Oh baby... we were not prepared all that well for the weather that greeted us today. Overcast and a smatter of rain? No problem. Colder, more persistent rain at the higher elevation we drove to near Mount St Helens? Eh... not so much.
"Docked at Kalama" implies more than it was, I think. For instance, there was no dock. Like... NO DOCK at all. The American Song just kind of motored into the sandy shoreline and there we were! Captain kept the engine running (steep drop off apparently) so we stayed firmly at dry land, then the nose of the boat opened like a whale mouth and they slid a ramp out for us. What?! I know right!?
But it gets better... they also drag out rolls of delightful skid-proof blue carpet so that we get up the little incline easier and with less sandy shoes. Amen!
We took a little walk along the beach. People were fishing, picnicking, having a day out with the family. One has to assume that this weather is maybe as good as it gets sometimes, here.
At the top of the blue carpet walkway, we found our American Cruise Lines buses and friendly drivers. And 90 minutes of scenic Oregon forest and mountain land later, we arrived at the first of two stops up here today.
Coldwater Lake Recreation Area: How pretty!
Our second stop... the one where it was raining, windy, cold and the view of Mount St. Helens was 100% obscured? Yeah, no pics were taken as you can imagine.
How about this one I stole from the internet? :-) Clearly not taken on my trip, it's what you might have seen if you were in the air nearby on March 18, 1980. I was 6 years old and in New Zealand. I remember seeing news coverage on our black and white television! Wasn't the eruption preceded by the biggest landslide in history?
The day we visited, the Visitor Center, featuring other useful info I'd normally be compelled to educate you with, was closed due to lack of staff. Another unfortunate pandemic side effect.
The gift shop was open, but had restrictions on the number of visitors who were allowed in at one time. Seriously amusing to watch a bus load of people who packed for 80+ degrees, waiting in line to shelter and shop at the gift store. How many people left wearing Mount St. Helens sweatshirts, you ask? Lots! I think the gift store is sold out now, so please bring your own warm jacket if you are headed up there. LOL.
Back to the boat we went.... Not this boat, silly. This was just a giant tanker that I marveled at, working its way upstream. The river was gradually getting narrower but remained deep enough in the middle.
I believe I chose the duck for dinner tonight. It was bedded down on a mound of sweet potato risotto, in any case. Prior to that, Donnie and I went with gin at the cocktail hour. The pours were generous and the mixers were missing. We toddled off to dinner (with obligatory wine) and at that point, I could still use my camera. Mmmm... Carrot cake. It's a good life.
Ok, so here is where it gets a bit more blurry. Post dinner, arms linked, we staggered back to our cabin. Over served? I'm going with "definitely" - but we made it ok, thanks for asking.
We entered the room to find this fancy cheesecake on a slate platter, piped with Happy Birthday and sporting two forks. The giggles ensued. Neither of us having had a birthday in recent history and neither of us able to stomach the thought of eating more of anything, we fell down laughing.
Somewhere, someone was missing their birthday cake. :-(
Fitbit tells me I slept like a champ that night!
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