Traveling up the Columbia River all through the night, we awoke this morning just downstream of the John Day Dam. We'd passed from the verdant forests of the Willamette Valley to the sagebrush steppe and grasslands of eastern Washington and Oregon. Throughout the day we saw evidence of massive ancient lava flows in the form of basalt canyon walls. An afternoon stop at the wildlife area below McNary Dam gave us a chance to walk, and afforded good views of wood ducks, cedar waxwings and black-crowned night herons.
After reboarding the Sea Bird we immediately entered the lock at McNary, watching with great interest as the enormous miter gate swung closed behind us and the lock began to fill. As we rose to the top and looked back downriver, we were treated to this magnificent sunset.
