With just one definitely sunny day forecast for the next few days, I decided to take in the views from Washington Park above the west end of the city. A ride on the MAX light rail, a stint on the bus, and a short walk landed me halfway up the hill at the International Rose Test Garden. Beds of roses in every conceivable color combination fill the garden, which overlooks Portland through breaks in the tall evergreens. It was a little too hazy to see Mount Hood, but the rest of the city was nicely laid out.
While waiting for the Japanese Garden to open, I polished off the end of Lance Armstrong’s War. While it was an enjoyable read poking into the multifaceted world of professional cycling and all its characters, I was almost more relieved to be able to unload the weight. My shoulders aren’t up to bike messenger standards, and were already tired of lugging a lopsided pack around. The Japanese Garden was a soothing combination of water and landscape features offering an even higher vantage of the city.
I soon descended in search of lunch in the Nob Hill neighborhood. The area is known for shops and sidewalk cafes, and a roast beef sandwich and beer were just the cure for tired feet and an empty stomach. The warm afternoon weather encouraged plenty of people watching, and my “Ithaca is Gorges” shirt prompted a chat with a family from New York.
(The photo tally is already at 150, though I’ll have to wait until the end of the trip to post them since iPhoto isn’t compatible with my publishing methods.)
