A Summary?

Looking back over the last two weeks .......we were gone 14 days, 4 free nights with Warm Showers hosts. We travelled by ferry, bus, train, streetcar, bike and foot. Total biked, 475 kms! Cost, will know when the Visa bill comes in. Best parts: the scenery and the people we met along the way. 

Here are our last photos. What was really special about this picture is what we learned about the rider, Anton Tasic, whom we met at Anacortes, Washington on the ferry to Sidney. You see Anton and Norm near the Selkirk Trestle -- we pedalled together down the Lochside Trail from the ferry dock. He is from Maribor, Slovenia and has already biked 7200 kms as of today from Yorktown, Virginia in 54 days. Anton is now heading down the coast to San Diego for another 3000 kms before flying home out of LA at the end of July. A truly nice guy, one of the interesting cyclists you meet along the way.You can see his daughter's bear, Berry on the back of his ICE English recumbent tricycle. Yellow Bunny's first friend.

Anton has invited us to visit him in Solvenia. You never know.......

The last stop before Victoria

Time to leave the Friendly Bicycle Guest House, basic accommodation for the two of us. First we thought we would do a little more exploring of the neighbourhood. Just across the streeot was Philippe Bread, a delicious French bakery. The croissants and brioche were outstanding. 

There have a restaurant as part of the bakery, Lardo, but not open till 11. Lardo's advertising says that they are putting fat back in the diet. Sounds yummy!

We went looking for breakfast by bike further away. Down Alberta Street to Hesler's. Small wait of 10 minutes but worth it.

As we ate our breakfast a young man sitting beside me asked what should he see and do in Portland since he only has two days. I gave him advice on the highlights we had checked out but explained being from Victoria we probably weren't the best ones to ask. Turns out he too is Canadian, went to McGill, has lots of friends in Victoria where he is heading soon. His parents were from Uzbekistan, he grew up in Ohio and after more talk it turns out he knows our good friend, David Koch! What a small world. Hi to David from Mathew Leon. 

Back to pack up and head to the train station for our six hour train ride to Mount Vernon. Yellow Bunny says goodbye to Portland. She loved both the street cars and the train station. 

We are now relaxing at the Quality Inn in Mt. Vernon after our last dinner on the road. Maybe not the classiest but filled the hunger.

Tomorrow we bike to Anacortes (not at 5am as first planned but a later ferry now that it is summer) and the home. Great holiday. Best parts.....the beauty of biking the Willamette Valley and the surprise show with Ira Glass.

What a day!

Started the morning again with a latte/ tea, croissant and muffin at the Ristrettto, very classy. The area we are staying in is quite up and coming. You see young people, babies and stores to serve them. A new grocery store, New Seasons Market, opened here this last year and it is like Whole Foods, high end and organic. There are thirty, yes 30 bike rack spots! 

We walked and took the streetcar to the Hollywood area. Here is our first market of the day. Norm was impressed with the coffee spouts outside the food cart. 

We bought fresh snow peas and carrots for munching. Next downtown to meet Mary Ann, a nurse from New Jersey and a friend of nephew, Daniel Baylis. He worked with her while volunteering in New Orleans a few years ago. What a woman. She has been biking for two months and has four more to go. She started in California and will end in October in Montreal. Our trip seemed pretty small in comparison. 

We headed to the next market, PSU Farmer's Market, probably twice the size of the Hollywood Market. It is so much fun watching the people, sampling food and listening to music. 

Golden raspberries were amazing and actually tasted just like the red ones. 

On our way to Voodoo Donuts we couldn't resist this photo opportunity.

Voodoo Donuts is a must-see in Portland but had about a block-long line up. Sorry Yellow Bunny but the closest she got was outside looking in. No maple bacon long Johns today.

We did a walk through the downtown Saturday Market. Unbelievable! It seems to expand each time we have been in Portland. We found it a bit overwhelming so headed homeward. 

Now sometimes things have a way of happening that you can't explain. We decided to go an extra stop on the streetcar and as we started walk home we came upon The Greater Portland Postcard, Stamp and Paper Collectibles Show! Norm swears he knew nothing about it. We had to stop. For those never having been to one, this is what it looks like. 

Not crowded with young people but those there are having a good time.

And for tonight we are off to a spontaneous concert with Ira Glass, of NPR's This American Life radio show. Stay tuned tomorrow to see what is was all about. 

Portland, famous for microbrews and bikes

We caught the Wilsonville Express train car to Beaverton this morning and then the streetcar into downtown Portland. Norm is hooking the bikes by their front wheels for easy transporting on the train. Nice system

By 10 we were pushing our bikes towards the Friendly Bicycle  Guest House looking for a bike repair shop along the way. We found the Metropolis Cycle bike shop that gave Norm a whole new rear tire -- the repair guy couldn't find the sharp little bit that must have caused the flat, so a whole new tire seemed best. Now we could pedal again! Only about ten more blocks to our accommodation. Norm forgot to mention to me that we share a bathroom and oh by the way, twin beds. Hey, looks fine and at least we aren't camping. 

