Astoria
The sky was blue! After a day of cloudy weather and rainy conditions in the gorge, we were ready for some more sunshine. The forecast, however, had other plans for us. It wasn’t hard to believe things might change, and soon, when a most marvelous double rainbow arced over the river to the west, and shortly after, the rain began.
The Columbia River Maritime Museum was our first visit, just a few steps away from our docking location. Inside is a marvelous museum nationally renowned; it educates and fascinates all visitors who walk through their doors. The maritime history here is rich in stories of battles with the elements and the ships who won, and the many that lost.
By the time we arrived at Fort Clatsop, surrounded by deep, tall trees of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, vine maples and a few western cedars, the sun had once more appeared. With the superb reconstruction of the fort it is not difficult to imagine the Corps of Discovery on their daily routine. All that was missing were the sounds: a cough, the rattle of metal cooking pots, the bark of a dog.
At Cape Disappointment in the afternoon the wave of dark clouds had passed over, and the sun once again shone as we looked over the mouth of the Columbia River and saw waves dashing against rocks and cormorants angling the wind around the headland.
A few balsawood airplanes were sent flying from the top of the Astoria Column before we descended to the Sea Bird awaiting our arrival at the dock.
The week has been filled with sightings and memories to cherish. Both the river flowing under the keel and friendships formed will remain with us for a long time to come.
The sky was blue! After a day of cloudy weather and rainy conditions in the gorge, we were ready for some more sunshine. The forecast, however, had other plans for us. It wasn’t hard to believe things might change, and soon, when a most marvelous double rainbow arced over the river to the west, and shortly after, the rain began.
The Columbia River Maritime Museum was our first visit, just a few steps away from our docking location. Inside is a marvelous museum nationally renowned; it educates and fascinates all visitors who walk through their doors. The maritime history here is rich in stories of battles with the elements and the ships who won, and the many that lost.
By the time we arrived at Fort Clatsop, surrounded by deep, tall trees of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, vine maples and a few western cedars, the sun had once more appeared. With the superb reconstruction of the fort it is not difficult to imagine the Corps of Discovery on their daily routine. All that was missing were the sounds: a cough, the rattle of metal cooking pots, the bark of a dog.
At Cape Disappointment in the afternoon the wave of dark clouds had passed over, and the sun once again shone as we looked over the mouth of the Columbia River and saw waves dashing against rocks and cormorants angling the wind around the headland.
A few balsawood airplanes were sent flying from the top of the Astoria Column before we descended to the Sea Bird awaiting our arrival at the dock.
The week has been filled with sightings and memories to cherish. Both the river flowing under the keel and friendships formed will remain with us for a long time to come.
