Portland, Day 3

47.4 miles, total pre-ride miles 87.4

Today was supposed to be 10 degrees cooler than yesterday, wow, 96°. So, we ate breakfast at the hotel and again got on our bicycles, armed with the wonderful city bicycle map, and plotted our route for the day. We had a 22 mile ride into the city on fantastic bike lanes, streets, and along the Willamette River. It was so easy to get around. Our first stop was at the Rose Garden, after a 15% grade climb for about 1/3 of a mile! Whew! The gardens were absolutely stunning and we spent a long time rambling around looking at the hundreds of varieties of roses, from the tiny to the huge, tea roses, and the rose test garden. Portland, the City of Roses, is certainly aptly named after seeing the roses in this garden. The garden was established in 1917 and was high on a hill overlooking Portland and Mount Hood (which was hazy and not visible today). There were three terraces with 4.5 acres and over 10,000 bushes. What a place it was! There was evening a wedding about to begin as we were leaving.

One of the rose terraces

Gorgeous rose, one of thousands

Another terrace

Just TOO beautiful

A very tiny rose (my thumb!)


Jennifer in the garden of roses

After that, we rode along the river for miles and crossed the Steel Bridge (we actually crossed it coming over to the city itself), a pedestrian and bicycle only bridge across the Willamette River. We rode through several neighborhoods and parks, past the Science Center, and around the city, stopping for lunch in a bakery that would make anyone fat just for the looking! We resisted, however, and soon were on our way.

View of Portland from the east bank of the Willamette River

Since Jennifer is also a seamstress, we had noted a flier in our hotel about the Fabric Depot. Of course, we had to put it on our route back to the hotel! It was, for you quilters reading this, bigger than Mary Jo’s in Gastonia, NC! I was just amazed at the fabric lines that they carried. Jennifer was looking for a mesh fabric in hi-vis green. She makes a lightweight pullover vest to wear while cycling for, well, high visibility. They had every color in the rainbow but the green that she wanted. Since they have an online store, she will look there and probably be able to find it. And, yes, I resisted all desires to buy some fabric. They are weighing our luggage on Saturday and I am saving my excess allowance for Sisters, OR!!!

Later in the day, I received a call from Ramsey, a friend from the Southern Tier coming on this trip and she had made reservations for dinner at Paley’s Place, a restaurant she had read about it none other than Bicycling Magazine. Apparently, the chef is a cyclist! Six of the Southern Tier group from 2007, plus one of our guides were at dinner and we had a wonderful evening and absolutely fantastic food. It was a most enjoyable evening. Thanks, Ramsey. (and Jim!) Another trolley and light rail ride (about an hour total) and we were back out at our hotel near the airport. A great day followed by a great meal with great friends. What else could one ask for?