Back in Portland

I’m back in Portland; starting Monday I’m enrolled in UBI’s Introduction to Bicycle Maintenance class. This trip is a good excuse to visit family, too. Best of all, my son’s along for the week, so it’s a father-son bonding opportunity.

He shipped his bike via UPS for $175; I checked mine on Alaska Airlines for $20. I should average the two together when estimating next time.

From the airport we took light rail; the cost for the 2 of us: $3.60. I keep thinking a cab would’ve cost $60 and we could’ve been stuck in traffic to boot.

The skies were overcast when we arrived; the sun’s been popping in and out all afternoon. This is quite unusual for someone from Southern California. The play of light and gray makes for some mesmerizing views.

We’re staying in the same building as my sister and her family; it’s a modern downtown high rise. Our 2-bedroom unit is floor to ceiling glass with a million dollar view.

Portland, of course, is a platinum level city as it relates to bicycle infrastructure, and let me cut to the chase — the routes I’ve ridden today are well designed which gives even someone new to this neighborhood a comfortable feeling while navigating by bike. The wayfinding signs, for example — I’ve got my cellphone GPS working and I will often pull over to consult the directions, but I really didn’t need to. The Broadway Bridge was featured prominently on this ride today; I had no trouble finding it. I was surprised to see the bicycle signs telling me the direction and time it would take me to reach it.

I wanted to ride the route that I’ll take Monday morning at 7am — I like to know where I’m going.