The Drrons shoot a killer and other delights.

[drron]

We then drove to Fort Clatsop.Spring had sprung and the local salmon fishery was getting prepared for work.

.

.
We arrived at the Fort.

.
Now we had been given a lecture by the on board historian on the Lewis and Clark expedition.Quite frankly it was the worst lecture that we had on board.There was only a short mention of Lewis and Clark which was to mention that if it was not for this woman the expedition would have failed and they all would have died.

.

.
This is Sacagawea one of the 2 Shosone wives of Toussaint Charbonneau a French-Canadian fur trapper they hired as an interpreter.According to the historian she showed them the plants to eat and without that they would have starved.However I had just read the Lewis and Clark diaries.They had guns and hunted.There was never a shortage of meat.Indeed at Fort Clatsop there was an abundance of elk so that the men became bored with eating it.In winter very little plant life to sustain you.
Also missing from her talk was that when they met the first band of Shosone the chief was her brother which helped their negotiations but also they hired one of the band,Old Toby,as a guide and interpreter.Also missing was that Lewis aided in the delivery of Sacagawea's baby.
So to the country surrounding the fort.

.

.

.
The original fort was given to the local tribe when the Expedition returned east.It had rotted away by the mid 1800s.A replica was built in 1955 from the reports in the diaries.It burnt down in 2005 just before the bicentennial of the fort.A new replica was built in 2006 again from the diary plans.It is probably not on the exact site of the original as no evidence has been found of the precise location.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.
I then walked to one of the springs they used for fresh water.

.

.

.

.
The spring and a glimpse of the river they used for access.

.

.

 

[drron]

Next the track to the river.

.

.

.
There were some really tall trees.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

I walked back a different route to the fort.Meanwhile mrsdrron had ben looking at the wildflowers.

.

.

.
I was happy as I now had completed my journey along the Lewis and Clark trail.But I began 32 years ago and it has taken many visits.
We were then taken to a pub for a "craft" beer tasting.But it was a new large hotel on a golf course developement run by a large Oregon company McMenamims.

Like most I really thought this a waste of time.I am really not into raspberry beers etc so along with a few others went for a walk.Mrsdrron left earlier and got a view of the Pacific and spring blossoms.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

On the drive back to the ship we saw an osprey return to her nest.No time for a photo.Back at the port it was busy-

.
Astoria is one of the biggest grain ports in the US.But we were back to the Explorer.

.

.
A large number of Caspian terns-vermin according to our guide as they ate too many salmon fry.
A nice Indian curry for dinner.

.
We cruised up the Columbia river to Rainier that night.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

The next morning we disembarked onto a local barge or the pilot boat to shore.

.
Logging and grain are also very important here.

.

.
The day was overcast,cold and miserable with 1 or 2 spots rain.The forecast was for it to get colder and really start to rain for our trip to Mt.St.Helens so we were all dressed in our cold weather gear.We are in the first 20 off.Here comes the pilot boat for the next group.

.

.

.

.
It was actually easier to get on and off these vessels than the zodiacs.Though there wasn't going to be an option of using the zodiacs.Notice how happy Robin is when we passed.Later that day she ticked another thing off her bucket list-she got to drive the pilot boat.

.

.

 

[drron]

Rainier is the beautiful side of the Columbia River here.

It does have some industry but nothing like Longview,WA just over the Lewis and Clark bridge.

.

.

.

.
Logging is huge here.

.
We visited Mt.St.Helens in about 1987 and went to the furthest viewpoint was then.roughly where the Coldwater ridge visitor centre was built-now a learning centre.The place was desolate then so we were interested in looking at the changes 30 years bring.We started here.

.

.
Again pictures of wildflowers and our bush ramble after watching a film on the eruption.

.

.
Notice the sky.Not nearly as grey and an occasional blue patch.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

There was a spot where we were told the trees outline the mountain.

.

.
There is a mountain in there?We were starting to feel we might not get good views of Mt.St.Helens.

