A foggy morning greeted National Geographic Sea Bird as it sat along the Lyons Ferry State Park at the confluence of the Palouse River. After breakfast, guests departed for the shore to transfer to a shuttle to Palouse Falls State Park. The remaining guests departed for a Zodiac tour of the river and canyonlands below Palouse Falls. To access the river system, skilled drivers were required to navigate through a series of shallow areas created by the deposition of loess from the Missoula floods. Before entering the tributary, Zodiacs passed by the site of a major archeological discovery within North America. The excavation of Marmes Rockshelter revealed evidence of human occupation from as many as 11,230 years ago, including evidence of extensive trading and a cremation hearth, a common burial practice for Stone Age peoples. As Zodiacs quietly moved up the river system, several animals were discovered throughout the riparian zone, including golden eagles, porcupines, waterfowls, woodpeckers, pheasants, and even mule deer. After lunch, groups switched locations to give everyone a chance to explore the surrounding area. When guests arrived back at the ship, National Geographic Sea Bird pulled anchor and departed for the Clarkston location with only three bridges and two dams left along the journey.
10/8/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Columbia River and Crow Butte Island
Day three of National Geographic Sea Bird ’s eastbound voyage came with remarkably calm and comfortable weather as there was barely a breath of wind along a stretch of the Columbia River that's typically rather breezy. Guests who chose the morning hike of Crow Butte Park soon peeled off a layer of clothing after their ten-minute Zodiac trip. Conditions that would frustrate a windsurfer made for carefree kayaking. Their reward was an assortment of beverages that included fresh-pressed apple juice, Seven Hills Winery 2022 rosé, and Powers Winery 2018 cabernet sauvignon. The backdrop included award-winning Discovery Vineyard and the historic Mercer family's Spice Cabinet Vineyard. After lunch, the thermometer hit 80, making for a pleasant trip to McNary Dam and Lock. Educator/Naturalist Kerri McAllister, a 2016 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, shared the story of the late J. Harlen Bretz, the geologist whose long-ridiculed theory about the Missoula Floods proved correct. National Geographic Sea Bird traveled nearly 60 miles on this day to drop anchor near the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers and Sacajawea State Park. The evening's program in the lounge was highlighted by Naturalist Linda Burback's presentation, “Edible Aspects of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.”