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Daily Gallery
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July 21 -- Most of today was spent on airplanes or waiting to get on airplanes--Austin to Salt Lake then on to Lewiston ID. We had to taxi to hotel in Clarkston WA arriving about 5:30 pm PST. Walked to a local restaurant for dinner and walked a little, then back to room to crash!
After dinner, we walked around by the river. Smoke from the wild fires to the west was visible in the sky
Mike standing with Snake River behind
Lynne with river behind--see how dry the hills are--they are in a drought here in eastern Washington
After dinner, we walked around by the river. Smoke from the wild fires to the west was visible in the sky
July 22 -- Had breakfast in hotel, then met at the jet boat at 11 am. The boat took us about 50 miles
up the Snake River. At various points we had Idaho on one side and Washington on the other side. They had had a huge wild fire just 2 1/2 weeks ago that burned 100,000 acres. There was no smoke from it left, but a large part of the hills were black on the Idaho side! Got back to hotel about 5 pm. Cleaned up a little and ate a small supper (and drink) in the hotel.
This is the jet boat we rode to Hell's Canyon
This is the paddleboat, American Pride, that we will board in the morning
Looking down the canyon--it is actually higher than the Grand Canyon (the mountains in the distance).
This is the jet boat we rode to Hell's Canyon
As we moved west in the upper plateau we saw a little more green vegetation
They explained that all the "hills" were formed from volcanic action millions of years ago and that most of the hills are basalt
Looking back at the dam and lock area after we were through
As we moved west in the upper plateau we saw a little more green vegetation
July 23 -- Had breakfast in hotel, then leisurely wait until our boarding time of 11:30 (we were in first boarding group). Had lunch onboard, unpacked suitcases, then attended briefing. Rest of day was enjoyed by watching the sights as we cruised down the Snake River
Music at the Art in the Park was provided by about 20 high school students playing a variety of songs on steel drums
Map on floor in the Sacagawea museum showing the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers
Even though we are lower, the terrain still looks the same.
Music at the Art in the Park was provided by about 20 high school students playing a variety of songs on steel drums
July 24 -- We had arrived in Richland WA overnight. We left at 9 for a tour of the REACH museum which tells the story of the cultural, natural, and scientific history of the Hanford Reach and Columbia Basin area. It also featured the Manhattan project during WWII that created the plutonium for the bombs that were dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. The town of Richland did not exist until this project brought many workers to the area to work on the Manhattan project (1943).
When we came back to the boat, there was an Art in the Park festival going on with many vendors. We walked around for a short time. They also had a music tent and at that time there were about 20 high school students playing a variety of songs on steel drums. They were good and it was amazing how well they played together!
In the afternoon we again boarded the bus to go to the Sacagawea State Park and museum which is located at the point where the Snake River runs into the Columbia River. This spot is where Lewis and Clark's expedition had camped. Sacagawea and her trapper husband were their guides and interpreters.
As is usual on any cruise, we are finding that we eat way too much. However, this cruise lets you order a half portion of the entree which really helps!
July 25 -- Our internet connection was spotty for the 25th and 26th. So we weren't able to upload pictures and text. We arrived at 11 am at The Dalles on the Columbia River. That afternoon we each did a different excursion. Mike went to the Maryhill Winery for a wine tasting. Lynne went to the Maryhill art museum. The museum was a large house built by Sam Hill (a prominent philanthropist in Oregon) but never lived in. He decided instead to make it an art museum and started to collect many art works during his many trips abroad as well as local Indian art and artifacts. Later in his life he was enamored with Stonehenge and decided to built a replica in his home area (he owned many acres along the Columbia river).
Each evening we have had entertainment in the lounge--this evening we had an entertainer that played and sang many 50's, 60's and 70's music. We were able to dance to several songs.
Our dock was right by the main road. The underpass we walked under showed The Dalles (town name) and underneath 1857 when the town was founded
From the boat we were able to see Mt Hood--that is snow on the mountain
The hills all around this area had a lot of wind turbines
Our dock was right by the main road. The underpass we walked under showed The Dalles (town name) and underneath 1857 when the town was founded
July 26-- Today we had a morning excursion to Multnomah Falls--it is second tallest waterfall in the United States. After coming back to the boat and eating lunch, we had a second excursion to the Bonneville Dam. We had a guided tour thru the dam where they have 8 generators. The most interesting part was the fish ladder built to the side of the dam to allow the fish to "climb" up and spawn. The most abundant fish here are salmon, trout and sturgeon
(Click on the picture to see the whole picture). We docked in Hood River. The morning excursion took us to Multnomah Falls
The falls. You could climb to the bridge in the picture but we decided not to climb
Where we were docked, the area is famous (because it is very windy there) for windsurfing and kite surfing.
(Click on the picture to see the whole picture). We docked in Hood River. The morning excursion took us to Multnomah Falls