The Rose Festival Fleet is in.

After work Thursday, I spent several hours watching this huge ship and one other come in, complete with the Portland Fire Bureau's fireboat honoring their arrival.

USS KIDD arrives. The dark strip across the top of the photo is the underneath of the Steel Bridge with both the lower and upper levels lifted. That's one of it's towers to the left. In the background the open bridge is the Broadway. And that slight arch you can see going from the Kidd upward to the left is part of the arch on the Fremont Bridge.


I stood in amazement as the tugs swiveled the Kidd right there in front of me, so that its bow pointed back towards the Steel Bridge, then pushed it up to dock beside the USS Lake Champlain which had come in earlier in the day.








The fire bureau boat continued upriver as the Kidd was turned. I realized that I needed to change from my zoom lens to the regular one and stepped to the other side of the walkway along the east side of the river, right at river level. Already I had put up the hood of my raincoat to keep the brisk, cool wind off my head. As I turned my back to the fire boat to make preparations to change lenses, I heard something coming towards me--the spray from a fireboat cannon! In seconds I was drenched as if I'd stepped into a waterfall, shoes full of water--not from the spray but from the stream of water. Thank goodness I had my hood up and my back to the boat! Thank goodness nothing happened to my camera or lenses! Not only had I been able to see the fire boats shooting water, I'd met that water up close and personal, an utterly unforgettable memory.


USS GARY arrives. You can see the entire Steel Bridge opening in this photo and that the Broadway Bridge has already closed.








You can see evidence of the wind that blew the entire evening in this shot of the Gary's flag. It says, "USS Gary FFG-51. Two guns. Back off varmint!" I took about a dozen shots but couldn't get a better one than this.


Left to right, USS Kidd, USS Lake Champlain, and behind them, right to left, are the USS Preble--you can see a portion of it--and the USS Gary, all you can see of it is the tower, antennas, etc. Those trees along the wall are the cherry trees in this post.


The fleet is in.


Monday is departure day.

Dragon Boat Race Practice on June 4, 2008

I won't pretend to know the ins-and-outs of dragon boat racing, but I will make educated guesses based on the movement, the body language, and the faces of these people, educated guesses as to what is going on.

These two teams appear to be taking advantage of one of their last chances for a hard practice before the actual races on Saturday. They are hot at it.



Once the boats got close to the west bank of the river, they eased around and headed back out into the river.

It appeared the people on this boat were practicing their response to some cue from one of the non-rowers on the boat. They held their paddles up at a certain angle, then dug deeply into the water, over and over and over.



Then they headed back out onto the river proper for more practice.

Depending on the weather, my chores at the apartment and timing of life in general, I plan to attend Saturday's races, and take more photos, of course!

By the way, about these photos, I don't have any photo-altering software other than iPhoto's enhance and/or lighten and darken slider thingeys, so please don't think I'm talented enough to outline those flowing-dragon-parts to make them stand out in front of the river. It's serendipity brought on by the angle, I suppose.

Tall Ships in Mock Cannon Battle

Thursday from 4 p.m.-8 p.m., I roamed the west side of the Willamette River, always an interesting place to walk but more so with the Rose Festival activities, including the Battle Sail between the Hawaiian Chieftan and the Lady Washington.

I have lots of photos to go through to see if any of them are any good, then I'll start posting more for your to enjoy, hopefully.

Here's a bit about the tall ships from rosefestival.org:

Once again we'll have visits from two ships, the brig Lady Washington and topsail ketch Hawaiian Chieftain, as an advance feature of the Portland Rose Festival's Fleet Week program.

Having appeared in movies (including the Lady Washington's appearance in the original "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie) -- and TV documentaries -- these famous maritime vessels harken from the golden age of ocean exploration.

That be right, mateys -- thar be Tall Sailing Ships moored on the Willamette River at Salmon Street, next to the WaMu Waterfront Village. Arriving on Thursday, May 29, as part of the 2008 Portland Rose Festival's opening day ceremonies, these two famous seafaring vessels will offer daily river cruises (called Battle Sails -- complete with a mock cannon battle), dockside tours and educational programs. (Due to other commitments, these ships will depart on Thursday, June 5.) For reservations, ticket information and further details, please call Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority at 800.200.5239 -- or visit their website at HistoricalSeaport.Org.

ABC Wednesday - T is for These and Those, This and That

THESE tantalize. My mind is betwixt and between. Are they art or out-of-work mannequins?


THESE large, colorful flowers are made of tissue paper. A few days later after an evening of misty rain, although somewhat wilted, the flowers still decorated the motorcycle. I didn't take a photo that day, though.


