It’s 6 a.m. and National Geographic Sea Bird is pulling away from the dock at The Dalles. This morning we’re sailing a short distance down the Columbia River to the lovely town of Hood River, Oregon, and the starting point for our morning excursions. This community has become famous for recreational activities, but particularly as the sail and kite-boarding capital of the United States. The consistent winds through the Columbia River Gorge in this area make it perfect for this popular sport.

Right after breakfast we disembarked, boarded the motor coaches, and headed up out of the gorge to Rasmussen’s Farm, a small but quaint, family-run operation. It’s harvest time, so there was a large variety of produce available for sale, plus beautiful flower gardens and sunflower patches. With all the produce and bright flowers it was a photographer’s paradise!

After boarding the motor coaches, we had a short time to explore the town of Hood River, and maybe help stimulate their economy! Soon it was time to head back to National Geographic Sea Bird and continue downriver toward our afternoon excursion to Multnomah Falls, another very photogenic site along the beautiful Columbia River!

There was one more event for the day, negotiating the Bonneville Dam, the westernmost, and last of the locks on our journey west toward Portland. As we emerged from the Bonneville the National Geographic Sea Bird entered the lower stretch of the Columbia, from now on it would be unrestricted and “free flowing”! The end of another great day of cruising on this magnificent waterway!