.
And 3 likely lads.Two Australian brothers who we got on with well though some of the US travellers thought the opposite.Sadly they don't get Aussie slang or humour.

.
Stopped at a spot that shows a house that was being constructed when the eruption occurred.It filled to the second floor from the mud that came down the river.

.

.
Natuarally it is early May so the gift store is closed.It was here that I realised I had left my hat in the Visitor centre movie theatre.
From the bus I noticed something encouraging-

.

.
And then we got to a viewing point.

.
Why did we doubt our ability as a group of SS passengers to control the weather?

 

[drron]

So the weather forecast was way out.Visibility great and the temperature continued to climb.We were all shedding layers apart from one fellow who set out in just shorts and a t shirt.We all thought he was made but now everyone thought he was the only one who called it right.

What amazed us was the growth and greenness since 30 years ago.Then it was just scarred tree stumps sticking out of a moonscape.Nature is a force to be reckoned with in more ways than one.

.

.

.

.
And we even saw another volcano-Mt.Adams.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

An area which looks a little like 30 years ago.

.
We had a lunch at the Coldwater Ridge education centre.it was quite nice with different sandwiches but only soft drinks-no alcohol allowed here.A final look from the centre.Now look at that blue sky.

.
On the bus trip back a few final looks.

.

.
More pictures from the bus.

.

.
Even the new road is impressive.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.
We went back to the Visitor centre for a comfort stop.my cap was still where I left it.But here is the shot of the mountain through the trees.So different from the morning.

.

.
It was a truly horrific event.The amount of debris and ash released in that eruption was incredible.Today the amount of sediment reaching the Columbia river is many times the pre 1980 levels.The river is constantly being dredged to keep it navigable.The amount of material removed from the rivers since the eruption would be enough for a 1 foot thick 12 lane highway from New York to San Francisco.
Despite all that it is amazing to see the healing power of Nature.The change in 30 years is phenomenal.
Some more scenes as we return to the Explorer.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Pretty soon after boarding we are underway first proceeding upstream.

.

Presumably until the channel is wide enough to swing a u-ey.You may have to look that up in an Aussie slang dictionary.
.

.

.
Then down river we go.

.

.
Even amongst such an industrial scene you can find beauty.

.

Well you do see it sitting on the tree stump don't you?

.
A perfect place for a bald eagle to sit.

 

[drron]

.

.

.
The views are nicer on the Port side.

.

.
But there is so much more going on to Starboard.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Under the Lewis and Clark bridge.

.

.
This ship is off to Asia.

.

.

.

.
More ships waiting to load.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Looking back to the last view of Longview and Rainier.Then sailing past a much nicer view.

.

.
A pleasant afternoon sailing down the Columbia.

.

.

.

.

.

.
Now there was another thing annoying us on this segment.Until San Francisco the internet had been reasonable.When in San Francisco they loaded some cartons onto Deck 8 immediately above our cabin.After that the internet service wa totally useless for 2 days but we were told they would be working with the provider to have it fixed in Astoria or Rainier.Well it wasn't fixed.Marginally better but only just.For instance uploading my photos to Flickr.Could do 100 in 10-15 minutes before San Francisco.Best after was 3 hours and often you just had to give up.

 

[drron]

The next day was a sea day.Success at last.

.
But it got better.Three Pacific white sided dolphins joined us.

.
Hope you can make them out.But whilst everyone was looking at them I noticed something in the distance.

.
Reinforcements.

.

.

.
Another group arrives.

.

.
They had opened up the bow on deck 5.

.
Then yet another group came in.

.
This lasted for quite a while and I am sure most thoroughly enjoyed the day.There were many more sightings though none as good as this.

 

[drron]

A couple of food pics.

.

.
We woke the next morning entering Port Angeles in time to see the ferry for Victoria leave.

.

.
A different sculpture as we walked towards our bus.

.
We were headed here.

.

.
Dangerous place.You were also warned of a toxic salamander!

.