Autumn in the Columbia River Gorge, on a bluebird day, is incredibly lovely. Crisp pine scented air, leaves ablaze in red and gold, and thrill-seeking windsurfers skimming across the whitecapped river.
We began our day looking at an Indian pictograph in the early morning light, and then entering the navigation lock at The Dalles Dam with Mt. Hood visible directly ahead. Shortly after breakfast we disembarked the Sea Lion and visited the Corps of Discovery's Rock Fort campsite. Lewis and Clark and their men spent several days at this exact spot in late October of 1805, trading with the natives and resting between rapids. While the Sea Lion continued down river, we spent time exploring the area between The Dalles and Hood River - traveling the historic Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway from the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center to the Rowena Crest Overlook.
Throughout the afternoon we transited our last lock of the voyage at Bonneville Dam and sailed past the Gorge's famous waterfalls. Our near-perfect day was capped with a beach bonfire and s'mores under the stars.
