A Three Hour Tour

Saturday was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was shining and the air was crisp. Jesse suggested that we ride our bikes out to the farmers market, but I was having a little trouble motivating myself to shed the pj's that early in the morning. So, we both had a hearty breakfast and made plans to bike up to the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland. The initial plan involved stopping for an afternoon snack once we got there and then on our way home hitting a new brewery for an afternoon pint.

We rode our bikes on the west side of the Willamette River along the old industrial area that I've never seen before. Further south, there are tons of abandoned warehouses with funky old signs and a rusted out railroad track that leads to nowhere. As you ride north though, the area is still pretty vibrant, with lumber storage, a glassworks, and tons of oil and gas storage sites. The hill leading up to the St. Johns Bridge is a pretty steep climb, but we took our time and stopped for a picturesque view of the bridge. It is really quite breathtaking.


St. Johns is pretty far north of downtown and until 1915 was an independent city. I got that feeling about five seconds after we crossed the bridge. Immediately, we heard the sound of a high school band and old car horns honking. We picked the perfect day to experience St. Johns, just in time for the 47th Annual St. Johns Day Parade and Carnival.

It was quite an experience. A lot of people refer to the neighborhood as charming for it's small-town feel. I'm not sure if charming is the first thing that came to mind. It seems like nice quiet neighborhood -- I can certainly see why some people really love it there -- but it's just not for me. We hastened our exit shortly after having a pretty sub-par pastry from the local bakery, and saw that our lunch destination, The Big Kahuna BBQ, had become a drive-through burrito joint. Knowing that after first half of our bike ride we both would need some grub, I was ready to high-tail it out of St. Johns to more familiar territory.

The ride down the east side of the river was really beautiful. The area between St. Johns and the University of Portland is lined with lovely old trees and has a really nice feel. We coasted down the road and enjoyed the afternoon. Final stop? Amensia Brewing on Mississippi Avenue. I had a delicious veggie burger and Jesse enjoyed a giant spicy bratwurst with sauerkraut. We ate our afternoon meal in their outdoor seating area that reminds me a lot of a biergarten. My only complaint? Well, except for the seasonal brew (Belgian-style) and a lonely porter, every beer on their menu is a pale ale. Dude, Portland, I get it! You love your hops, but cut a woman a break! Porter in the summertime is not very refreshing. Branch out just a little? Please?

I'm so glad the weather is improving and we are able to explore the city a bit more by bike. I'm looking forward to our next neighborhood adventure.