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Show Columbia: The great river of .the West by Scott E. Dial Ore. PORTLAND, acajawea to see loved -S- would have the river this way, in this comfort, mused the tall, blonde woman who leaned against the ships rail, as she tried to peer through the early morning mist that hung over the Columbia River. Under her arm was tucked a copy of the well-thumb- best-sellin- novel, g Obviously, Sacajawea. she was familiar with both the legendary Bird of the Shoshone and lore of the Columbia This ship, Great River Explorer, which now plies the Columbia from May to October, truly would have afforded undreamed of luxury to Sacajawea, Lewis, Clark, York and the other Woman Scott E. Dial is a freeToday, a trip down the Columbia River can be luxurious, unlike the treks of explorers who paddled lance writer living in Westcanoes down the rivers waters in 1805. minster, Colo. who paddled canoes down the rivers rilling waters in 1805. In the cabins comfort of first-clas- s and covered decks, 80 passengers a week now explore the Columbia. Not one has to wrap himself in a wet blankd et or hunker in canoes as Sacajawea and the other first explorers did daily. But even with all these modem amenities, the excitement of sailing down the broad Columbia and out into the limitless expanses of the Pacific has not abated a bit explorers rain-soake- since Clark enthused: Great joy . . . we are in view of the Ocian this great Pacific Ocian which we have been so long anxious to see, and the roreing or noise made by the waves brakeing on the rockey shores may be heard distinctly. THIS TRIP ON the Columbia begins, not in St. Louis, as did Lewis and Clarks, but in Portland. More precisely, it starts from the pier of the Red Lion Inn. Most travelers prefer to check into the Red Lion the night before the Great River Explorer begins its KEXSDQ free on Western Airlines. Plus get a $250 cruise-far- e discount. Fly Youre invited to a fiesta. It starts the moment you step aboard our magnificent floating resort. Seven sunny days sailing from Acapulco to Los Angeles. Just pick a Saturday now to June 12 and jet free to - - RT Western Airlines Acapulco on Western Airlines. (Based on lowest applicable air d fare.) In Acapulco our Pacific Princess is your hotel. Enjoy it all before sailing Sunday at sunset to three more fascinating ports. Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan.Then on to Los Angeles for your free flight back. And for cruises departing between April 17 and May 29, youll discount off enjoy a $250 British-registere- 1982 18, April per-coup- le extras below. FIESTA SPECIAL Free bottle of champagne Merry mariachis Captains Cocktail Parties Guest entertainers Gift mementos Colorful folklorico shows Margarita Parties on us! Cruise in style. Along the way, youll feast on g cuisine, pride of our Italian dining room staff. The service is superb. After dinner, take in the spectacular entertain ment, including lavish production revues. Later, discover the disco. Third person free. For Spring Fiesta cruises, you can bring along a third person in your stateroom free. All you pay is their air fare. Write for our colorful brochure. Or better yet, ask a travel agent. Princess Cruises Dept. 0062, 2029 Century Park East Los Angeles, CA 90067. award-winnin- Salt The 11 14 1805-180- awe-inspiri- , . oifSSsd Lake seven-nig- ht y, e. Remember, the peso has just been devalued. So those dollars buy more, much more, in Mexico. Theres no better way to discover the magic of Mexico. And our Spring Fiesta Cruises offer the wktmm detected earner for Princess Onuses eight-da- run up the Columbia. The cruise ship actually glides away from the Red Lion Inn at 5:30 p.m. each Saturday and heads for Astoria, the oldest- - American outpost West of the Mississippi. Early the next morning the Great River Explorer lies anchored at Astoria. From the ship you take a launch to where buses named what else but Lewis and Clark wait at dock-sidJust a short ride carries you to Fort Clatshop, now a national monument. It was here that the first explorers of the Columbia endured the bitter winter of 6 in lean-t- o shacks. You can take time to stroll around the fort, then wander to the end of a trail where canoes, like those which carried Sacajawea and the others, sit on the bank of the river. LATER, YOU are taken by bus to Coxcomb Hill, and if you are of strong legs, you can climb to the top of Astoria Column, modeled after Trajans Column in Rome. From the top you can, weather permitting, enjoy an view of the Columbia flowing into the Pacific. And if you want to know more about the river and its history, there is time for a visit to Columbian River Museum before rushing back to the ship for cocktails. By the time the sun drops beyond the Pacific horizon, your ship slips silently back upstream towards Portland. If you rise early the next morning, you are able to watch the Columbia River George while working on your first cup of coffee. Waterfalls cast an almost mystic affect as they cascade out of the mist hiding the top of the Gorge. Perhaps the most impres-Se- e Column 1 Page H-2- |