THIS is the truth.

MultCo Animal Control/kgw.com photo

UPDATED TO ADD: If the photo is not here or if you'd like to be able to see the video,

click here. I think it's so neat that Jim and Neva have already seen the story on their local morning news!

Goat takes ride on TriMet bus, by TERESA BLACKMAN, kgw.com Staff

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A goat somehow hitched a ride on a Portland bus Monday night, surprising TriMet officials and her owner, who was baffled about how she got there.

Mike Oswald with Multnomah County Animal Control said the goat was “taken into custody by transit police for lack of proper fare” after it was spotted on the bus.

Someone actually called 9-1-1 to report the sneaky passenger on bus route # 14. TriMet security officers said they think the goat stepped onto the bus just before 10 p.m., at the corner of 94th and SE Foster.

TriMet police got a good chuckle and spread the word that “an unauthorized kidd” was riding the bus alone.

Animal Control is caring for the bus-hopping goat.

The 35-pound goat was eventually captured without incident and taken to Multnomah County Animal Services in Troutdale. Employees were trying to find its owner, including through searches on Craigslist. They said the female Pygmy goat had a black collar with a yellow tag on it, but the tag was so worn, it was impossible to read.

But as it turned out, it was the goat's brief moment of fame that brought out her owner. The goat's family saw the story on KGW-TV's noon newscast and quickly called Animal Control to claim her.

The goat's name is Poppy and she was a recent gift to a SE Portland resident who said it was unclear how the goat got out of a gate.

Poppy seemed to take the whole day in stride, chomping on hay and grain at the shelter before she was reunited with her owner.

THAT is a tiger cub with his handler and Bruce Sussman, local weatherman from the local CBS affiliate, doing a live remote from the Rose Festival Waterfront Village.


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.

TriMet Bus Stop ID 12767

May 15, right after work, the sun shone, folks came out in droves and a gentle breeze wafted through the trees in Chapman and Lownsdale Squares on each side of SW Main, bordered on the west by SW 4th and the east by SW 3rd. Glittering in shafts of sunlight like golden disks attached to invisible cords, tiny leaves fluttered to the sidewalks and green grass.

People waiting for the bus in Portland get help from informative signs and labels. SW 4th heads north with alternating bus stops grouped as X, Y and Z. See the white sign on the right that points the way towards each one? Then there's the blue and white sign at this stop on the corner of SW 4th Avenue and Main, an X, that lists each bus that stops there. The sign in the plastic-covered rectangle shows a map of SW 4th and the corners where each of the X, Y, and Z stops is located, as well as the A, B, and C stops on SW 3rd Avenue. Finally you've got the lighted sign above the bus windshield which announces the bus route number and either the most prominent street or road on the route or the transit center at the end of the route, words that help the rider make the correct choice before boarding the bus.


SW 4th & Main in Portland going north, Stop ID 12767

Served by

12-Barbur Blvd
12-Sandy Blvd
17-Holgate
17-NW 21st Ave/St Helens Rd
19-Glisan
19-Woodstock
94-Sherwood/Pacific Hwy Express

Amenities

Shelter
Stop is on the near side of the intersection
Bench near stop
Sidewalk near stop
Schedule display

When I first walked up to the stop after disembarking at SW 2nd and Main, from the bus that brought me over the Willamette, commuters waited in large number.

Increments of time passed and people boarded each bus that stopped, leaving fewer on the sidewalk.



About 15 minutes, only a few were left waiting, like me. When the 17 came, I got on happily only to find that, while it was a newer-style bus, the air conditioning did not work and the slender slivers of windows that opened did little to alleviate the aggravating warmth in close quarters. When the driver explained that another 17 was right behind him and it's A/C worked, I got off at the next X stop and changed to that 17, bound for home Trader Joe's and home.

Photo Booth at the Waterfront Village

To me this looks like a great big bunch of candy corn. What do you think?

Here it is earlier in the evening. I believe the man in orange works at the booth.

One of these days I'm going to sit right down and get myself photographed in a booth like this, especially if I remember to have on fresh lipstick and eye make-up.

What caused these smiles and flying hair?

The Inverter, one of the carnival rides at the Waterfront Village. These three kind people recovered very well from their fun, and at my request, looked at the photo on my camera and said they did not mind if I posted the photo on my blog. I really appreciate that, getting their permission so that you could share in the sheer fun they had while spinning and turning and dropping and hanging in the Inverter.

Here's how calm it looks while folks are getting locked in.

Later on I came back to get some photos of the ride and its lights.

