Up and over and down and up and around and over.

Saturday afternoon I walked up onto and across the Burnside Bridge for the first time, from west to east, left to right in the photo. I paused every so often to take photos. From this one, you know that I made it all the way over the bridge and down to the east side of the river.


When I got to the east end of the bridge, I decided to walk down these steps. I held on tight enough to make my hand sort of dirty from running along the steel pipe handrail, but I made it to the sidewalk. I took this photo so you could see the stairs.

Here's some interesting info on the stairs that I found at the city of Portland's Web site: The historic nature of the Burnside Bridge prohibits any structure from adding any weight to the bridge: the connector that connects the Esplanade to the Burnside Bridge does not lean on the bridge, it merely 'kisses' the bridge. The connector is held in place by pilings sunk into a huge concrete base and the tower structure bears the weight of the stair truss.

When I got to the Eastbank Esplanade, I didn't take the floating sidewalk northward. Here's a photo of that part of it, though.


I walked from the Burnside Bridge to the pedestrian/bicycle ramp that connects to the Morrison Bridge.


Looking at the curved ramp, I decided I could make it up and around if I stayed on the inside of the curve. Here's a photo I took from the middle of the bridge, looking eastward toward the ramp.

I did feel short-lived moments of anxiety, but I'm actively working at overcoming my fear of bridges and heights, determined to increase my first-hand knowledge of these wonderful Willamette River bridges and the views from them.

The Dinner Party

Back story. This week, our second anniversary of the move to Portland week, we also had company from the South. Here all week from Georgia, learning about his new job was Jeff, the husband of our dear friend of many years Christy. Here for a few days for a wedding of a beloved friend, Tony and Melissa, our dear friends from Jackson, Mississippi. When I talked with my son Leland about which restaurant to take them to last Thursday night (since we knew we were going to Three Doors Down Sunday evening), he said, "We'll be grilling, probably. The sun's supposed to be out. Why don't you bring them over here?" Thrilled, I replied, "Really? Find out what Lamont thinks and let us know!" Friday Lamont called and said, "You want to have a dinner party?" "Yes," I said, "if it works for y'all. I'd love for y'all to meet Jeff and Tony and Melissa." That's how we ended up at their house enjoying what I called a "Big Chill" time, minus the angst. Let me tell you, if Lamont and Leland's daddy were alive today, we would've celebrated Father's Day that evening, too, since the guys have to work today. He loved to have family and friends over for good food, a trait you can tell that his two sons inherited.

So this is my Happy Father's Day post to all of you. Enjoy!




Grilled fingerling potatoes, Walla Walla Sweet Onions, yellow squash, and globe zucchini.

The guys shopped for these vegetables at a local farmers' market that happens every Thursday, not too many blocks from their home in a church parking lot.

Flank steak marinated in tangelo juice, zest, and rind, olive oil, garlic, and shallots for a couple of hours, then put onto the grill.




Happy Father's Day, Tony! And Happy Late Mother's Day, Melissa!


Happy Father's Day, Jeff!






For dessert, the guys got local fresh strawberries and fresh, organic ricotta.

With bits of basil added, the dessert tasted great.

Echo Gate, public art along the Willamette River

One of four pieces of public art, created by RIGGA - a group of local artists, are featured between the Morrison Bridge and the floating walkway is the Echo Gate. Located beneath the Morrison Bridge, the sculpture 'echoes' the pier buildings and Shanghai tunnels of Portland's past. Echo Gate is made of copper plate that was heat-formed, fitted, and welded.



Here's some information I found online about the Eastbank Esplanade, where I found the Echo Gate the day that I photographed the arrival of the fleet. I was on the floating sidewalk when the fireboat doused me.

The Eastbank Esplanade provides visitors with a unique and distinctively urban experience. Tucked between Interstate 5 and the Willamette River, the Esplanade is 1.5 miles long, extending from the Hawthorne Bridge to the Steel Bridge with connections to eastside neighborhoods as well as across the river. Primarily a pedestrian/bicycle corridor, it offers unparalleled views of downtown Portland and leaves visitors with a whole new perspective of the river and the eastside.

Thirteen urban markers run the length of the Esplanade, marking the eastside street grid and providing information about the river and the rich history of the area. Seating walls, benches, overlooks, and small plaza areas offer places to stop, relax, and enjoy.

The 1,200 ft. long floating walkway is the longest floating walkway in the United States. Here, the sensation of walking on water adds another dimension to the experience. The adjoining 120 ft. public boat dock provides moorage for recreational boaters as well as space for a future river taxi and other commercial uses.

A cantilevered walkway is suspended from the bulkhead of the original City Pier #2, providing opportunities to view the old pier as well as the riverbank below.

