Luelle and I flew from Fresno to Portland on Alaska Airlines yesterday. After a few hours checking out Downtown Portland, which was getting ready for a Jazz Festival, we boarded the ship (boat?) which will be our home for the next 7 days.

Maybe the biggest collection of saddles and tack that I've ever seen at the Portland Outdoor Store. They cater to Rhinestone Cowboys, Real Cowboys, European equestrians and even Polo players.
The “Spirit of 98” is a Cruise West vessel that goes from Portland to Lewiston Idaho on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
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This is our first trip with Cruise West and so far we really like it. Since the ship has only 55 cabins, and always open seating and informal dining, you get to know your fellow passengers by the end of the week.

Luelle settling in to her new quarters as we leave Portland on the Willamette River to join the mighty Columbia.

"Locking" This is the first lock on the Columbia at Bonneville Dam. We learned that all sizes of boats are allowed to go thru ... from large tripple stacked barges down to jet skis. If you dont have a radio on your jet ski, they have system of pulling cords and red lights and green lights to help you proceed thru the locks.