WA-OR River Cruise - April 6-14, 2022
After multiple COVID delays, Dad and Kathy finally take their Columbia & Snake River Cruise via American Cruise Lines
They will embark on the 2700 ton, 190 guest American Harmony riverboat
Kathy endulges in a $20 martini and $12 sandwich lunch
They arrive in Clarkston, WA via flight to Spokane, WA and Uber ride
Spend the night at Holiday Inn in view of their awaiting riverboat
Step outside for a view of the American Harmony minus the window screen
Find our room onboard and grab a photo of the Holiday Inn
Jerry considers adding a chair to the end of his bed to stretch out
Get breakfast of eggs, biscuits & gravy . . . cooked just right
Capture the Welcome sign at the Port of Clarkston in Washington State
View of the Holiday Inn from onboard the riverboat
View of the Lewis-Clark Grain Terminal upriver with the Idaho border only quarter mile astern of the ship
Get underway at 2pm local time and head west on the Snake River
Named for William Clark, Clarkston was 1st settled in 1862, incorporated 1902
View of Clarkson on the port side of the riverboat before passing under the Hwy 128 Red Wolf Crossing Bridge
Clarkston's Red Wolf Golf Club on the Snake River's south side
Quickly enter the wilderness of western Washington and little civilization
Snake River bends northward after the metropolis of Alpowa, WA
The Snake River curves left and right as we travel northwest
Pass thru the Lower Granite Dam with Fish Ladder off the south shore
Wise bird nests atop navigation lock spotting equipment
Look back at the dam that provides hydroelectric generation & irrigation
Frank Chase entertains with his Tribute to Ray Charles on the FWD Deck
Up early with the 6am sunrise passing large structures in the twilight
Arrive in Richland, WA & tie up at the Howard Amon Dock on Friday, April 8th
Onboard cruise portrait with morning light at Richland, Washington
Come ashore for a photo of our riverboat, The American Harmony
One of 96 Pompy's Lessons markers along the Sacagawea Heritage Trail
Pompy was the nickname Will Clark gave Sacagawea's son born in 1805
Looking right to left at the Howard Amon Park we are docked beside
Our riverboat takes on supplies (more booze!) just off the gangplank
Robust mother and child play in the sand in 40° temperatures
Find a photo online of the opposite perspective of the park and riverboat
Now on the Columbia River, we approach the Dalles Dam before sunrise
Enter the Dalles Dam's east side navigation locks on Saturday, April 9th
Watch the water drain once secured inside the dam's locks
Slightly out-of-focus proof of current location
View of the Hwy 197 Dalles Bridge as we exit the locks & proceed west
The Dalles is in Wasco County, Oregon and is the largest city (16K) on the Oregon side of the Columbia River until reaching Portland
The Columbia River is the border of Oregon (left) and Washington (right)
Look back at the Hwy 197 Dalles Bridge with The Dalles on the right as the ship heads north toward Stevenson, Washington
Enjoy potstickers, shrimp, crab stuffed mushrooms, deviled eggs & salmon
Heading west toward Stevenson, WA on Sunday, April 10th
The weather is changing as we continue our voyage along the Columbia River
It is getting colder as we pass White Salmon, WA & Hood River, OR
Several nice waterfalls visible as we rumble along through the cold front
The clouds are getting thick as we spy another waterfall
Jacket weather turns to heavy coat weather as we continue past Stevenson, WA and on toward Kalama, WA
Last waterfall before hunkering down inside to circumvent anarchic Portland
Arrive in Kalama, WA by the Kalama Harbor Lodge and Marine Park
Informed that this (April 11th) is the latest snowfall in quite awhile
No side trips to Mount Saint Helens in this snow today
Spy a small snowman on the bridge from ship to shore
Step off the ship for a photo of our American Harmony from the Marine Park
Snow melting as of Tuesday, April 12th, before departing for Astoria, OR
Check out the Columbia River Marine Museum after arriving in Astoria
How to preserve fresh fish? Can or freeze it and distribute it
This Tsunami Boat was swept out to sea during the 2011 Japanese tsunami
It reached Washington 2 years and 5000 miles later, owner said to keep it
Astoria-Melger Bridge (Hwy 101) off in the distance at sunset
Head back to Portland, OR on Wednesday, April 13th
Oregon-Washington Bridge (Interstate 5) from the Holiday Inn Portland-Columbia Riverfront
Must pass through another cruiseship to disembark to Hayden Island, OR