Vehicular variety, May 21, 2009

Turns out that I saw several sorts of vehicles on that particular day in the past. Here's a unique one, for sure, an electric three-wheeled truck.



Reminds me of vehicles I've seen in Italy. There to the left of that sidelight, there's the word Xebra and a stylized zebra graphic with lightning for legs. Above the single center headlight, the word Zap with a lightning bolt as punctuation instead of an exclamation mark. And how about that 53 in the circle? Is that a nod to Herbie the Love Bug's racing number? I believe it is!



A motorcycle gunning its way into the traffic alongside a minivan in need of an oil change.



A lady on a white motorcycle in downtown, going north on SW 2nd Avenue. I have no idea the make of the motorcycle--it's too far away for me to make out any words on it. I can tell, and I clicked on the photo to see it at its largest so that I could verify what I thought I saw, that she's wearing high heels. High heels on a motorcycle! Maybe that's a scooter since it has that little shelf place for your feet? I don't know.



Another vehicle, a London black cab but with the steering wheel in the accepted American position, on the right.



The sign on the door says Avalon Hotel & Spa. It looks like this place has closed now or may be has a new name--I saw a red banner with closed on Yelp. I read an old review on Yelp where a man from San Francisco said, I still haven't taken the car service into downtown. Next trip I will. It's an older style English cab. That guy needs some help, y'all. This vehicle doesn't look anything like an older style English cab--it's too modern for that. The images I found at Google for black cabs showed a lot like this one, but with the steering wheel on the left. The older style ones definitely convey their different era of origin.



Talk about vehicular variety--a food truck, too! Only found one mention of it in a 2013 answer to the question about where to get the best burrito in Portland: specifically Ely's Rolling Grill and their Lengua Burrito. The burrito is excellent but the real trump card is the cooks who watch nothing but Saved By The Bell in Spanish while cooking the food. There you have it. Ely's in Beaverton. I don't see that particular item on the menu--see below!



Lots of variety on their menu. One of my favorite junior high school teachers kept this quote written at the top of the blackboard: Variety is the spice of life. So, maybe that's why Ely's Rolling Grill - Mexican & American food has such a variety in its menu, so that they'll be spicy? Sorry, I'm rambling now.

What's black and white and red all over?

The scene: I'm sitting on a green metal bench across the river from work, in the park named Chapman Square. I'm on my lunch hour. Beside me on the bench I have my camera at the ready, my sweet ice tea, my half peanut butter sandwich, and half of a plain muffin sprinkled with chocolate chips.
The action: A woman wearing a red helmet, riding a red scooter, passes in front of me at the corner. I grab my camera, take one photo as she crosses SW 3rd, swivel to my left and take the photo you see above.
The serendipity: When I download the photo, I immediately know I could not have planned this photo any better.
The joy: I hope you share it with me as you take in the colors, the juxtapositions, the action.

ABC Wednesday - S is for more than several S words

Sitting in the sunshine, my hands on the steering wheel while we waited at the traffic signal, I looked to the left and looked to the right. That's where I spied a senior citizen on an electric scooter. I grabbed my camera and clicked off several shots through the windshield. Her decorations made her scooter so special, from the colorful spinner at the front to the sunflowers at the back. She had her silver crutches, accentuated with several colors, attached to the side. There's even a word that starts with an S on the side of her scooter--I can't make it out because something is hanging in the way.

Isn't it wonderful that she had this method to get outside and enjoy the sunshine on a Saturday?

When the cross-the-street-sign flashed the little white-light-pedestrian for all to see, the senior citizen scooted across the street, from sidewalk to sidewalk. She took no notice of the sign on the side of the Nob Hill Bar and Grill, advertising the Street Car Special--cheeseburger, fries and soft drink. You can't tell from the photo, but the streetcar turns left at the traffic signal, to the senior citizen's left in the first photo. That juxtaposition must be the inspiration for the special's name. I've had a burger and fries there, but not during the special's hours. Nevertheless, it was tasty and satisfying.


If you're of a mind to, please go to Mrs. Nesbitt's Place for loads of other ABC Wednesday blogs! Look at the list of links per Mr. Linky.