Tag: Portland Greenways

Bike Adventure

Dear Liza,

This past weekend was so warm and sunny, we just needed to get out for a bike ride! Grandpa Nelson didn’t feel like going, but Auntie Bridgett and I picked out a destination, put some air in the tires, and headed out.

We followed a route that was on streets designated as Portland Greenways. These are neighborhood streets with low speed limits and less car traffic, so they are safer and less stressful for nervous bicyclists like me. There was a lot of bike traffic, but it’s not scary!

We rode along in the dappled shade of trees that can be a hundred years old, enjoying the sight and smell of roses as we zipped along.

And in just two and a half miles, we found ourselves at Rain or Shine Coffee, on the shoulder of our local volcano, Mt. Tabor. We weren’t even out of breath!

I knew right away we would like the place… their bike racks are made out of old bike frames! Thematic recycling is very cool, quirky and welcoming.

Inside, we found art that had so many pop culture references that my head was dancing. Beetlejuice, He-man, Star Trek, they were all there, like old friends.

And the treats were yummy.

Bridgett had a gluten free bagel with cream cheese and coffee. I enjoyed a Marionberry empanada and a cold Kambucha.

While we were eating, we enjoyed watching folks, their dogs, and their skateboards come and go. It was busy, but not crowded. A perfect spot to enjoy some Portland spirit.

We rode back on a different set of quiet streets and got home in time to watch the Giants game. (They can’t always win…)

Love,

Grandma Judy

First Bicycle Adventure of the Year

Dear Liza,

With warm and sunny weather in the forecast, it was only a matter of time before someone said, “We should go out for a bike ride.” This year, it was Auntie Bridgett.

So we did! There was some time spent pumping up tires and untangling bungee cords, but very soon we were off! Grandpa Nelson and Bridgett wore shorts, but I don’t own any! I wore jeans.

We decided to stay on “Greenways”, which are regular streets, but designated as “Bikes have the right of way”, and on special bikes-only paths. This means we didn’t have to worry about getting run over by cars. Always a good thing.

We headed down 34th to the Clinton neighborhood. I thought we were going for ice cream, but we kept going and going. We crossed the railroad tracks using the overpass, and the elevator was surprisingly working! It was very cool.

Not so surprisingly, we found ourselves at Grandpa Nelson’s favorite place : The Tilikum Bridge.

We hopped off the bikes and enjoyed the views of the river right below us and Mount Hood, covered in snow almost a hundred miles away. We were being watched over by a light fixture that looks like something from Star Wars.

But we were feeling the miles and the sun, and decided to head back towards home and find some nourishment. We found another branch of Broder, the Scandinavian restaurant we have enjoyed in the Mississippi neighborhood. Not needing lunch but desperate for sugar and hydration, we ordered ableskivers, lemonade, and cucumber soda. What a treat!

Ableskivers are a Danish speciality, round-like-the-globe doughnutty pieces of fabulousness, and are served with lemon curd and lingonberry jam. We stuffed ourselves and slurped the sweet sodas. It was wonderful.

Eventually, though, we did need to start back. I was dreading going back up the hill, but once I figured out my gearshift ( I have to re-learn it every year) I was fine.

We pulled in, parked the bikes, drank more water, and pretty much crashed. We had only done four miles, but with muscles that hadn’t been used in more than two years.

We will get out for another ride soon, I hope!

Love,

Grandma Judy