Columbia River Gorge
What an incredible day! The day began with clear skies, and at 7am it was already 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and it only got warmer! Indeed we enjoyed record temperatures for late October as the mercury climbed up to 80 degrees.
Such a perfect day, and we celebrated the weather by exploring the Columbia Gorge, first visiting the wonderful Columbia Gorge Discovery Center at The Dalles, then traveling along the historic route 30, originally constructed by Sam Hill. We stopped briefly at Rowena Crest, where we all gasped at the view, and then we split into two groups, the “hikers and bikers” doing some further exploration along this historic route, and the “shoppers” headed for Hood River. The hikers and bikers were rewarded with exceptional views of the gorge and the beautifully restored Mosier Tunnels.
We were all back aboard for lunch as we continued our journey through the Columbia Gorge. We had another interesting lecture from David Cothran on the birdlife of this area, and then began our descent of the Bonneville Locks. After the Locks, we continued enjoying the wondrous weather and gathered for a group photo, seen above, as we passed Beacon Rock.
Could this day possibly get any better? Well we still had to perform our good deed for the day, and shortly after the group photo we began rescuing wayward kite surfers! We rescued first a wayward and abandoned surf-board, but where was the surfer? Sure enough we found the surfer who was now board-less and two other wayward kite surfers! Indeed it was an incredible day.
What an incredible day! The day began with clear skies, and at 7am it was already 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and it only got warmer! Indeed we enjoyed record temperatures for late October as the mercury climbed up to 80 degrees.
Such a perfect day, and we celebrated the weather by exploring the Columbia Gorge, first visiting the wonderful Columbia Gorge Discovery Center at The Dalles, then traveling along the historic route 30, originally constructed by Sam Hill. We stopped briefly at Rowena Crest, where we all gasped at the view, and then we split into two groups, the “hikers and bikers” doing some further exploration along this historic route, and the “shoppers” headed for Hood River. The hikers and bikers were rewarded with exceptional views of the gorge and the beautifully restored Mosier Tunnels.
We were all back aboard for lunch as we continued our journey through the Columbia Gorge. We had another interesting lecture from David Cothran on the birdlife of this area, and then began our descent of the Bonneville Locks. After the Locks, we continued enjoying the wondrous weather and gathered for a group photo, seen above, as we passed Beacon Rock.
Could this day possibly get any better? Well we still had to perform our good deed for the day, and shortly after the group photo we began rescuing wayward kite surfers! We rescued first a wayward and abandoned surf-board, but where was the surfer? Sure enough we found the surfer who was now board-less and two other wayward kite surfers! Indeed it was an incredible day.
