Dear Liza,
We don’t like to drive much. I mean, driving is okay for bringing heavy groceries home or getting to the coast, but our adventures around town usually don’t use the car.
So yesterday, when we wanted to see the installation of the new Earl Blumenauer Pedestrian Bridge over the Banfield Freeway, we walked! It’s only a few miles north, after all.
Well, and about a mile west…. Anyway, after a wonderful stroll through the Irvington neighborhood, we found the freeway.
It was EMPTY. Not a car in sight! The city had blocked off a few miles of freeway so they could install the bridge safely. I wonder how all those thousands of cars were getting around? After we had soaked up the quiet of six lanes of silence, we walked toward the installation site.
The work was going slowly and carefully, with gantries and cranes and dozens of people. We realized it wasn’t going to be done for hours and hours.
We stared for a while. We had walked about three miles, maybe more, with weaving through neighborhoods, and we were foot sore. The search began for coffee and ‘a little something’.
We knew busy Broadway Street was just up a few blocks, so we headed in that direction. On the way, we found these plaques showing the state bird, fish, flower, insect and mammal of the state of Oregon. They were a nice decoration, making the back of a parking garage interesting and educational.
We found coffee, then pastries, then a new cone for Mouse, at shops along Broadway, and we were all feeling the milage. We charted the most direct route home and trudged along, only stopping to notice that the flamingo flock by the park is showing their support for our favorite San Francisco baseball team. Go Giants!
We got home, rested our poor feet, and drank lots of water. We had a right to be tired. We had walked 6.4 miles!
What a day!
Love,
Grandma Judy
Dear Liza 
I am lovin’ reading about your walks. I must admit, my list of things to do involves walking up the hall for dinner. I suppose I could do more , but I don’t have to. My computer “Words With Friends” game is peaceful and mind expanding. Regular Bridge on Thursday at the Elks, keeps me up to date.
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I admit, my TO DO list is shorter than it used to be! I remember when it started at 3:30, which was AFTER a full day of teaching, and was ‘shop, pick up kids, take to (insert activity here), clean, cook, grade,” . No wonder we wore out! Now I do french lesson online, crosswords with Nelson, a little laundry…. then lunch. Keep reading!
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hey! I play words with friends if you’re ever looking for a partner! Also I like Word Blitz!!
– Ruth
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I applaud your walking… but don’t they have ‘Uber’ in Portland (for when your collective feet are sore?)
-Ruthie
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There is Uber, Lift, busses, and sometimes, trains, and we use them when we need to. But it’s good to push yourself every now and then.
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