There is no other way but to take a page from Andrea's book when they came down my way last Summer...break this trip out into pieces...feed them onto the electronic page bit by very big bit...this post only constitutes days 1 & 2 and it's a doozy in itself.

I mentioned my need to get away as salve. I would miss PickleBoy, yes, but I think the more important reason to go on this trip was that my eye - my camera - needed it. In search of inspiration, to see in new ways, to shake things up. And it really, truly did.

Day 1
Out on the open road, a 10+ hour drive completed in 9.5. Averaging 80, smoking hot temperatures, windows down, a combination of 'This American Life' episodes and crafted playlists to sing me along.

Denise heartily urged me to stay with she and Keith...she being a dear friend of my wonderful B...we had shared a meal together earlier this year during she and Keith's visit to the Bay Area. Upon me asking last minute if it might be ok to stay, "Come on up!!!" came her email reply.

I arrived all wonky and discombobulated from that long, long drive. Denise being a girl after my own heart, we took the lovely Koko for a walk through the neighborhood to stretch myself out, chat our way towards each other. And ended up at a local bar. Sidewalk table, nice cocktails in hand, toasted our B, clinked, tipped back...


and then I looked up and saw a very good sign of things to come.


back home to visit with Keith, to a delicious dinner, delicious conversation, deep into the night...only to arise to an epic day. One of those days you couldn't successfully recreate if you tried. A day more full than any vacation day I have experienced. I tell you what, you should ALL have Denise as a tour guide...let's do this in list form shall we?

Day 2
1. D took Koko and I on another walk. A perfect walk with delight around each corner. It started as a meander through the dreamiest field of my life thus far...

no surprise that we found love there...


2. and then straight on through a tunnel to the old-timey Oaks Park with it's French carrousel...

and it's mirrors full of shall we say "perspective"...


3. on through the park, we found the gate, the steps down to the riverside to give Koko some hearty air time...

and to give me this vision of downtown Portland...

sigh.

4. a delicious Lebanese lunch and then, why not?

5. a quick pop into the 'outdoor' store for a little wander. If this Finnish gas mask weren't so pricey, you KNOW it would now be mine...


6. on to the bead store, lovely but not much luck and D says,

7. "Hey, want to check out this art exhibit I heard about", I say "yes!" Ok, you guys, this exhibit deserves a whole post of it's own, which it will get one day soon but I will give you a teaser now and say this. Wow!! A musty old retirement home, creepy and damp, over 100 rooms, each one taken over by a different artist to do with what they wish? Brilliant. It was called The Manor of Art at Milepost 5. Here is a sampling of some favorite snaps from there...





I need some help and a bit of time to properly credit these artists. I will be linking and giving credit where it's due soon soon soon...

8. Beat. Ready to rest. We stopped in and walked the halls of Kennedy School. SO GOOD but also very quiet on a late Tuesday afternoon...I asked D if we could move on instead to grab a locally brewed beer, a smooth cool sit down and she happily took me to

9. Amnesia Brewing on Mississippi Avenue where I ordered an ale named 'Copacetic' just for it's name. Seriously, if I were to move to Portland, THIS would be my neighborhood. LOVE.

10. Off to drag Keith from work a bit early, for tapas and happy hour...YUM.

11. Then D and I walked along the wooden sidewalks of The Pearl,


visited some of the parks in which Keith is responsible for overseeing the art...


people out and about everywhere, trying to stave off the heat...


12. Heading towards home, a stop at one of the many food cart corners to see what was on offer. Alas, they weren't quite open yet, we were pretty full and tired, yet I will be forever grateful for one of my favorite shots of this trip...

Time will be made on my next visit to try these crepes as well as some of the other infamous carts of Portland.

13. A quick stop at TJ's.

14. And then home in time to say goodbye to the light...


And THAT, my friends, only gets us to the end of my first full day. Yeah, I KNOW, right...?

I would like to add here how very much I appreciate Denise and Keith for their kindness and generosity. It would have been grand indeed if they knew me well, but that they knew me lightly and still rolled the carpet out in such a flourish? Gah! I arrived a happy acquaintance and left the two mornings later with new friends of my own. Hey, you two lovelies! You are welcome to take over my home any day, any time. Although, I suspect B and I may need to arm wrestle over you. Just remember that I am stronger than I look :)