I wanted to try and get a photo of either Amtrak #28 (Portland to Spokane) or #27 (Spokane to Portland). The best chance was when we were in Richland, WA (near Pasco, WA). I didn't realize how fast #28 was moving. I also didn't know that my camera off/on button was on "off". I finally got the snapshot about 1 second after #28 had rounded a bend and was completely out of sight! Photographic failure. By the way, I noticed a series of bright green lights along the Amtrak track on the north side of the Columbia (BNSF). They may have been, roughly, 1-2 miles apart. Does anyone know the purpose of those green lights?
Our boat followed the Lewis and Clark route from Clarkston, WA to Astoria, OR. The boat stopped, overnight, at various towns along the way.
Our first stop was at Richland, WA. We had a tour of the Reach Museum. The museum had a large exhibit hall telling about the Hanford, WA site. Hanford was a 586 sq. mile site created in 1943, as part of the Manhattan project which developed the first atomic bomb. The museum also had a wing on Oregon geology and wildlife, including some live birds, such as a great horned owl, red tail hawk, and bald eagle. Even an area devoted to early Oregon railroads and a tribute to James J. Hill.
On the 4th day our stop was at Hood River, OR. The morning tour was to Multnomah Falls, about 30 miles east of Portland:
Hood River is also sort of a Mecca for parasailing and windsurfing.
Parasailing on the Columbia:
Our next to last day was at Astoria, Oregon. One of the tours was to Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1805-1806:
Ft. Clatsop (restoration of 2006):
Also, while in Astoria, we visited the Astoria Column:
The Astoria Column overlooks the city of Astoria, OR. It is 125 ft. high with 164 steps to the top. On the outside wall are illustrations of important Oregon events, such as Capt. Robert Gray's discovery of the Columbia River, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the coming of the Great Northern Railroad.
Photo of my cabin on the "Queen of the West":
The cruise boat was interesting and a lot of fun. One big drawback, however. The 7 day boat trip was considerably expensive. The cost was about on par with a ocean liner luxury cruise ship.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Richard- sounds like a great trip and nice photos. You have been crossing paths with us. Several years ago we drove from Seattle to Richland (and on to Glacier). My father worked there for the Manhattan Project and I came out at age 6 mos. on the City of Portland. We stopped and talked with the museum director and looked at our government provided housing, now a nice community.
And we saw your ship when on the EB on that same trip from Glacier to Portland. Somewhere I have a picture of it cruising the river. If I find it I'll post it. I remember thinking at the time it would be fun to do, but you're right it did look expensive. But I guess you''re paying for that personalized service and avoiding the crowds or mega ships.
And on our trip this summer we stopped at Ft. Clatsop on our drive up the coast.
It is a small world.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Astoria does a great job of hosting visiting cruise ships. They have volunteers on just about every corner downtown, a complimentary shuttle up to the Column and out to the Maritime Museum and just about the best Fish and Chips I've ever had at a converted boat on a trailer across the highway from the museum.
Frank in sunny and warm SBA getting ready to head to London on Sunday for a Baltic Cruise.
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Mr. Palmland: Your father must have had some interesting stores about the hub of activity at the Hanford site. They say that the population of the Richland area rose to 50,000 by the summer of 1944. There apparently is still some concern about radioactive waste.
I didn't know that the City of Portland went through Richland. I see, from an old schedule, that it did go to Pendleton, OR. Maybe a spur to Richland? Sounds like your recent trip was interesting and fun. I was surprised by how small Fort Clatsop was.
Frank: I did enjoy the Maritime Museum. Our boat was docked just behind the museum.I looked over at the line at the fish and chips place. Our shuttle bus driver said to expect 20+ people in line. I thought he was kidding, but when I saw the lineup I knew he wasn't. I wanted to go there for fish and chips but I didn't want to get in line with that many people. It was called the "Bowpicker Fish and Chips". Yes, as you say, a trailer and not a regular restaurant building.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Richard- Here is the photo we took in 2013.
You are right about the Pendleton stop for the City of Portland. And that is certainly one of the family stories. My father had checked to see if it was on time before making the car trip from Richland. He was told it was running late. Apparently the engineer believed in being on time. It was, and there was my mother with an infant and a 5 year old in the middle of the night in the dead of winter with no husband in sight. She was not amused and apparently it was a very long trip back to Richland. And then there was my father's secret week long 'business trips' on the Broadway to Univ. of Chicago where the project began. At that time he of course could not say what he was doing which apparently caused much speculation. His company, DuPont, was a prime contractor for the government on the project.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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