Lots of bridges and lots of bicycles.
I’m excited to be going to Portland for this, my second year attending the Worst Day of the Year Ride. There’s an 18 mile urban route and a 45 mile challenge route. As bicycle capitol of the US, you know Portland knows how to throw a bike party. I’ll be traveling via Amtrak from Seattle with friends and bikes. If you’re on the train, be sure to say howdy. Below is an article I wrote following the 2011 event, accompanied by lots of photos.
Click here to visit the event website for details and registration.
My friend Mike and I joined more than 3,300 mostly costumed riders for Portland, Oregon’s Worst Day of the Year Ride on February 13, 2011. In defiance of its name the weather was mild with temps in the upper 50s F. One clear sign that spring is near was a chorus of hundreds of frogs as we rode past a wetland. Another sign is a great event like this, signaling the beginning of bike season.
I wonder if this young gentlemen thinks "worst day of the year ride" means something really bad is about to happen.
As the reigning queen of bicycle-friendly places in America, Portland really knows how to throw a bike party. Drivers accept bicycles as a natural part of the road. In one instance a white Mustang revving its engine at an intersection actually gave us the right-of-way when it had the right-of-way. It seems downright un-American. Portland is a much friendlier and laid-back place than Seattle. Its reputation as being infested with hipsters is undeserved.
I think Mr. Chicken may have had some kind of mechanical problem.
Mike and I had planned to take Amtrak to Portland with our bikes. After getting up at 5:30 AM to catch a 7:30 train, all Amtrak service was cancelled for 48 hours due to a mudslide near Vancouver, WA. That’s not the kind of adventurous pioneer-spirit on which this country was founded. I thought they should have just plowed ahead. Amtrak thought differently. After sitting on the train for more than an hour and really needing a nap, Mike and I rode out bikes to his house where we put them on his car and drove to Portland.
Another bridge, another bike.
Arriving the day before the event, we visited Portland’s vegan mini-mall consisting of 4 shops for people who eat no meat or animal products. The mall consists of a grocery store, bakery, The Herbivore Clothing Co., and tattoo parlor. Should I get a tattoo, I’ll be sure to get one that contains no meat. While I’m sympathetic to the vegan ideals, I’m hoping the grocery store will become enlightened in the way of one of my main sustainability issues. Too much disposable packaging! While we’re taking the time to think about what we eat, drink, wear, and tattoo, it would be exceedingly nice to shun things like aluminum soda cans and plastic wrappers on those veggie burgers. The Herbivore Clothing Co. designs and sells some great T-shirts and accessories. One that stands out in my mind says “If you are what you eat and you eat hot dogs, you’re an asshole”. Are they saying hot dogs are made from…? Oh no!
A grand day out!
Back to what’s so great about Portland other than the new cable TV series Portlandia. Looking at the photos from this event I see a family-friendly, multi-generational, inclusive, highly creative community that likes to have good cheap fun. I like that.
I'm speechless!
Well-dressed but eccentric family.
Steampunk family.
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