Portland

Keep Portland Weird, City of Roses, Bridge City, Stumptown, Bridgetown.... along with many others. All being names for ​Portland. A city I will always just call "home". 

For months I had planned my friends visit. Adding in as many of my favorite places, and ones I haven't yet been. Figuring out which were feasible after work vs needed to be grouped together for a weekend. Then the smoke from the fires in Canada rolled in. All that planning was destroyed. Pushing us to stay indoors until it cleared, but still fitting in as much as possible:

Downtown
What does downtown Portland not have to offer? If you can look past the abundance of homeless sleeping in doorways and along the sidewalks, Portland is a beautiful city and full of hidden gems. 

• Voodoo Donuts: known for unique concoctions of flavors was originally founded in Portland. Just be prepared to stand in line.
• Powells Books: used to be the worlds largest book store, but I need to look up if that is still true. Floors and floors of books, various levels, half levels, stairs going every which way. Its very easy to get lost.... but if you're looking for something in particular, they most likely have it.
• Pioneer Square: the living room of Portland. Come watch an outdoor movie, partake in a festival, pillow fight, hop on/off a max, or just sit and people watch. Its a large courtyard in the heart of downtown. Full of life. With a constant flow of movement.
• Saturday Market: which is open on Sunday too. Hundreds of booths filled with handcrafted items for sale. 
• Waterfront: once you've wondered through Saturday Market, the waterfront is just a step away. Walk for a couple miles along the Willamette River, all while avoid getting ran over by bicyclists. 
• Districts: Pearl, Northwest, Hawthorne, Belmont, Alberta, Hollywood, Chinatown, St. Johns, etc. Different areas of Portland. Some being more run down than others, some going through drastic remodel, others full of sky rises and apartments/condos. Portland is changing every day. 

Rose Test Garden
Many years ago, I used to come up here, sit, draw, and have a relaxing evening on my way home from work. Its peaceful. Surrounded by thousands of roses, wonder through various themed areas, sit on the stage of the outdoor amphitheater, and frankly... just smell the roses.  

Pittock Mansion
"Best View", as the sign reads. The property overlooking downtown Portland and on a clear day you can see Mount Hood in the distance. Great location to drive (or hike via Forest Park) up to for an amazing city view.

The Gorge
Depending how far you want to drive, the mini version of the gorge is more than doable within a day trip. Since I had to take a slight detour to visit my parents in Vancouver before heading out, we ended up driving this in the reverse route than I took back in April. The "backyard of Portland" and the true beauty of the pacific Northwest. Starting with driving along the Washington side past Beacon Rock and down to Bonneville Dam. The main visitor center has been closed for a few years, but the fish ladder is open. 

Crossed the Columbia River at Cascade Locks over The Bridge of the Gods. One of the most beautiful, but creepy bridges I have ever seen. Gorgeous. We stopped on the Oregon side for a couple hours to walk around the park and have lunch. Then continued on to Multnomah Falls. 

What a beauty. No matter what time of year I visit I always find Multnomah Falls breathtaking. It's still sad to see the fire damage from last years Eagle Creek Trail fire that destroyed so much of our beautiful forest, but they've made progress. The trail at the falls is now open up to the people bridge. You still cannot take the trail all the way up to the top of the falls, but baby steps. Maybe next spring? I'll be ready when it does. 

Driving back, the sun was starting to set. Rooster Rock, as long as we stayed clear of the nude beach section, was a perfect spot for the final stop and relax after so many hours of being in the car driving. All while still taking in the last glimpse of The Gorge before heading back into Portland.

Portland Bridge Pedal
Amongst many of the other things I signed up for this year, the Portland Bridge Pedal was one of them. With a goal to conquer something, each month this year that would scare or push my physical/mental abilities, the bridge pedal was my August commitment. I decided instead of the full 15-mile ride that covered an additional three bridges, I instead signed up for the 12-mile ride.  As cool as the additional bridges would have been, this allowed for a couple extra hours of beauty sleep due to the start times. 

I've never done the bridge pedal before. And to say the least, I really enjoyed it. To see the bridges from that perspective and to stop, stand, take pictures in the middle of them was incredible. Driving over them vs riding your bike are so different. I've come to appreciate their beauty even more now. The City of Bridges.... there's a reason Portland has this name. Amazing!

Skydiving
This was my sixth time skydiving. My first being back in 2002, I had never flown in a plane prior to this and I was really sick and on cold meds. In a lucid state I agreed to jump that following Saturday. Terrified, still sick, I showed up. Of course! I had already paid and there were no refunds. Afterwards, I was able to say I had gone up in a plane, but never landed. 

This time, and all the times in between, were much the same. You gear up, stand around a little letting the nerves kick in, load up into a tiny cramped plane with many other jumpers, and then the plane takes off. Creeping slowly higher and higher. Feeling the pressure of the air thin. My nerves in full gear. Fears start to overcome me. Holding back tears. Taking in a deep breath to keep from going into a panic level. Feeling my harness suddenly get tighter as my tandem instructor starts preparing me. I watch as my two friends move towards the plane door... 1... 2...3... they disappear. My turn. fk. My instructor stands. I'm no longer sitting. Where he goes, I go. I was falling..... screaming.... we are flipping... make it stop... all while telling myself to close my mouth. We flatten, still falling, I'm looking at the horizon. I remember now... I love the free fall. The wind, no thoughts, just me. Thirty-four seconds of "silence".

The shoot was pulled at ~5,000 feet. Pulling the harness tight, especially in the sensitive woman private area. We were now safely floating, spinning, stopping, then floating again... steering towards the landing zone. Its been so many years since my last jump. I really did forget how much I enjoy all of this.

Henry Hagg Lake
Just 30 minutes from my house is Hagg Lake. Its a mixed lake that allows motorized boats on half of the lake, leaving the other half for non-motorized to enjoy it wake free. Its peaceful, calm, and a few miles to paddle around. 

We loaded up the car and kayaks the night before, which allowed us to leave the office a little early the next day and head straight to the lake. We had a few hours before the sun was to set, so plenty of time to teach my friend how to paddle, enjoy, and most of all... stay calm. He had never been in a kayak before, nor does he know how to swim, so this was all new and uneasy for him. I think it was good. What better way to get over your fear than to put on a life jacket and get in the cadillac of the kayak world. 

I will admit, I was sensitive over Portland. Showing it off like a prized cow. Wanting and hoping my friend would go back and tell all our coworkers how amazing of a city it was. But honestly, it didn't matter. I love this city. Its my home, my city, and I get to enjoy it every day regardless what anyone else thinks of it.

On the same note, he taught me a few things. Stop rushing. Slow down. Yes, I can enjoy the things around me but when was the last time I stopped and looked at something closer? I need to take more time for the things I really enjoy.... or for the things I don't know I enjoy yet, because I don't give myself time to figure it out.

Photo Credits: Kat Wilson & Santhosh Nemmaluri