Thirty-five!

July 7, 2023 to July 8, 2023

Friday

We’re fast running down our four week stay in Portland. With the stressful passport renewal ordeal behind us (hopefully!), we’re entering a shutdown mode. Today it’s a last coffee date with Bruce, dinner with Elizabeth, and a bit of exercise. For Rachael, ‘a bit of exercise’ translates as a 48 mile ride out to Oregon City, which will leave her wondering afterwards why she’s feeling tired and achy. 48 seems to be Rocky’s new magic number, and today is the third time in the last week she’s ridden that far.

For myself, a bit of exercise begins with the ride over to Clinton Street to meet Bruce. It’s overcast and cooler this morning, and feels refreshing as I bike south along the waterfront to Tilikum Crossing. Along the way I’m surprised to find another new bike path I haven’t seen before, connecting Tom McCall Park with Tilikum Crossing, following right along the water on grounds recently opened by the former Zidell Yards. It’s still pretty bare and drab, but I’m sure will blossom into a fine addition to the riverfront scene within a few years.

A new bike path on the south waterfront, between the Marquam Bridge and Tilikum Crossing. It’s a nice alternative to the usual route up Moody we’ve taken for the last few years.

No need to limit yourself to just one lot in life. Many paths are possible.

Afterwards, I hop on the Rodriguez and head north to the Columbia Slough, thinking I’ll take one last chance at seeing the cliff swallows that nest under the footbridge there. No cliff swallows and no new species today, so that’s a disappointment. The bald eagle makes it worth the trip out though, and conditions are excellent - it must be almost 15 degrees cooler than yesterday.

Along the Columbia Slough. It’s really more attractive with a bit of cloud cover like this.

I thought I saw this guy the last time I was out here, but he was too far away then to be sure.

What? Another heron shot? Haven’t we already seen this bird?

Anniversary date

Thirty-five years ago Rachael and I shared our vows in a simple ceremony before a JP while our friends the Farriers stood up for us, with Shawn standing beside. Afterwards we all retired to Geppetto’s on Lancaster Drive for a Chicago style deep-dish pizza and then Shawn, my new bride and I drove up Santiam Pass for a backpacking overnight at Duffy Lake at the foot of Mount Jefferson.

Thinking back now, I get mixed up on what our ‘real’ honeymoon was. I think it was a four night bike tour in the San Juan Islands we took a few weeks later, the newlyweds memorably spending one of their honeymoon nights in a tugboat in the bay at the foot of Mount Constitution, which we climbed the next day. The tugboat was a poor choice under the circumstances, since our cramped cabin included a narrow, single-person bunk bed. We did our best, hauling the two mattresses down to the floor and cramming them together so we could sleep next to each other.

Or it could have been our excursion to Stehekin up in the North Cascades, which happened at about the same time. If you’re familiar with Stehekin, it’s up at the north end of long, finger-like Lake Chelan. We got there by riding the ferry, the Lady of the Lake, which we caught at the ferry landing in Chelan at the south end of the lake, reaching it after a very long after-work drive up from Salem. We arrived well after dark, and crammed ourselves into the back of Rachael’s Ford Escort hatchback to sleep until the morning departure. Sometime in the middle of the night we were awakened by the flashlight of a security officer checking in on us, but fortunately he let us stay and get a few more hours of fitful rest. Again though, not an ideal way for newlyweds to pass one of their first nights.

And Rachael reminds me of a highlight of our stay in Stehekin - I forgot my glasses about two miles up the mountain on an afternoon hike. We didn’t realize this until we were back at our cabin, and immediately rushed back up the slope to find them. We did, but it was nearly dark by the time we made it back.

So this has been going on a long time. I should have been keeping a log of lost glasses episodes, but it’s surely in the double figures by now.

On the one hand, it’s so hard to believe it’s really been 35 years. On the other hand though of course it’s been so long, as we look back on at all the adventures and travels we’ve shared together. I’m such a lucky man.

We celebrate in the best way possible: with a 44 mile ride out to the Troutdale Airport and back followed by a light Italian dinner sitting outdoors at Via Delizia, and closed out with a live music concert in an intimate outdoor setting.

In the sink of the rest room in Blue Lake Park. Good thing someone came along to rescue the little guy before he got flushed down the drain!

Almost home, Rachael dashes ahead to pick up another 0.1 miles so she can round up.

Sound check. Local artist Tony Furtado is an exceptional singer-songwriter-instrumentalist. Two time winner of the national bluegrass banjo championships, he’s toured with folks like Alison Krauss, Derek Trucks and Gregg Allman.

Tony is married to Stephanie Schneiderman, a local artist we’ve followed off and on ever since moving to Portland when we first saw her performing at Jimmy Mak’s.

Heart

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Today's ride: 74 miles (119 km)
Total: 581 miles (935 km)

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Comment on this entry	Comment	14

Keith AdamsCongratulations on the 35 year milestone. That's more than half of Rocky's life if I've correctly done the math.
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10 months ago

Suzanne GibsonCongratulations on 35 years!
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10 months ago

Gregory GarceauHappy Anniversary and may your 36th year be the best ever!
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10 months ago

Bob DistelbergHappy Anniversary! Seems like you’ve had a great 35 years. Here’s to many more!
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10 months ago

Scott AndersonTo Keith AdamsIt’s true. Getting close to that point myself.
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10 months ago

Kirsten KaarsooHappy Anniversary. We can have a celebratory drink together when you visit us in Canmore.
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10 months ago

marilyn swettHappy Anniversary! Your honeymoon sounds like ours - we backpacked to the top of Mt. Elbert in Colorado - the highest peak in CO. at a bit over 14,000 ft.
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10 months ago

Scott AndersonTo marilyn swettBut did you take your kid along with you?
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10 months ago

Scott AndersonTo Gregory GarceauHope so! It’s a promising sign that we’re hoping to meet up with you later this summer. Any year that includes a reunion with Tough Guy Garceau is bound to rank high.
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10 months ago

Rachael AndersonTo Bob DistelbergDefinitely!
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10 months ago

Rachael AndersonTo marilyn swettYour honeymoon is much more impressive!
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10 months ago

Janice BranhamA worthy celebration of 35 years. It figures that you'd struggle to pinpoint which adventure among so many was the 'official' honeymoon. Happy anniversary!
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10 months ago

Scott AndersonTo Janice BranhamThanks! And Rachael knew the answer to the mystery when I brought it up to her later. The San Juan Islands were the honeymoon escape. The trip to Stehekin was a pre-wedding tryst we slipped away for before the wedding. So Rachael had her chance but missed it - she could have reconsidered before it was too late after enduring a night in the trunk of the Escort and a hike to retrieve my lost glasses.
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10 months ago

Sandy EarleHappy Anniversary to the two of you! What wonderful memories!
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10 months ago