Saturday 4.23pm Having spent all afternoon indoors watching bad TV, reading, drinking coffee and waiting for Tony to finish work, I decided to spice things up a little. It was time for a road trip. We hadn’t been to Portland yet and it’s only 2 hours away.
I Googled ‘motel Portland OR’, came up with a stunner at $44.99 a night.
The pictures on the web site looked pretty clean and almost hotel-like. Inside though, I was secretly hoping for a seedy roadside dive. The web site said it had a heated pool. The odds were against. I called the number.
“Hullo?” I could hear beard and spittle in his voice.
“yeah…”
Perfect. I booked the room then called Tony to say I’d pick him up from the shop after all. Full of adrenaline and caffeine, I picked a bag, some underwear, toothbrushes and a towel, filled the water bottles and headed off to the gas station to fill up. The car is a thirsty beast.
4.55pm Should I get chocolate milk for the ride? Mmm they were good the last time (hand made with ice cream and sauce). And it is close. But you’ll be sitting on your behind for 3 hours and eating when you get there. Better not.
5.05pm I pull up outside the shop. There are no customers. Great. We can get off quick. I tell Tony that the coat I have ordered has arrived at the Mall and I want to go pick it up before we go to the party we had planned to be at. (This was a cunning plan to cover my excitement and get heading in the right direction on I5 before the big reveal.)
5.20pm Finally we’re in the car. I’m acting ticked off that it took so long to leave. I get on the Interstate and drive towards the Mall. Tony pricks up a little as we miss the first turning, but calms down as he remembers there’s a second. It’s only 2 miles away.
20 minutes later….”Gill, where are we going?”
We were nearly at Olympia. Oh the fun of it!
I had decided to use the internet to facilitate this visit. Free Wifi is all over Portland and I have a handy little iTouch. I turned on the GPS, posted on Facebook and waited for inspiration and suggestions. This was to be a 21st century exploration.
With a combination of recommendations from friends, walking round the streets and reading local papers, we had a most excellent adventure. Here are the Facebook threads to see how it went.
Saturday 8.24pm Is in Portland! Road trip! And we're staying in a real motel sweeeeeet
Eric
I'd go here! Always a good time!http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Portland-OR/Marys-Club/140824671681?ref=search&sid=1430589219.3469985345..1
Sat at 8:42pm
Dan
Portland Rose Garden / Leif Erickson park
Or Mount Tabor or Rocky Butte. Tomorrow walk along the water front. The zoo is quite lovely. Do you have car or did you arrive by train?
Sat at 8:43pm ·
Dan
Multnomah Falls is a gorgeous little hike.
Sat at 8:53pm
Dan
Voodoo lol
Sat at 8:59pm ·
Gillian
We're about 1 block from voodoo :) starting with a cocktail then moving on. Thanks for the ideas!
Sat at 9:16pm
Dan
If you're up to it.. Jakes Oyster House is fun. They have a late night $1.99 menu from 10p to 1am
Sat at 9:18pm
Dan
If you are careful (some unsavory sorts panhandling) There is a GORGEOUS Chinese gate marking the entrance to China Town. And Portland has beautiful fountains.
Sat at 9:25pm
Gillian
Change? Spare a dollar? They're all on the scrounge!
Sat at 10:07pm
Dan
LOL
Sat at 10:56pm ·
10.09pm Checking out the guns n roses tribute act at dante's!
10.46pm Change of plan- local bands for local people at backspace. Yummy burgers at berbati
Sunday 10.13am Watching tv in bed in a seedy motel. Could it get any better? Hmm breakfast...
Dan
Yes... Powell’s is at 1005 W. Burnside Ave
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POWELL’S CITY OF BOOKS
... See More
The streetcar trundles by one of the world’s great bookstores — Powell’s City of Books — several times an hour, and visitors should step off to get lost in more than 1 million new and used books in the infamous store that covers an entire city block. Just about every topic on this planet — and our solar system — is covered in this rambling temple to words on paper. Looking for that cool book from 6th grade? It’s probably here. And the best book you’ll read this year probably is as well.
Sunday 10:15am ·
Dan
Another super fun thing (and mostly free if you don't go outside the downtown area. Otherwise it's $2 for for the whole day)
http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/map.php
You can take the Aerial Tram at the south end of the loop. you ride it and can can see ALL of the city. And on clear days you can see mountains.
7.19pm Chinese garden was beautiful. Powell's was huge. Tony on voodoo donuts 'that place is just so full.... Of donuts'! Back in Tacoma now and ready to take Monday by the horns :)
Now that's what I call a Sunday.
Most entertaining :) More, more.
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