At 6 a.m. under clear skies, National Geographic Quest approached the lock of Little Goose Dam on the Snake River. Many of us rose early to watch the process of locking our way down the Snake toward its confluence with the Palouse River. At the Palouse we “dropped the hook” and began another day of adventures with kayaking, visiting Palouse Falls, and taking Zodiac cruises up the Palouse River into the rugged and beautiful Palouse River Canyon. In the afternoon, as we cruised downriver, Aaron our photo instructor gave a presentation on using our cell-phone cameras and showed us how to record a time-lapse record of the transit of our next lock at Lower Monumental Dam. We also learned about the Columbia River basalt province and the ice age floods from our geologist Grace. And Junius, our excellent historian, regaled us with his story of Mr. Jefferson and Captain Lewis.
10/8/2024
Read
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.”