Erk's 2014 Pacamerican Circle

[erkpod]

There's now a dense fog advisory out until 0900 local Friday morning.





I ended up ordering dinner but they don't include knives & forks unless you pay for them, despite knowing I'm at a hotel. No knives & forks in the room, either.

My friendly local quizmaster has organised a ticket for tomorrow night to a hockey game. The night after at the same venue (easy walking distance to the hotel), there's roller derby. Score!

 

[erkpod]

Just thinking out loud at 0500 on day 17 with thick fog outside with my next flight at 0600 on Wednesday...



There's a dense fog advisory here overnight in PDX which is going to make my next leg PDX - ATL - MIA interesting if it is like this next Wednesday. I leave at (for me) OMG o'clock.

My little ray of sunshine's overnighting in DC as they couldn't get her back into NYC due to a blizzard. I hope that doesn't happen to me when I fly into NYC after overnighting in MIA as my NYC time is limited (23-26/1) as it is.

I knew there was going to be weather issues at this time of year. Not going to book any further accommodation until I get to my destination in case I get diverted.

 

[erkpod]

Looking at the status of flights, PDX is a busier airport than I thought. Despite the fog still being around at 0900, there's only been 3 cancellations by the major carriers since midnight. Everything else seems to be running on or close to time.



This time yesterday, I could see some of the buildings downtown from my hotel. Today, I can't.

 

[erkpod]

Day 17, Friday 17 January
Portland OR

My first priority was to find some shops nearby that wasn't Downtown. I found Walgreens, various service stations, McDonalds, Radio Shack & more. It's a couple of streetcar stops or a short walk away.

Heading out to the end of the CL streetcar line, I saw a drug coughked woman who wasn't looking well. She asked me if we'd passed the Good Will (their version of the Salvos etc, I presume). I told her I didn't know because I'm not local - that's not hard around here. She apologised & I said that she had no way of knowing that I'm from out of town. Asking where I was from, she tells me she's never met an Australian before.

The end of the line is near OMSI (Oregom Museum of Science & Industry) which is a must see here - I went in 2009. An attraction at OMSI is the USS Blueback, the last non nuclear submarine in the US Navy. As I found out in 2009, what happens in the submarine stays in the submarine.

Visible from the submarine wharf is another bridge - one that is purely for public transport. It is almost joined in the middle & is due to open in 2015. It will among other things complete a loop of the Portland Streetcar.

Leaving OMSI, I had lunch & headed on a random bus with the aim to head downtown. I rode the bus to the end & made it close to the Oregon/Washington border. I was going to catch a bus across the river into Washington but I had a night at the hockey to go to tonight. Besides, there was a lot more of Portland to find or re-explore.

Back on the bus, I headed downtown & wandered around. I found another fire engine (this time on a non medical call) & then headed to Target for supplies. This Target (called City Target) also sells groceries. I forgot to buy a knife to go with the peanut butter & bread that I purchased.

Next stop will be a hockey game tonight.

 

[erkpod]

Walgreens have Pepsi Throwback!



Flying cyclists ahead.



Under construction railway bridge almost joined in the middle.


OMSI front entrance



Captain Obvious to the white courtesy phone (spotted at a car wash)

 

[TomVexille]

View attachment 23097

Flying cyclists ahead.

I did that once. Only the second time I went over the handlebars of my pushie.

 

[erkpod]

USS Blueback









Before you go on the tour (a rather cheap $4.75!), you must demonstrate that you can fit through this space to board the submarine.



The propeller has been taken off the submarine & serves as a memorial for fallen submariners.

 

[erkpod]

Deciding if I should cross from Oregon to Washington.







Portland Fire Department Engine 3

 

[erkpod]

Crossing the river on the Portland Streetcar using the Broadway Bridge. Somewhat surprisingly, the streetcar operators drive with their access door open.



Art near the Hawthorne Bridge. I hope it's not leftover pieces of bridge that they forgot to bolt on.



If you eat at the Red Robin, don't park in the Dennys car park.

 

[spudseamus]

I did that once. Only the second time I went over the handlebars of my pushie.

yeah did that once to ! Got the wheels caught in the track!had to go all the way to the depot to turn around !

 

[erkpod]

Day 17, Friday 17 January
Portland OR

Thanks to my friendly quizmaster & the team's announcer, I headed out to watch a game of (ice) hockey. It was my first live game - I'd be a casual observer of the NHL at best. This competition is one or two levels below the NHL but players do get drafted from the competition to the NHL.

The Portland Winterhawks were playing the Moosejaw Warriors. The Moose team had travelled 17 hours in a bus from the deep Canadian east to get to Portland but it's going to be a long trip back as they lost 8-2.

I had a great time & am returning for a day game on Sunday afternoon. I got to hang out after the game with the announcer downtown which was cool. We have a fair bit in common & I hope we can hang out again before we leave.



Welcoming the Winterhawks to the ice.



Max zoomage on the camera as the Goal Tender (goal keeper) stretches. He was in front of his interchange bench on the other side of the arena.

 

[erkpod]

I did that once. Only the second time I went over the handlebars of my pushie.

Out of all my bicycle riding as a kid, I only highsided over the handlebars once.

 

[erkpod]

Ice cleaning machine







Throwing my puck onto the ice at the second break. Closest to the centre wins $50.



Cheerleaders & the mascot clear the ice of thrown pucks

 

[markis10]

The "Ice machine" is actually a Zamboni.

http://www.zamboni.com

 

[erkpod]

The "Ice machine" is actually a Zamboni.

That's the one! The name was mentioned to me but I didn't know how to spell it. They also had one that multiple people could ride on.

 

[TomVexille]

Out of all my bicycle riding as a kid, I only highsided over the handlebars once.

Problem was I did it as a 20 year old in Christchurch...

First time was when I got cut off by another cyclist.

 

[erkpod]

Day 18, Portland OR
Saturday 18 January

I decided to head out to the PDX food carts today for brunch. I think I was slightly early for many of the carts with the exception of one - they decided to shut shop for the weekend to go & see Justin Timberlake in Seattle.





There was certainly a lot of cultures & cusines on offer. An interesting one was from the country (and not American state) of Georgia.







I want to head back when there are more places open & more people around. This time of year is a bad time of year for food carts because of holidays & the weather.

 

[erkpod]

I decided on the Frying Scotsman (I see what they did there!) for some fish & chips. The fish pieces were massive & I couldn't finish them.









I decided to go on Streetcar Saturday again. I headed to the end of the North South line. But apart from some water & some apartments, there wasn't anything there. On the way back though, I did see what they were calling an "aerial tram" or I'd call it something like a skyway. I'll have to go back out there as I didn't want to spend all day out there.

Heading towards the other end of the line, I found a nail salon spa place so I treated my feet & lower legs.

 

[erkpod]

On the way back to the hotel, I decided I needed to get a knife to spread butter, peanut butter & Vegemite. There wasn't one in the hotel. I decided to skip Target & went to a smaller convenience store. Even with me playing a game of charades, the Asian shopkeeper had no idea what I was on about. It took him a while to work out I wanted a knife (don't have one) & not peanut butter or bread (I have them at the hotel already.



The nail file & sponge thingo & business card that the nail spa salon would not help me to spread condiments. I was going to go to the nearby Walgreens but decided to return to the hotel. I spoke to housekeeping who referred me to the front desk. He found plenty of plastic spoons & forks ...



And finally, I have a knife.

I'm having a rest before heading off to the roller derby across from the hotel shortly.

 

[erkpod]

Problem was I did it as a 20 year old in Christchurch...

First time was when I got cut off by another cyclist.

I can see how that can hurt but could also kill.