| In May my husband and I took a wonderful steamboat | | | | from Boston, Massachusetts was adamant that this |
| trip on the Colombia River, 1,240 miles long, and Snake | | | | would be the name, while Pettygrove equally adamant |
| River, 1,038 miles long, and the Willamette River with it's | | | | wanted it to be called Portland after his beloved |
| 200-mile-long reach from Springfield north to Portland. | | | | Portland, Maine. Hence the "Portland Penny" when |
| We took it aboard American West's delightful | | | | Pettygrove won two out of the three tosses. |
| Empress of the North. This is the first time we had | | | | The artwork on the Empress was truly impressive. |
| ever done a "niche" type cruise and we thoroughly | | | | There were beautiful Russian artifacts and amazing |
| enjoyed it. | | | | pictures of the gold rush and life in the Northwest |
| Yes, the clientele tends to be older, but, what a shame | | | | during the 1800's. I spent a lot of time just going up and |
| that the younger mature adults are missing out on all | | | | down the four hallways perusing the artwork. (Every |
| this fun. It is steam boating in the true sense of the | | | | floor has a different theme). |
| word. The paddlewheel turns as you leisurely make | | | | Our first night out of Portland we were invited to |
| your way up and down the rivers and through the | | | | cocktails and hors d'oeurves at the Paddlewheel |
| many dams that have been erected since the time of | | | | lounge which is in the back of the boat and has |
| Lewis and Clarke. The ship is patterned after the river | | | | windows overlooking the paddle wheel. We were still |
| boats that plied the waters of Alaska, Oregon and | | | | busy getting situated so we grabbed a cocktail and |
| Washington over 100 years ago and has a distinctly | | | | took it back to our room to get organized. Dinner was |
| Russian flavor. | | | | in the Romanov Dining room and the atmosphere |
| On the particular adventure that we took it was to | | | | really was one of a riverboat. The food was very |
| follow the path of the Lewis and Clarke expedition so | | | | good served by a courteous and fun American crew. |
| it was historical as well as fun. We boarded the | | | | Dinner lasted about an hour to an hour and a half and |
| Empress of the North in Portland, Oregon with no | | | | then it was off to the Golden Nugget showroom to |
| mishaps just a bit of a long wait. However, they did | | | | watch the Pat O'Neal and the River Boat Jazz band |
| supply entertainment and refreshments while they | | | | play great Dixieland Music. Well, if you weren't into it by |
| prepared the ship for us. Once aboard we were | | | | then you never were going to be. What fun and you |
| escorted to a lovely stateroom that was right out of | | | | are sharing it with only 200 other passengers. After |
| the riverboat era. It was roomy, beautifully decorated | | | | the show you could stay in the Showroom for dancing |
| and had a balcony with two chairs and a table. There | | | | or go to the Paddlewheel Lounge for the duo of Kari |
| was a TV but we never used it since the real | | | | & Jerry who were not only very good but extremely |
| entertainment was the trip and the excursions which | | | | friendly. |
| were included in the price of the cruise. The rooms | | | | Of course, you are in a new place everyday and |
| reminded you of the river boat era but were very | | | | everyday brings a new exciting, educational and |
| much up to modern standards. | | | | different excursion. Our first day out we where |
| Just a little tidbit: The "Portland Penny" is how Portland | | | | cruising the Columbia River Gorge taking in the |
| got its name narrowly missing being called Boston. The | | | | breathtaking vistas, granite cliffs and waterfalls from |
| partners Lovejoy and Pettygrove who had filed the | | | | which the Cascade Mountains takes it's name. |
| claim staking the territory needed to come up with a | | | | We thoroughly enjoyed this trip and would recommend |
| name for the quickly expanding territory. Lovejoy being | | | | to other adults, this not a ship for children. |