On the Road - by Bob Van Leer

Portland 4-16-2005 Open the Drawbridges

By Bob Van Leer

(Portland, OR, April. 16, 2005) - Our small cruise ship, Queen of the West, disrupted traffic in downtown Portland this evening as we cruised first south, causing the drawbridges to open. Then, after we had activated all the bridges, we turned around and sailed north requiring them to open again. My wife, Betty, and I are taking a seven-day cruise on three rivers, the Willamette, Columbia and Snake.

No Welcome 4/17/2005 At Hood River

By Bob Van Leer

NO WELCOME AT HOOD RIVER
(Stevenson, WA, April 17, 2005) – Today we went down and up the Columbia River doing sightseeing. Our ship, the Queen of the West, had docked for the night at Hood River and we boarded buses for the short trip to The Dalles to visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center.

Pasco, 4-18-2007 Through the Biggest Lock

By Bob Van Leer
(Pasco, WA, April 18, 2005) - This morning our cruise ship, the Queen of the West, made a bow-in landing at the tiny Oregon community of Irrigon. The Queen has a bow ramp that extends like a stinger and the ship noses up to the shore and drops the ramp on land and passengers get off. No dock is needed.

Lewiston, 4-19-2007

By Bob Van Leer
(Lewiston, Idaho, April 19, 2005) - Highlight of the day was a 45 mile jet boat trip up Hells Canyon on the Snake River. We docked at Clarkston, WA, this morning, just across the Snake from Lewiston. We are 465 miles from the Pacific Ocean and at an elevation of 730 feet above sea level. The twin cities are on opposite sides of the Snake at its junction with the Clearwater River.

Stevenson, 4-20-2005

By Bob Van Leer
(Stevenson, WA, April 20, 2005) - This was a day of cruising the Columbia. There are to be no stops and we can spend the day relaxing. John Borneman, the Queen of the West resident historian, gave a presentation on the journey of Lewis and Clark.

Astoria, 4/22/2005 Lewis and Clark Fort

By Bob Van Leer
(Astoria, OR, April 22, 2005) - Lewis and Clark spent Dec. 7, 1805, to March 23, 1806, in a fort the Corps of Discovery built a few miles south of Astoria. One of their complaints was the near-constant rain. Of the 106 days the corps spent at Fort Clatsop, it rained all but 12 days, and the sun shown on only six days.