I arrived at dusk, the sun blaring in my face as I look towards the pacific and realizing its close proximity. I had finally made it to the west after a lifetime being spent in aisle seat after aisle seat after aisle seat then to a fine luxurious window seat (free of chunks, children, and undesirable smells). I hop off the plane, call my main man, DAVID BAILLY(shout out). Brotherman Bailly is an always moving always thinking type guy that had enough charity in his heart and space in his house to hook me up with a couch for a couple of nights. So I posted up in the Hollywood district to the northeast of Portland. This was my base for the next three days. Using a combination of buses, light rails, and a rented mountain bike, I learned my way around the city, its suburbs, and many of its lovely parks. I tore up a portion of the forest park trails during a downpour that left me muddy from toe to brow. I traversed through the city to find all sorts of shops, restaurants and helpful upright Portlandians that changed my perspective on how a community should operate. Laughing planet has got the burrito connect, Next adventure has got a basement full of previously 'loved' mountain gear to keep your budget on track and happy, 21st ave bikes can assemble a bike in seconds before your eyes. I have never seen so many flowers in such a small concentrated area as I did in this wonderful region. Life is in abundance in so many ways there.
I love Portland.
