Mount Tabor and around

August 6, 2020

When I returned from coffee this morning, Rachael was suited up and just about to head out on her bike. Surprised by this, I reminded her of her advice to trust the weather report outside the window more than the one on her electronic device. Seeing that it was lightly raining out, she quickly changed her plans.

Once the light drizzle finally ceased at midday, she decided to give herself a break from the bike and take a nice walk to Mount Tabor and on east to Graham Butte instead. She returned four hours and fourteen miles later, tired and sore and wondering why she keeps pushing herself so hard.

Taking a day off the bike sounded like a good idea to me too - these epic tree quest rides are killers - so I decided to walk to Mount Tabor myself as well. And then, sensibly, I chose to just walk back home instead of knocking myself out by continuing on for another eight or nine miles. Very nice. I took the camera of course, and took a few random shots on no particular theme.

Like on yesterday’s outing, I had my eye out today for radiant subjects. Not so hard to find, really. What an unchallenging challenge this month!

Radiant subject #2 for the day: the Southern Globethistle, per the PictureThis app I just installed.

Also radiant, if you look at it the right way.

Nothing special. Just a house finch, a bird you see everywhere.

Image not found :( — I’ve never paid much attention to this statue of Harvey Scott at the crown of Mount Tabor before, or been very impressed with the subject itself, an influential conservative voice from over a century ago. We’re taking a second look now though because I’ve learned that the statue was created in 1933 by Gutsan Borglum, the sculptor who also created the monumental works at Mount Rushmore and Stone Mountain. I suspect some of his works are among those that are being torn down now across the country.

A radiant big leaf maple leaf, Mount Tabor.

Bushtit, one of a small flock that passed by, briefly alighting near me and pausing just long enough for me to get a mediocre shot. Cute birds,but frustrating.

A red breasted nuthatch, Mount Tabor. Unusual to see one briefly land in the middle of the road. Not much of a photo, but I was pleased to read up on it in Cornell’s All About Birds and learn where the nuthatch gets its name: “They get their common name from their habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into tree bark, then whacking them with their sharp bill to “hatch” out the seed from the inside.“

In the neighborhood. It’s really refreshing to wander the streets of Portland after spending much of the last four months in rural country. Much more uplifting than Hillary for Prison signs.

It’s date night tonight! Our plan is to dine out at Nostrana, a fairly upscale Italian restaurant not far from here; and then retire to our chamber to watch the next episode of Frankie Drake, our current miniseries.

Nostrana hasn’t been open for dine-in service for very long now, and actually tonight is the first night for service under their large new canopy that occupies half of their parking lot. A delicious meal, but a somewhat odd and almost alienating dining experience. I thought we’d save a few photos to remind ourselves of an aspect of what life was like at this point in time.

We’ve probably dined out at a dozen different places over the last two months. They’re all very careful about the basics - masks, personal distance, obsessive cleanliness, more often than not outdoors - but they all have their own take. Nostrana is at an extreme end, I would say. They go to great lengths to minimize human contact and interaction - you’re really just there for the meal itself, not really for a dining experience in the familiar sense.

We’re outdoors, under the tent. There’s only one other occupied table. At either corner of the canopy stands a service worker to bring bottled water and silverware and answer questions. Next to us is a side table, where masked servers will drop our meal while still maintaining a safe distance.

Instructions for placing our order, which we do over the phone to minimize human contact. We order and pay up front, so at the end of the meal we just stand up and leave when we’re done.

Goat cheese-stuffed pappardelle, with prosciutto and spicy pepper crema. Besides the meal itself, notice the plate - it’s recyclable.

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	7
Comment on this entry	Comment	3

Jen RahnWow! Nostrana has put a lot of thought into safe processes.

Just saw an article about restaurant-related outbreaks in Colorado .. so it's comforting to see this level of care, bizarre as it seems.
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Bob DistelbergSo Rachael, I'm impressed that on your 'day off', you go off and hike 14 miles.
And I agree with Jen, it's nice to see how the restaurant is taking things seriously. We still haven't quite got our heads around going out to eat.
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Rachael AndersonTo Bob DistelbergWell it was a day off the saddle. I really enjoyed most of the walk but I definitely had some sore muscles.
Reply to this comment
3 years ago