Today we did a short sunrise bike ride on the Marina Drive Trail.
The sun was popping. The trail was smooth.
We had to go fast because we had other activities planned.
Only 8 miles this morning but a good taste for the next time we do it.
After the ride, we drove 20 minutes to Revolution Hall. Revolution Hall is a lively mixed venue space in downtown Portland. It used to be Washington High School. Now it's a coffee shop, holds 2 live music venues, and a rooftop bar.
I wished I could stay longer because seeing a concert in a former high school cafeteria or auditorium would be super fun. I haven't been to a high school in many years and on this trip alone I've been to two.
After coffee we went to the roof for yoga AND a poetry reading.
How cool is that?
A teacher named Julie asked herself: What do I want to do this summer?
Herself answered:
I want to be outside.
I want to write more.
I want to do more yoga.
A weekly community event was born.
She created a weekly outdoor yoga writing event to hold herself accountable. And now, a bunch of strangers are holding her accountable too. Being on that rooftop, with the morning breeze doing yoga was magic.
I didn't think it could get any better and then in walks Emmit Wheatfall .
He's a poet, a documentarian, and a local legend in the Portland creative arts community. He did something beautiful for us upon his arrival. He knew we were wrapping up our yoga class and that he was "up next". He took his shoes and socks off to "honor our space" while he delivered his powerful prose. I found this to be a thoughtful and interesting performance approach. Even though feet totally gross me out, I appreciated the sentiment. He performed several original poems as we sat or lay under the sun. His style was inspiration with a twist of humor and his words were strong. I left the event feeling happy and curious about Emmit. I want to watch his documentary and listen to more of his poetry. Reading it would be fine too but don't cheat yourself the opportunity to hear his voice because his voice is what brings his poetry to life. I also want to hire him as an opener for a general session for an event. I think he would crush the intro to any event.
Next up was PSU Farmer's Market. We had heard it was the "best" Saturday Farmer's Market and made it a must-see exploration. Parking was easy and the gorgeous tree lines streets created the perfect shade for wandering. There were no artists or gifts at this market. It was mostly food, drink, and music. I found some delicious green salsa for myself and Kimchi for Scooter. We also took a CROSSWALK QUIZ! Aunt Dena and I got excited because we thought it was a quiz at a crosswalk. We were ready to compete and answer questions of the world at a Portland crosswalk.
It was not the quiz we had anticipated but it was better.
It was an actual quiz about crosswalks.
Did you know:
-As soon as a pedestrian steps into a crosswalk the driver needs to yield to said pedestrian.
-The most frequent road accident is in a crosswalk.
These are fun facts we learned from the crosswalk quizer. The quiz was created and delivered by bike and walk advocates in Portland. I appreciated that they took the time at a community event to make the community safer and empower us with knowledge. All Farmer's Markets and local festivals should have a crosswalk quiz.
We didn't like any of the lunch fare at the Farmer's Market and it was definitely time for lunch. Our next adventure was McMinnville. Just an hour south of the city is a cute little wine town that I was once kicked out of for drinking too much wine and being too loud in the days of yore. I was determined to redeem myself, see McMinnville in daylight, and depart the city without merchants chasing me out of their establishments with brooms.
Mission accomplished!
We had lunch at a cute spot called Humble Spirit. (ironic considering my spirit was less than humble the last time I was in this town) It was picture perfect--outside, light breeze, albacore deconstructed tuna salad, and sparking pinot noir! We wandered the streets of the quaint historic district, listened to music, went antique shopping, and learned about the robust alien history of McMinnville. I may have been under a UFO rock for years but I did not know there was a UFO siting in McMinnville in 1963. Did you?
When I told my husband about this he said:
"Mandi, this is a famous story. Everyone knows about the UFO sighting in McMinnville"
There were alien gifts everywhere.
One cashier informed us:
"Our annual alien festival in May is second compared to Roswell and we're creeping up on them"
McMinnville is very proud of its alien heritage.
I had no idea. We bought alien and non-alien gifts and adventured home for yet another early bedtime.
I was happy to have a new experience in McMinnville. While there I shared many stories with Aunt Dena about the fun I had with my gal pals in the days of yore.
This time, we left the town on our terms, and in good graces. Here's a pic from my last trip to McMinnville.
We have one last day in Portland before I head back to San Diego and Aunt Dena heads back to Ohio.
Next up: Final Ride AND An Arts and Music Festival!
I've learned so much on this trip. If you have any questions about Portland or the surrounding area, reach out to me anytime. I am happy to share my favorite spots and experiences.
#biketravel #mcminnville #mcminnvilleoregon #aliens #ufosightings #winecountry #oregonwinecountry #rooftopyoga #oregonyoga #portlandyoga
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