses we took a short ride to Rowena Crest, a lookout situated 800 feet above the Columbia River. From this vantage point we could see both east and west down the Columbia, following the dynamic change in environment.
The rest of our morning was spent exploring the Columbia River Gorge by bicycle, on foot and by bus! All groups converged just before lunch, back aboard the Sea Lion for lunch. Meanwhile the crew secured all lines and slowly pulled back out into the Columbia River and headed west once again, making her way towards Bonneville Lock and Dam, our afternoon destination and the last lock transit of our journey. The famous winds of the Columbia were in full force, and just ahead of the Sea Lion were at least one hundred wind surfers, darting in and around our ship like oversized dragonflies. Captain Kalbach sounded the horn again and again, clearing a safe path for the Sea Lion, while many of us braved the winds to enjoy the antics of the wind surfers!
As soon as we had transited the Bonneville Lock and Dam, we entered the free flowing Columbia River and on the Oregon side of the river were a phenomenal display of waterfalls.
A leisurely afternoon of cruising filled with spectacular scenery followed as the Sea Lion continued in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark—making our way west, heading for the Pacific and the winter camp sight of the Corp of Discovery.
The sun rose in a clear blue sky, lighting the rock cliffs of Mt. Hood and casting long late summer shadows over the Columbia River. The Sea Lion was cruising west, making her way towards her morning destination of the small community of the Dalles. As breakfast was being served our vessel was pulling along side a small dock near the Dalles Marina. Two luxury motor coaches had just pulled up and were awaiting our departure from the Sea Lion to ferry us to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Wasco County Museum.
Once final morning announcements were complete, we were free to make the short walk to our waiting busses. The ride to the Discovery Center was short, and on the way we had our first opportunity to look west—down river—and see the change in terrain begin to take shape. We were traveling through a transition zone, where the climate and precipitation bring about a huge change in the vegetation—from the arid high desert step in the east, we were moving into higher ground, higher rainfall and much taller vegetation. As the busses traveled along the Columbia River we began to see Oak and Ponderosa pine trees along the sides of the banks of the river. In the western skies we could see distant cloud formations, the telltale sign that we were about to encounter the temperate rain forest found on the western slopes of the Cascade mountain range.
Our early morning was spent exploring the Discovery Center including a short walk outside this impressive complex to watch the Sea Lion as she motored towards the town of Hood River. Once back aboard our busses we took a short ride to Rowena Crest, a lookout situated 800 feet above the Columbia River. From this vantage point we could see both east and west down the Columbia, following the dynamic change in environment.
The rest of our morning was spent exploring the Columbia River Gorge by bicycle, on foot and by bus! All groups converged just before lunch, back aboard the Sea Lion for lunch. Meanwhile the crew secured all lines and slowly pulled back out into the Columbia River and headed west once again, making her way towards Bonneville Lock and Dam, our afternoon destination and the last lock transit of our journey. The famous winds of the Columbia were in full force, and just ahead of the Sea Lion were at least one hundred wind surfers, darting in and around our ship like oversized dragonflies. Captain Kalbach sounded the horn again and again, clearing a safe path for the Sea Lion, while many of us braved the winds to enjoy the antics of the wind surfers!
As soon as we had transited the Bonneville Lock and Dam, we entered the free flowing Columbia River and on the Oregon side of the river were a phenomenal display of waterfalls.
A leisurely afternoon of cruising filled with spectacular scenery followed as the Sea Lion continued in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark—making our way west, heading for the Pacific and the winter camp sight of the Corp of Discovery.