In honor of the sun's return ...

...I just have to post this photo of the pattern made by the rising sun and window blinds on our kitchen wall. If I could type and jump for joy at the same time, I'd look kinda silly right now. And what a blessing that I could take today off from work to pal around with Mississippi friends who have stopped by Portland on their way to a wedding in Washington state. Plus yesterday evening we also got to visit with a Georgia-moving-to-North-Carolina friend in Portland for a week to learn/tour for his new job with Daimler Trucks.

For all of us the guys grilled last night, photos forthcoming. Just let me say this, "First Walla Wall Sweet Onions" for you Pacific Northwesterners out there. Southerners, think Vidalias and you'll get the taste.

One more really neat thing, this week we celebrate being in Portland two whole years. Thanks to everyone who helped us move 'cause we love our new city and being so close to Lamont and Leland. I feel like the luckiest woman in world.

This creeps me out!

As I stood on the west bank of the Willamette, shooting those photos of the tall ships, different things kept catching my eye, up on the Marquam Bridge. When I realized what this was, I thought, "Yuck! Flattened vehicles! On an flat-bed truck!" Snap. Not exactly what someone with a fear of bridges wants to see on the northbound interstate, top level of an extremely high bridge over the Willamette, let me tell you.

Law enforcement on the Willamette last Thursday, June 5, as the fleet came in

US Coast Guard riding with Multnomah County Sheriff's Office River patrol, headed north, downriver, on the Willamette near the Steel Bridge


US Coast Guard beside the USS Kidd as the tug pushes it closer to the wall.

Here's another Coast Guard boat on watch.

The Coast Guard boat goes beneath a bridge.


Another Multnomah County Sheriff's Office River Patrol boat heads south, upriver, with the Willamette reflecting the sun during what local folks call a "sun break." They've been welcome weather events lately.

The boat heads north on the Willamette River.

ABC Wednesday - U is for Ugly

Found this ABC Wednesday U several weeks ago, thank goodness. I've been so caught up in the Rose Festival fun that I would have missed it if I'd waited. The billboard has been changed to one advertising a near-by casino. Come to think of it, that could represent ugly, too, to those who lose too much money there, couldn't it?

Anyway, here's what I found online about the Ugly Route Map:

The West Most™ Schedule
131 Daily Nonstops

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I have to say they sound convinced, don't they?

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.

Sidewalk Entertainment

Thursday evening after I left the waterfront, the fleet and the fireboat, I walked into Old Town Chinatown to catch a bus home. Thank goodness, or I wouldn't have come upon this entertaining scene outside the Old Town Precinct at NW 3rd and Couch.

The policewoman's horse enjoyed grabbing folded boxes from those stashed in another box at the curb. You can see some of them on the street where they fell. Here's how the entertainment started.


I'm thinking this horse is the class clown who thought that since the lady paid attention to the other horse, it was time to get on stage. The boxes provided the perfect prop.


I love the looks the two horses on the left are giving the class clown, just like long-suffering classmates who've seen all of this time and again.


By the way, the lady never noticed the fun-lovin' horse, but I certainly did and enjoyed every moment.

One of the reasons I love Portland is ...

...you never know what might turn up on the street. Honestly.

And there's always someone close by to take a photo.

And another photo. Who wouldn't want several of these young people bent on advertising the grand opening of the Evergreen Space Museum? It's in McMinnville, next door to the Evergreen Aviation Museum, home of Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose. They handed out freeze-dried fruit to folks at the Waterfront Village.

How's this one seen through the Salmon Street Springs Fountain?

OMG! I just realized this photo is pure foreshadowing of the next night when the fireboat cannon doused me! Don't ya just love karma? I do!

Busy river last Wednesday, June 4, 2008

From the Hawthorne Bridge, left to right, the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain. Behind them you see the Portland Spirit.


The raised Hawthorne Bridge allows both tall ships to pass beneath it, going south on the Willamette River, on their way to the mock battle. You can see the Riverplace Marina to the right of the tall ships.


Before I walked past the marina, I took this photo which shows a portion of the Marquam Bridge with the Ross Island Bridge in the background.


The Portland Spirit and the dragon boat I had been watching earlier.


Beyond the Marquam Bridge, the Hawaiian Chieftain cannon fires as dragon boats practice nearby.


The Willamette got really busy. You can see the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in the background, too.




Looks like the Sternwheeler Rose got a bit too close for the Hawaiian Chieftain.






A sailor works on the cannon.




The Willamette Jetboat distracted me from the mock battle.




The ships must have turned around not too long after I took this photo of them close by the Ross Island Bridge. It doesn't open, so they would have had to do that and return to their moorings, after passing underneath the raised Hawthorne Bridge once more.