Once I had a chance to freshen up, I went to below deck dining room to meet other passengers. Jeremy, master chef for our cruise, had outlined entrée choices at hospitality meeting before boarding. In no time, we were delighting in a wonderfully basted and broiled salmon. At each and every meal there was a choice of surf or turf or you could order a special diet selection. Menus were well balanced and planned and diners were informed at end of each sitting what would be in store for us from Jeremy's galley upon our next visit. I was not disappointed in kitchen staff professionalism.

Then it was time for a long deserved rest as our skipper, Captain Kitt, no not Kidd, took Spirit of Discovery out for journey north up Willamette River. We passed along Portland's waterfront and beautiful homes nestled amongst shoreline. Sometime during night we connected up with mighty Columbia River and cruised eastward, back along same route that Capt. Robert Gray, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sacajawea explored in early 1800's at request of President Thomas Jefferson. Their adventure was called "The Corps of Discovery."

The Columbia River is boundary separating states of Washington and Oregon. This massive body of water serves both states equally and provides a thriving livelihood on both sides of river. Throughout night, we passed beneath several spans of bridges and passed through first locks along Columbia. I awoke rested next morning to find we were moored alongside Bonneville Dam, deep within Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, before starting ascent through Cascade Mountains.

After a hearty breakfast of "Jeremy's Best" — traditional eggs, potatoes, a meat side, juice and coffee — we debarked awaiting motorcoaches for a tour of Army Corps of Engineers Bonneville Dam. We drove a mere 3 minutes from dam island they'd built, across dam bridge, with a dam escort, and onto other shore where we were met by dam guides who would give us a dam tour. Now you really want to pay attention during this guided tour because this isn't like just any dam tour. This dam also has another responsibility other than creating hydroelectric power.

Bonneville is first of many unnatural obstacles for various migrating chinookand coho salmon. The salmon die after their journey, but steelhead trout, shad, lamprey, and sturgeon migrate annually from sea to their spawning grounds as well. At various times of year, different types of fish attempt an old pattern of returning to their hatcheries, but man-made spillways and dams hinder their progress. (For more information on this situation tune into controversy brewing in Washington D.C. over removal of all dams in Snake River, a main tributary to Columbia.)

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/cruise02/columbia/columbia.html

Hooter, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

It's easy to work up an appetite sweating under a hot sun, replenishing sunscreen and raising service flag. Fortunately, Bajan Blue is located at beach level and is easily accessed, offering an all-day extensive menu of Asian, Mediterranean, and Barbadian dishes. Scrumptious, artfully exhibited buffet tables of fresh lobster tails, giant prawns, oysters, mussels, and swordfish, vegetables and grains, roasted chicken, pork, and beef, all vie for your attention before you succumb to scenic dessert table display overflowing with chocolate éclairs, crème Brulé, fresh fruit, and other delicacies, insuring that while you're a guest at The Sandy Lane you won't, at anytime, go hungry. Rather, you may need to make a visit to their state-of-the-art fitness facilities.

Which brings us to The Sandy Lane Spa!

The Sandy Lane Spa is jewel in this island crown. Featuring 47,000-square-feet housed in marble, granite, and warm cherry woods. This superlative facility has much to offer weary traveler. From a 2,500-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness room to VIP treatment suites that feature mood-enhancing light, private showers, bathroom and change rooms, including some with private gardens, others with hydrotherapy rooms and skylights — combined to make your experience at The Sandy Lane Spa one of tranquil luxury.

Get Your Yoga DVD hereAfter steam room, a personal favorite is Ice Cave, a real treat for cooling down after a rigorous workout. I must admit hydrotherapy room with underwater massage bath and Blitz Jet room were also high on list of enticing features. For those interested in keeping Chakras tuned up there is a Chakra therapy room with a heated plinth. There are private rooms for relaxation, yoga, or meditation, as well as a private Pilates exercise room. The free-form swimming pool offers up 7,500-square-feet of water to refresh and relax in or to enjoy lunch and drinks at swim-up bar and café just outside spa entrance.

There are an abundance of treatment options to choose from: Face Therapy, Body Envelopments, Waxing, Holistic Hand and Foot Treatments; full-day Spa programmes: Mind & Body, Ayurvedic Holistic Body Treatments, Bajan Synchronized Massage, and Shirodhara; or half-day treatments: Purify Herbal Linen Wrap with hot stones, Marine Hydrotherapy Bath, or totally blissful back, face, and scalp treatments. All are designed with your personal needs in mind; surely there will be something to entice you to take advantage of unique treatment options offered at The Spa.

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/Carib02/barbados/luxury/luxury.html

Kris King , Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

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