State number three was chalked up with a quick flight (complete with all-chatty-all-the-time Irishwoman) up the coast to Oregon. Sarah was there to pick me up at the airport, as perky and red-headed as ever ... which is why we love her after all. Portland itself is a pretty neat place - well-spaced, nice and green, with a bit of a maze for a downtown district made up for by the electic shops, bars and restaurants of NW 21st and 23rd Avenues. Sarah's little "bachelorette" was smack dab between them, so we strolled a lot, soaked up the ambience (and the beer) and ate like queens every night. Wonderful stuff. I was there for the 4th of July celebrations too - fireworks a-go-go and a good natured crowd proved a lot of fun, as was relaxing on the banks of the Willamette a few days later; basking in the afternoon sun, reading the weekend papers, watching the Steel Bridge go up and down and listening to the zydeco sounds of the nearby blues festival. By sheer good-timing (which I've decided this trip's proved I have an uncanny knack for), my lovely host found herself with a few days to spare at the tail end of my visit so, braving the joy that can only be the Greyhound transit experience, we set off for the great coffee-'n-grunge-loving city to the north ...
‹ 10.9.02 / 0 comment(s) ›
Comments
Feel free to leave a few words about this post. Pithy, on-point comments will earn you 100 frequent surfer miles and a place in the afterlife ...