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| SISTER`IN`LAW, LINDA KANGAS, AND I TOOK A TREK OUT WEST LAST WEEK (6/2019) WE WENT ON A COLUMBIA RIVER CRUISE FOR 8 DAYS, ON A "PADDLEWHEEL" SHIP...LIKE THE OLD DAYS, EXCEPT WE WERE ALL MODERNIZED, OF COURSE. WE FLEW TO SPOKANE, SPENT THE NIGHT IN A HOTEL WITH THE REST OF OUR PASSENGERS, AND WERE TAKEN TO CLARKSTON WHERE WE EMBARKED ON THE SNAKE RIVER...WHICH JOINED THE COLUMBIA. 99 PASSENGERS, ROOM FOR 110. WE HAD TWO LOUNGES, WITH SNACKS AND JUICE, WATER, POP ALL THE TIME, PUZZLES, BOOKS AND WIFI IN THE LIBRARY...FRESH COOKIES PASSED OUT TWICE A DAY, A HISTORY LESSON EACH DAY, AND A PROGRAM AT NIGHT, WHERE THEY PASSED OUT ROOTBEER FLOATS AND HOT FUDGE SUNDAES! (ERP!) |
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| ALMOST TO OUR SHIP BELOW...AWESOME SCENERY |
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| GETTING OFF THE BUS TO EMBARK |
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| THIS IS IT....MANY PLACES TO SIT OUTSIDE, TOP DECK, SIDES, BACK, WE HAD OUR OWN BALCONY |
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| SPOTTED MANY OSPREY NESTS ALONG THE RIVER |
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| AND PELICANS, EAGLES TOO |
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| WE WENT THROUGH 8 OR 9 LOCKS, NOT SURE ON THE COUNT...THE LOCKS CONTROL THE IRRIGATION IN EACH AREA, AND THE LAND PRODUCES MANY VEGETABLES, WHEAT, SOYBEANS, APPLES, PEACHES, POTATOES, CHERRIES, GRAPES, ETC. IT'S CALLED THE "BREADBASKET OF THE WEST" FOR MANY MILES, THE LAND WAS MORE DESERT LOOKING, UNTIL WE GOT INTO THE COLUMBIA GORGE AREA. THERE WERE MANY TRAIN AND VEHICLE TUNNELS ALONG THE RIVER . |
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| INSIDE THE LOCK, THE WATER BEGINS TO DROP...SOMETIMES OVER 100 FEET. YOU CAN SEE THE DARK LINE WHERE IT'S BEGINNING |
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| ALONGSIDE EACH DOCK IS THE DAM, AND FISH LADDER FOR THE SALMON. |
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| WATCHING THE OPERATION WITH LINDA |
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| GATES ARE OPENING... |
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| YOU CAN SEE HOW FAR DOWN IN THE LOCKS WE ARE BY THE DARK COLOR OF THE WALLS |
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| SOME WATCHERS ON THE UPPER DECK |