Now it is time to explore downtown Portland. We bought a seven day transit pass for seniors at only $7 and I decided that in Portland I am actually a year older than I realized. 

The art work around the city is really good. Here is a bench at the streetcar stop. 

We walked, took the streetcar, and walked lots more. Pioneer Square had a hip hop graffiti demonstration happening, pass. The Icebreaker store was a hit. I finally spent some money on merino wool items, socks, t-shirt and underwear. Now who knew you could wear wool undergarments and not complain! 

The highlight of the afternoon was Powell Books. I promised Yellow Bunny one new Portland landmark each day. Today it was Powell's. She was quite excited. So were we. There is so much to see there and it is difficult to just buy a couple of books. Note the shopping bag full! (Not quite) 

There is always room for books on bikes. And to celebrate we went to Deschutes brew pub in the Pearl district for drinks and appetizers. We arrived just in time for happy hour and ordered Kennebec fries and duck prosciutto salad wrap with a hazelnut sauce. So good! 

Back to our Friendly Bicycle House and just a couple blocks away we found the House of Pie, delicious pizza from a wood-fired oven. 

Really good pizza. Almost as good as Pizza Primastrada in Victoria. 

Tomorrow, another famous Portland landmark........

Made it to Wilsonville

It often looks like our bike trip is all about food. There is no doubt that food is a big part but not the most important. The actual biking and seeing the countryside have been the best things. I rarely order eggs Benedict and if I do, it is always a half order. No such thing as half orders here in the US. We looked on line for the number one place to have breakfast in Salem and amazingly it was a half a block from our motel, the Word of Mouth Bistro. Norm had blueberry pancakes and I ordered the Spinach and Tomato Eggs Benedict. And not just two eggs on the English muffin but THREE eggs! I gave one to Norm.

It was all extremely good. We recommend for anyone to eat at Word of Mouth Bistro.

We looked briefly at the lumberjack at top of the State Capitol, with a big double-bitted axe. Who knew that was on top, Norm did.

Out of town, we followed the Willamette River looking for the green WV symbol, indicating the Willamette Valley path for bikes. We've seen many of the little square signs since starting from Eugene. The roads here, just north of Salem, were again not busy and rarely we had to climb any hills. This time there were fields of hops and many hazelnut trees. And of course some unusual sites.

Why comes to mind? (It's the bottom half of a store mannequin, but does look realistic.) The owner of this property has a sense of humour -- the driveway gate was studded with a dozen yellow Tonka dump trucks.

Keizer is known as the iris capital of Oregon, but mostly we saw blooming lots of lilies.

Norm found the Willamette Mission State Park for lunch again along the Willamette River. We ate under filbert (hazelnut) trees. Orange chain gang guys doing gardening work here but no shackles this time. 

One must-see in the park was the biggest black cottonwood in the US. You can see it in the background. Yellow Bunny was impressed with the size. And then we had to look for the ghost houses

The "ghost houses," or metal skeletons, showed where the original mission structures were built in 1830s. It was a tough life for Jason Lee, the missionary here who lasted a decade, buried two wives and a child, then headed back to upstate Vermont where he died a year after his return.

The day was getting hotter and hotter, no clouds. Along the way we saw cherry trees being picked. Quiet fascinating. They shake the tree, cherries fall into a canvas area and then on to a conveyor. 

Lots of cherries! 

We crossed the I-5 a couple of times today. Norm counted 20 trucks passing by in just one minute. This is why we don't travel on the I-5. Well not often.

So to get to our final destination, Wilsonville, we found ourselves on the wrong side of the Willamette River and we would have had to bike an extra seven or eight miles to catch a ferry that may or may not be running. OR we could enter the freeway and bike only one mile, getting across the river (again) and take the first exit to Wilsonville. I voted for the I-5. It was so noisy and the debris on the side of the road was worse than the regular highway. I hit a hub cap and Norm biked over a circular piece of wire. Plus his back tire was now almost flat! We made it to Wilsonville but by now Norm had to push his bike. After a few missed turns we found the Best Western only to be told they had no rooms left. While trying to find another motel, someone cancelled and we were in! Yeah! 

This the classy neat side and this is what happens when we move in.

We showered and were ready to do a walk about to find out where we catch the train tomorrow to Beaverton, outskirts of Portland. Good thing we have some time off from biking so we can get the tire fixed. 

We ate at Rams where Norm tried a sample of the Buttface beer, not a winner. Dinner was okay.

That is a blackened salmon taco that broke when I picked up. Spicy mango avocado salsa with a bite. Norm had a turkey, bacon, cheese grilled sandwich with coleslaw and a beer. 

Tomorrow Portland and the Friendly Bicycle House for a respite from pedalling for three days. And to get the flat tire fixed. On to the Rose City!

