A Tale of Two Bike Rides
Summer in Portland has started! June is here and this is the tale of two bike rides. Last week we could see the temp was going to rise into the high 90’s to numbers too complicated to contemplate. So we decided to go to the river.
Here’s Chloe and her bike helmet she painted after the Meatwad character from the Aqua Teen Hunger Force cartoon.
From our meeting place in downtown we rode on my big bike down the greenway along the river. Here we are on top of the Sellwood Bridge. Chloe hasn’t ridden her bike on a ride this long before, and with the crazy heat I decided it would be best if she was a passenger on the back of my bike.
AQUA TEEN!
It is indeed nice down at Sellwood Riverfront Park in the cool waters of the Willamette river.
You’ve heard of that guy “Jesus”? Well, he’s more than your Mexican gardener. Meanwhile, Chloe has gotten so into the band Weezer (she’s wearing a Weezer t-shirt in the above photo) that here she is showing us how to accept Weezus into your heart.
We rode back into town.
If the art ain’t good, then Goodwill don’t have it, none.
Just like any normal teen, Chloe requested a bowling pin for an early birthday present.
By the time we go on the train we had ridden the entire river loop around the city. Both sides of the river, from north to south. We were both pooped, but what a great day!
Bike Ride #2
Here I have my bike loaded up with Chloe’s bike. For today she was going to go on the longest bike ride she’s taken to date. One of the things you can do with a cargo bike is tow other bikes.
CUTE!
On the waterfront I spotted this goose family, keeping the little ones cool in a puddle by the walking path.
We were on the west-side greenway, headed to the big Goodwill in Sellwood.
We rode about 15 miles on this day. This being Portland, almost the entire trip was done on bike paths.
Lunchtime at New Seasons! Chloe survived the big hill!
Speed Racer! Chloe briefly absconds with a little-kid scooter left abandoned on the sidewalk.
After an hour at the Goodwill “bins” dad is going a wee bit bonkers.
Here I am imitating “Art”.
Go, Chloe, Go!
From Sellwood we took the Springwater Trail to the 205 bike path.
And we made it back to my place! Total milage of about fifteen miles.
Chloe made it, but we were both ready for a sit-down and dinner.
Just to show off how great this bike is, here’s a shot from this morning when my housemate Drew and I hauled home 5+ metric grocery bags on it.