Not quite live Explorer Mazlatan to Vancouver.

[drron29]

Ron, It sounds as though your Lewis and Clark lecturer onboard suffered from an affliction that is now in vogue in the US and particularly in our school system. Namely, that the “white men” were bumbling idiots who couldn’t survive on their own without help from the native people.

Exactly what she said.

Though in a little while I will relate her own bumbling when she refused my offer of help and we were at least 30 minutes late for the second part of our excursion.

[drron29]

The day was overcast,cold and miserable with 1 or 2 spots rain.The forecast was for it to get colder and really start to rain for our trip to Mt.St.Helens so we were all dressed in our cold weather gear.We are in the first 20 off.Here comes the pilot boat for the next group.

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It was actually easier to get on and off these vessels than the zodiacs.Though there wasn't going to be an option of using the zodiacs.Notice how happy Robin is when we passed.Later that day she ticked another thing off her bucket list-she got to drive the pilot boat.

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[drron29]

Rainier is the beautiful side of the Columbia River here.

It does have some industry but nothing like Longview,WA just over the Lewis and Clark bridge.

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Logging is huge here.

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[drron29]

We visited Mt.St.Helens in about 1987 and went to the furthest viewpoint was then.roughly where the Coldwater ridge visitor centre was built-now a learning centre.The place was desolate then so we were interested in looking at the changes 30 years bring.We started here.

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Again pictures of wildflowers and our bush ramble after watching a film on the eruption.

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Notice the sky.Not nearly as grey and an occasional blue patch.

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[drron29]

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[drron29]

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There was a spot where we were told the trees outline the mountain.

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There is a mountain in there?We were starting to feel we might not get good views of Mt.St.Helens.

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And 3 likely lads.Two Australian brothers who we got on with well though some of the US travellers thought the opposite.Sadly they don't get Aussie slang or humour.

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[drron29]

Stopped at a spot that shows a house that was being constructed when the eruption occurred.It filled to the second floor from the mud that came down the river.

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Natuarally it is early May so the gift store is closed.It was here that I realised I had left my hat in the Visitor centre movie theatre.

From the bus I noticed something encouraging-

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And then we got to a viewing point.

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Why did we doubt our ability as a group of SS passengers to control the weather?

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[drron29]

So the weather forecast was way out.Visibility great and the temperature continued to climb.We were all shedding layers apart from one fellow who set out in just shorts and a t shirt.We all thought he was made but now everyone thought he was the only one who called it right.

What amazed us was the growth and greenness since 30 years ago.Then it was just scarred tree stumps sticking out of a moonscape.Nature is a force to be reckoned with in more ways than one.

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And we even saw another volcano-Mt.Adams.

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[drron29]

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[drron29]

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[drron29]

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An area which looks a little like 30 years ago.

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We had a lunch at the Coldwater Ridge education centre.it was quite nice with different sandwiches but only soft drinks-no alcohol allowed here.A final look from the centre.Now look at that blue sky.

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On the bus trip back a few final looks.

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[drron29]

More pictures from the bus.

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Even the new road is impressive.

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[drron29]

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We went back to the Visitor centre for a comfort stop.my cap was still where I left it.But here is the shot of the mountain through the trees.So different from the morning.

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It was a truly horrific event.The amount of debris and ash released in that eruption was incredible.Today the amount of sediment reaching the Columbia river is many times the pre 1980 levels.The river is constantly being dredged to keep it navigable.The amount of material removed from the rivers since the eruption would be enough for a 1 foot thick 12 lane highway from New York to San Francisco.

Despite all that it is amazing to see the healing power of Nature.The change in 30 years is phenomenal.

[drron29]

Some more scenes as we return to the Explorer.

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[drron29]

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[drron29]

Pretty soon after boarding we are underway first proceeding upstream.

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Presumably until the channel is wide enough to swing a u-ey.You may have to look that up in an Aussie slang dictionary.

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Then down river we go.

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[drron29]

Even amongst such an industrial scene you can find beauty.

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Well you do see it sitting on the tree stump don't you?

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A perfect place for a bald eagle to sit.

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[RachelG]

Enjoying your pictures, Ron. I had a great uncle and aunt who lived outside Longview on the slopes of Mt St Helen. Their home was destroyed, and as they were quite elderly anyway, they never recovered.

[drron29]

The views are nicer on the Port side.

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But there is so much more going on to Starboard.

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[drron29]

Under the Lewis and Clark bridge.

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This ship is off to Asia.

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[drron29]

More ships waiting to load.

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Looking back to the last view of Longview and Rainier.Then sailing past a much nicer view.

 

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[drron29]

A pleasant afternoon sailing down the Columbia.

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Now there was another thing annoying us on this segment.Until San Francisco the internet had been reasonable.When in San Francisco they loaded some cartons onto Deck 8 immediately above our cabin.After that the internet service wa totally useless for 2 days but we were told they would be working with the provider to have it fixed in Astoria or Rainier.Well it wasn't fixed.Marginally better but only just.For instance uploading my photos to Flickr.Could do 100 in 10-15 minutes before San Francisco.Best after was 3 hours and often you just had to give up.

[drron29]

The next day was a sea day.Success at last.

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But it got better.Three Pacific white sided dolphins joined us.

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Hope you can make them out.But whilst everyone was looking at them I noticed something in the distance.

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Reinforcements.

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[drron29]

Another group arrives.

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They had opened up the bow on deck 5.

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Then yet another group came in.

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This lasted for quite a while and I am sure most thoroughly enjoyed the day.There were many more sightings though none as good as this.

So I finish with a couple of food pics.

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[drron29]

We woke the next morning entering Port Angeles in time to see the ferry for Victoria leave.

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A different sculpture as we walked towards our bus.

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We were headed here.

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Dangerous place.You were also warned of a toxic salamander!

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