Ferris Wheel at Rose Festival

Here's what I found at rosefestival.org about the fun along the Willamette, only one of many, many activities during the festival's run, May 29-June 8.

The Rose Festival's WaMu Waterfront Village is where Portland celebrates its favorite family traditions, awesome new activities and diverse cultural influences. Located along the scenic Willamette River in Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, the WaMu Waterfront Village offers a park-load of whimsical and magnificent kid's adventures. Quite simply, the WaMu Waterfront Village is a great place for parents to bring their families. Come see why our village was honored from among IFEA's 2000 plus member festivals.

Along with this year's featured attraction, Dinosaur Jurassic Journey, the village features the Pacific Northwest's largest carnival, five stages packed with family entertainment, the BI-MART Kids Zone, WaMu Big Top Stage, zany strolling minstrels, two of the tallest thrill rides in the Western United States, three food courts, marching school bands and festive cultural music.
Dates & Hours
Dates
Thursday, May 29 - Sunday, June 8, 2008

Hours
11 AM to 11 PM* daily except May 29 when gates open at 5 PM

*Event hours & closing times are subject to change based on weather, attendance and park safety conditions.

Here's part of why I'm so late posting today ...

Portland's Rose Festival started last night, with the opening of the Waterfront Village, a sort of state fair/carnival. I got off the bus after work, intending to take a few photos and catch another bus home. When I saw Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 and found out that admission was free, I decided to roam around, taking photos and waiting to get my photo taken beside the car.

Here I stand with a young member of the National Guard, right beside the car, still able to smell the exhaust fumes. Yes, friends, another man from Hendrix Racing started that baby and gunned the motor several times. Mighty fine loud sound! I loved it!

After about five hours, I got home, too tired to blog. I hope that some of the photos I took will be neat enough to share.

Here's part of why I'm so late posting today ...

Portland's Rose Festival started last night, with the opening of the Waterfront Village, a sort of state fair/carnival. I got off the bus after work, intending to take a few photos and catch another bus home. When I saw Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 and found out that admission was free, I decided to roam around, taking photos and waiting to get my photo taken beside the car.

Here I stand with a young member of the National Guard, right beside the car, still able to smell the exhaust fumes. Yes, friends, another man from Hendrix Racing started that baby and gunned the motor several times. Mighty fine loud sound! I loved it!

Gallerie Rene, 207 SW Pine Street

This bright row of awnings caught my eye as we walked from the Bijou Cafe back to the Buick Saturday, after a scrumptious brunch. I found this online about the building: The Haseltine Building (1893) on the corner of Second and Pine was called in “A Century of Portland Architecture” by Thomas Vaughan and George A. McMath a “...prime example of Richardson Romanesque brick and stone construction...”

You can see the stone in the row of arches. Here's one of the arches that houses Gallerie Rene, an interesting art gallery that does not allow photos inside, which I certainly understand.

I did take these two photos of the front windows. If you look closely, you can see bits of what's inside. I hope to go back for one of their First Thursday shows.

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.

Our Memorial Day Get-Together

First, let me say that while I didn't take any food photos because I was busy looking out for Mama and Duncan, there was plenty of it--ribs, hamburgers, Zenner's Big Dogs (Louisiana Red Hot Sausage, Old Fashioned Double Smoked Sausage and Beef Coney Dogs--at least I think those are the ones I bought for them), home-made tortilla chips and hushpuppies, a really delicious pasta salad, fresh salsa, and all of the fixings. Everyone enjoyed being together, laughing, talking, eating. The kids had a great Memorial Day get-together for all of us family and lots and lots of their friends.

Here are a few photos I did get to take--wish I'd stopped to take more, but part of the time I also ate some delicious food and played in the street with the young people--see below.

Mississippi friends' Leslie and Chris' darling Rottweiler, Brixx.

My darlin' sons, Lamont and Leland, with their fresh flame in the background. In no time at all, it was ready for some of that luscious food I listed earlier.

Mama and Duncan, on the back porch.

Duncan and Brixx, nose to nose.

Neighbor Emily's baby boy, Duncan and Mama.

Leland with friends Anakin and Philip, playing street Frisbee, but it's not Frisbee, it's another Frisbee-like thing that isn't solid, hard, firm, or heavy.

Brody and Lamont going for the Frisbee-like-thing.

Mississippi friend Mabry lets it fly.

Three Doors Down fellow cook, kitchen, back-of-the-house friend Flash with a bit of a rib in his left hand and his phone in his right.

Rhododendrons in Ladd's Circle, seen on the way back to the apartment.