Going to Oregon!

I love Oregon!

Anyplace where I could be gainfully employed bike-delivering handmade local vegan organic gluten-free food from food trucks must be a place I want to be — but actually Pho Lang Thang in Cincy does have a bike messenger so we are catching up).

Our day in Portland:
Saying at the Ace Hotel which will hopefully offer free bikes to get around on
Go to Awesome Cone at 32nd and Division
http://www.foodcartsportland.com/
http://www.urbanspoon.com/t/24/21/Portland/Street-Food-restaurants
Unfortunately no bike sharing at the moment, but maybe a pedicab:
http://portlandpedals.com/ ((503) 329-2575)

Guides/Pages to Mountain Biking
http://www.ormtb.com/
http://www.ormtb.com/Central_Oregon/CO_Trails/Phils.htm
http://cotamtb.com/trails/
http://mckenzierivertrail.com/
http://mckenzierivertrail.com/more-area-bike-trails/king-castle-trail

Bike Rentals:
It's best to go to Bend to rent bikes, Eugene has no mountain bike rentals
Hutch's seems to rent a variety of bikes, including mountain bikes:
www.hutchsbicycles.com
http://www.cogwild.com/bikerentals/
http://bicycleway.com/bikes/rental

Bike Tours:
http://www.cogwild.com/default.aspx
http://www.cogwild.com/One-Day-Tours/Bachelor-To-Bend/default.aspx

Notes from Portland, pt3

Swedish breakfast. Sounds like something you do with flatulence and tricking your spouse under the covers. Think again. Bridget and I rode to Broder for a charming frukost. Trout on rye toast, YES PLEASE! Bridget had the cute little round pancakes with Lemon Curd and Lingonberry sauces. Had a little coffee across the street too.

Tried to go out for a ride. It began to drizzle as we ascended the West Side Hills. First was Cornell road, a lovely climb that's not too bad of a gradient. We turned onto 53rd and there are some more difficult sections. And we finished the four mile climb onto Skyline Boulevard. We were supposed to see views of Mount Hood, Mount Adams and Mount St. Helen but it began to rain harder. Once on top of the ridge climbing was limited to the rolling little hills. We began to get cold and wet. I've ridden in twelve degree weather but I began to suffer.

We turned around. I was shivering all the way down the descent. We turned onto 23rd and grabbed some lunch at The Ram's Head. Really great bar food. The sun came out and we were eating in the sun but I was still covered in goose flesh.

After a warm up /clean up we rode up to REI where Bridget looked around.

After that we ate an incredible dinner at Clyde Common, a wonderful meaty menu that was very savory. I ate a fried rabbit leg. Yum. Then a wonderful roasted half chicken with asparagus salad and mushrooms. It was one of those dishes where everything really balances out all the flavor. Nice touches of red wine vingar to the asparagus.

We walked up to Cacao for an incredible dessert of spicy dark drinking chocolate. Followed by another Americano from Stumptown. I ended up riding another 10 miles to burn off some of the calories...

That was pretty much the night save for a late attempt to return to the Ram's Head for a late pint. But we were more tired than expected and the streets were bizarre. Time for bed...

Notes from Portland, pt2

Sleep deprived we walked across the river to Hawthorne Street. We met our awesome homies Matt and Beth for some breakfast.

Went shopping, bought some delicious sweets at the Pastaworks, one being a cherry tart and the second a Swiss hazelnut chocolate.

Picked up two Masi road bikes at Veloce Bicycles. Went for an easy ride out the Springwater Corridor bike path for a couple hours.

Met back up with Matt and Beth and ate some incredible mexican food, I had tongue tacos and some Horchata. They were incredible, like deliciously rich pulled beef and the horchata is a sweet cinnamon rice milk.

Coffee. Dessert. What a day.

Notes from Portland, pt1

"YOU'RE UGLY!" the homeless woman spat at me as I told her I did not have change.
"I get it from my Mother (sorry mom)" was the quickest, self-deprecating comeback I could muster.
If you don't believe me, as Leah Frank-Finney. She was there. I don't know how.

Hopped on the Light Rail. Bike hooks in the train car, a couple of bikes with downtube shifters. One is a Bianchi with some Super Record components. Wow. Tattoo sleeves...

Delicious lunch at H50 in hotel lobby. Hotel and bistro are clean, posh and affordable... Salmon roll, vietnamese sammy and a couple of local brews. Nice ambient music, kind of like Six Parts Seven but better.

Saw tall bikes... Check.

Set out to discover mystical city of books.

Dude from Everclear playing in public park. Yes he is still living with your ghost...

Ate a "Vertigo" crêpe. Spontaneously purchased a crêpe from a street vendor attempting to relive a moment in Paris, much like Jimmy Stewart attempts to recreate a relationship with same/different woman in a Hitchcock classic. Funnier in my head.

Pearl District seems pretty awesome. Found Powells. Two well stocked racks of bike books. C in my P... Got plenty of books for our new nieces and nephews. Saw some cute children's authors like Joëlle Jolivet and another that led me to this pretty blog.

Ate dinner at this awesome cinema and bistro names Livingroom Theaters. Italian Sodas. Listened to a song by Clock Hands Strangler on SOMA FM. Spicy Tuna roll and a salad. Yum. Cool indie movies playing and the interior design almost makes me faint.

Went across the street to the Ace Hotel where a yummy eatery and ordered an americano.

This city is my mecca. Beer, bikes, architecture, culture... I am feeling so inspired.