Back In My Element

Wednesday, August 1, 2007 - Day 41

So today was my first day to really explore Portland. Max works all day throughout the week, so I was left on my own. I took care of some things on my computer in the morning and took my time. Unfortunately I woke up when Max did, around 7, and couldn't go back to sleep after he left. I figured I might was well get stuff done and get an early start on the day. Took care of things like cleaning up my bike shoes and listing them on Craigslist here. Looked around on there for some decent day work. Didn't find anything promising.

So it was afternoon by the time I got out of the apartment. I decided to head downtownfirst and check out that area. I was told about a great book store down there as well as a good pizza joint. So I rode around downtown for a while, aimless, just looking around and getting a feel for things. Traffic wasn't too bad in the afternoon and the weather was nice. It was a bit hot, but not bad. I found a nice little park in the middle of downtown. It's a big fountain/waterfall with all these little wading pools and big square stones for kids to climb all over. There were quite a few youngsters playing in the water. Also, as to be expected, your normal dose of child molestars and perverts just hanging out with eagle eyes. They stood out easily. Finally found my way to Powell's, a huge book store. I went across the street to the pizza joint first to have a slice. Did a little people watching from inside. That was really interesting. I also did a litle reading. Then I headed over to the bookstore. I walked around for just a little bit before I found the $5 setion of used books. I browsed for a bit, found a book by Jamaica Kincaid that looked interesting, called the Autobiography of My Mother. I started reading it in the store, read about 25 pages or so, then thought that I might as well buy the book. As I walked toward a cash register, I thought twice. Oh yeah, I don't have any money. That five dollars can feed me pretty well for a day if I play it right. Plus, I have a book that I'm already reading and one in the queue. So I decided to get out of there. Too overwhelming. I decided next to go to Mt. Tabor. I heard it's a nice park.

By this point it was after 5. Traffic had been picking up since I first got to the pizza joint, and by the time I left Powell's, there was quite a bit of it. So I hopped on my bike, now of course lacking the 80 pounds of baggage. Just me and the frame and two wheels. The freedom again to weave and cut and dodge through heavy traffic at high speeds. How I missed that. As much as I love this trip and have really enjoyed touring, seeing the sights at slow speeds, at heart I'm a city rider. I love the thrill of splitting two lanes of traffic, blowing by stopped or slow-moving cars. I love the excitement of narrowly squeezing between a lane of traffic and a line of parked cars, always aware of doors that may be opening at any time. It takes a high level of alertness and, I would say, quite a bit of skill to ride this way through a congested city. Of course Portland has nothing on L.A. as far as danger level, but there are still a lot of cars.

At first when riding my bare back, after taking the bags off the side, I actually felt a little out of control. There is a lack of stabilization that the heavy load offers. Every tiny movement has so much more bearing on manuevering. Slight leans can send you three feet to the side before you even know it. Well, after riding in the afternoon, I was back to my old ways, in full control. I had regained my connection with the bike. So by this time that I was riding through rush hour traffic, I felt very confident and was therefore really able to enjoy myself. It's nice to see here, as well, that there are plenty of other riders like me. You do see them in L.A., but more often than not, riders in L.A. are on the sidewalk or cowering over all the way to the right, often riding in the parking lane. That's just not cool, and actually more dangerous. I've seen some really bold riders here. It's nice because that is expected in this city. Cars are much more used to bicycle traffic and seem to know better how to deal with it. I've heard that there are still plenty of accidents and hit and runs, but with the higher volume and percentage of riders, that has to be expected.

I made it to the park and the top of Mount Tabor, which is about 300 some odd feet high. As soon as I got to the top, though, Max called me. He was back at the apartment, and I had the keys. I was hoping to do some writing up there, but instead I made a quick descent, which was nice, and headed back to his place. I'm going to go back to the park tomorrow. We hung out at his place the rest of the night, did some laundry, got some food.

Tomorrow I really want to check out some more parks around here. I really want to do some writing, so I need to find a serene place to do so. Also, tomorrow night Dusty Rhodes is playing here, so I'm excited about that.

Oh, but I did want to write about an idea I had today. Of course I am always thinking about money, trying to think about how I can find work to sustain myself on this trip. I have thought a few times about selling some art, but it is hard to do that while on the road. I don't have the time or resources to put together the kind of stuff that I do. But I thought about something today. People often tell me that they really like the pictures that I take, that's one of their favorite parts of the journal. Well, I put two and two together, and I've decided to offer up my pictures for sale, in print. Here's how it works. I will sell any of my pictures for $10 a piece for an 8x10 print. I will set up a paypal account to receive funds so that it can be done online, then I will print out and send the prints as soon as I get a chance, when I have access to a printer. I will clean up the pictures and edit them a bit, if needed, before printing. So it may not be until I'm done with my adventure and get back to L.A. for a bit, but I promise that prints will be delivered. It's a great way for people to offer help to me and to get a piece of this trip for themselves. A way that I can share with everyone even more.

So if there are any pictures that anyone would be interested in having a print of, let me know. I am going to try to put together an album of all my best pictures. I have plenty that are not up on the journal. Also, check out some of my other images at www.crestlinestudios.com and see if there is anything there that interests anyone.

Music selectiions for today:
Spoon - Gimme Fiction
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits
Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
Seawolf - Get To The River Before It Runs Too Low (EP)
The White Stripes - Icky Thump


these things are shot


surely someone will buy these


can you spot the potential child molestars?

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