Salem, the state capital of Oregon

We left Corvallis by 9 this morning heading to Albany and eventually Salem. We crossed the Willamette River three times today and once the Calapooia River by Albany. 

Before leaving our Motel 8 this morning I slid a note under the door of the adjoining room and then quickly biked away. I was having trouble falling asleep to start with last night. Not enough biking I guess. But at 2 am a couple checked in next door and for the next three hours, till 5am they were shall we say, active! You could hear every sound they made. So I politely left a note saying that from 2-5 in the morning they should be considerate of their neighbors (they will think we were Americans) and keep the noise down. I think Motel 8 needs better sound proofing.

The ride to Abany was beautiful, a winding country road with little traffic. We followed the Willamette River so hills were few. Farm lands with fields of wheat, rye (they grow lots of grass seed) and big fields of peppermint. 

And fields of such evenly spaced vegetables, beans I think.

The sun was finally out all day, lots of sunscreen.  Norm had his heart set on breakfast at Albany. We had the free breakfast offered again at the motel. This time cereal and toast, leaves a lot to be desired. But Albany was a quiet downtown since everyone seems to have moved to the suburbs. We settled on a bagel and moved on. By lunch time we  found enough leftovers in our pack of cheese, bread, apple and of course beer. Great spot, the Knox Hill cemetery, a very quiet place. 

And the view......

Fortunately the roads were country ones with little traffic but it was getting hot out there. I kept thinking of the ice cream I would have whenever we could find a town big enough to sell some. 

The road was called Buena Vista as was the little ferry we took to cross the Willamette River, a cable ferry that holds maybe 6-8 cars. We were the only passengers, free but $1 for each bike.

Definitely Yellow Bunny's thing. She loved the fresh air. 

It took a lot longer than I thought to reach the next town of Independence. Finally I had the best praline carmel ice cream. Norm, a beer. We earned them.

Last stretch to Salem. Only 8 miles says Norm. It is now 4:30 and we started our day at 9. Well it was actually 12 miles and I must say we were both dragging a bit by the end. 75 kms today, checked into the Travellers Inn just after 6. Did a walk around the block in the Historical District of Salem. Hungry for dinner found us at Johnny's Bar and Grill. It was actually not bad. Norm thinks I could pass for a bouncer here. 

We have done over 300 kms so far and still have a couple more days to go. Portland by Friday. Great traveling by bike, you just never know what you will find. 

Back to Corvallis

We started our day with the hot breakfast provided by the Comfort Inn. If it wasn't free we would have skipped it. Norm managed to make a waffle and for me a toasted bagel. We passed on the flat scrambled eggs and I think pork sausage pattie with chunky gravey and the high fat pastries. No wonder our society is gaining weight. We did take a couple of yogurts for later. 

Now without a bike our plan to see the Yaquina Lighthouse was out. You can see it if you look carefully in this picture, at the end of the peninsula. 

Instead we decided to explore historical Bayfront, where Newport's fishing fleet is based, the biggest in Oregon. Along the way we came upon a motor vehicle accident. It happened just seconds before we were there. Eight emergency vehicles on the scene! I have never witnessed the fire department remove the front window of a SUV so quickly. Hopefully the woman inside was fine. 

The historical area wasn't really busy early in the morning, streets quiet. 

We found some authentic tsunami debris from Japan, a piece of the famous fishing dock that washed up  on Newport's Agate beach a while ago. 

Lots of information on what to do if a tsunami is happening here. Run to higher ground, quickly! The Bay is a real working dock. There are fish and shrimp plants which you can definitely smell as you go by. 

And they have added art work to many of the buildings. We were impressed with the hundreds and hundreds of crab traps. So was YB.

Ready to head up the hill and back into town to see how the bike repair was going. Managed to find a thrift store on the way and bought a hat for a dollar. Such a deal! 

The bike was ready. Newport Bikes did an outstanding job of getting the new part and putting it all back together as quickly as they could.

Norm did not want to leave Newport without trying one more time for better fish and chips. The Newport Cafe delivered, real fish and fresh cut potatoes. 

This cafe really had that good old homey feel to it. There were more things hanging off the walls, ceiling, counters...... And if you're hungry in the middle of the night, no problem, Newport Cafe is open 24 hours. Business must be good, the red Corvette (you see a rear corner in the photo below) is the owner's.

 We went back to the Inn, packed up our bikes, toured the beach once last time and a coffee/tea and a pastry at Panini. On the bus by 3pm and into Corvallis by 4:30. Checked into Motel 8 and headed out by bike to the award-!!winning First Alternative Natural Food Co-op. What a fun store to explore. And we found dinner there. Norm had the West African Peanut and Chicken Soup. I had Turkey Noodle. Both delicious and home made of course. 

Tomorrow we are biking to Albany and on to Salem, the capital of Oregon about 50 kms away.