Portland Love
"You can't base your decision to move to Portland after one visit during the summer."
So said my friend Yariv as I drifted into work starry-eyed and dreamy from my 5 days in Portland last week. I was there to attend the World Domination Summit (WDS) and absorb as much Portlandia as possible.
WDS was phenomenal and inspiring and eye-opening and tear-inducing and soul-opening and deserves it's own separate post but for now, the highlights of my new love affair with Portland, you beautiful, enchanting, seductive city you.
1. Taking a 2 man outrigger out on the Willamette River, seeing the city from 4" off the water with my own tour guide from the Kai Ikaika outrigger club. Paddling beneath a handful of the dozens of bridges that cross the river, past OMSI and a small string of houseboats, around Ross Island and dense, green trees stretched down the river as far as I could see. Going on 4 months with no rain in California, there's something exotic and decadent about being surrounded by so much green. Mahalo, Erik.
2. Running at the Gorge along Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls through lush rain forests past roaring waterfalls. It was a beautiful, soft trail, gently sloping, quiet and scenic. 14 miles passed in no time despite all my best efforts to stop, drink it all in, and take as many pictures as possible. Thanks for keeping the pace chill, Dana.
3. Seeing Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks. It wasn't intentional - I didn't even know what it was - but when we stopped to pick up some berries and I paused to admire this beautiful view, Dana told me it was THE bridge - Bridge of the Gods - perhaps more recently best known as the bridge Cheryl Strayed ends her PCT journey at as recounted in her book Wild. Thought of you, Andrea.
4. Visiting Hood River. I wanted to see the infamous Hood River winds and catch the hordes of windsurfers and kiteboarders who amass there. Like traveling to Leadville to see the trail running phenoms take on Leadville 100 or Jackson Hole to see celluloid legends drop into Corbet's. It was beautiful and big and though I don't think the winds were huge, it was fun just romanticizing an epic day there.
5. Being a joiner, despite my initial inclination not to, and participating in the world record-breaking human float on the Willamette. 618 people, 618 inner tubes, 618 life jackets, 1236 hands held together and.......done. People scarfed down Voodoo donuts, filtered single file into the water and floated mindlessly until victory was assured.Way more fun than I'd imagined.
6. Food. I know Portland is all foodie and stuff, but yum! - the food I had at the Kaugustz Ranch, at the zoo, at the Flying Elephant delicatessen, at the farmer's market, at the hipster gluten-free bakery, the hipster beer-and-elk-burger joint, the hipster perfect egg place. I was well-fed, well-hydrated and never at a loss for something tasty and interesting nearby. And so much outdoor seating!
Last but not least, besides the super awesome people I got to spend the week with, the views of Mt Hood and Mt Saint Helens that kept disappearing and reappearing during my stay. Possibly the most beautiful and captivating sites I saw all week. One lone snow-capped peak or another jutting out over the Portland skylines - if I could wake up to see snow covered peaks every day of the year I think I'd be at peace forever. And yes, I say this knowing Portland is grey 7 months of the year but Portland, when you're on you are on! I think you might just out-outdoors the bay area? Or is that me being starry-eyed?
So said my friend Yariv as I drifted into work starry-eyed and dreamy from my 5 days in Portland last week. I was there to attend the World Domination Summit (WDS) and absorb as much Portlandia as possible.
WDS was phenomenal and inspiring and eye-opening and tear-inducing and soul-opening and deserves it's own separate post but for now, the highlights of my new love affair with Portland, you beautiful, enchanting, seductive city you.
1. Taking a 2 man outrigger out on the Willamette River, seeing the city from 4" off the water with my own tour guide from the Kai Ikaika outrigger club. Paddling beneath a handful of the dozens of bridges that cross the river, past OMSI and a small string of houseboats, around Ross Island and dense, green trees stretched down the river as far as I could see. Going on 4 months with no rain in California, there's something exotic and decadent about being surrounded by so much green. Mahalo, Erik.
2. Running at the Gorge along Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls through lush rain forests past roaring waterfalls. It was a beautiful, soft trail, gently sloping, quiet and scenic. 14 miles passed in no time despite all my best efforts to stop, drink it all in, and take as many pictures as possible. Thanks for keeping the pace chill, Dana.
3. Seeing Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks. It wasn't intentional - I didn't even know what it was - but when we stopped to pick up some berries and I paused to admire this beautiful view, Dana told me it was THE bridge - Bridge of the Gods - perhaps more recently best known as the bridge Cheryl Strayed ends her PCT journey at as recounted in her book Wild. Thought of you, Andrea.
4. Visiting Hood River. I wanted to see the infamous Hood River winds and catch the hordes of windsurfers and kiteboarders who amass there. Like traveling to Leadville to see the trail running phenoms take on Leadville 100 or Jackson Hole to see celluloid legends drop into Corbet's. It was beautiful and big and though I don't think the winds were huge, it was fun just romanticizing an epic day there.
5. Being a joiner, despite my initial inclination not to, and participating in the world record-breaking human float on the Willamette. 618 people, 618 inner tubes, 618 life jackets, 1236 hands held together and.......done. People scarfed down Voodoo donuts, filtered single file into the water and floated mindlessly until victory was assured.Way more fun than I'd imagined.
6. Food. I know Portland is all foodie and stuff, but yum! - the food I had at the Kaugustz Ranch, at the zoo, at the Flying Elephant delicatessen, at the farmer's market, at the hipster gluten-free bakery, the hipster beer-and-elk-burger joint, the hipster perfect egg place. I was well-fed, well-hydrated and never at a loss for something tasty and interesting nearby. And so much outdoor seating!
Last but not least, besides the super awesome people I got to spend the week with, the views of Mt Hood and Mt Saint Helens that kept disappearing and reappearing during my stay. Possibly the most beautiful and captivating sites I saw all week. One lone snow-capped peak or another jutting out over the Portland skylines - if I could wake up to see snow covered peaks every day of the year I think I'd be at peace forever. And yes, I say this knowing Portland is grey 7 months of the year but Portland, when you're on you are on! I think you might just out-outdoors the bay area? Or is that me being starry-eyed?
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