I Got Around

It's hard for me to believe it's been over a week since I returned from vacation. The laundry is done; the luggage has been stored. My computer room/office is still a mess, but only slightly more so than before. Digital photos have been downloaded from the camera into the won't-talk-to-the-Internet iMac for safekeeping, but will now apparently have to wait even longer before they are available to the world (unless I put effort to The Alternate Solution).

This was a traveling vacation. Aside from the cross-country flights, I had opportunity to use light-rail transportation, foot transportation, a streetcar, and a rental car (which I drove in two states).

Portland has extended their light-rail system directly to the baggage claim area of the airport. I wondered if I would be the only fool rolling my luggage onto the train — so not the case. There was barely room for the people, with all the luggage. Wheel on at the airport; wheel off a block from my hotel. I then used the light-rail and streetcar system in downtown to get around for two days, along with a decent amount of walking. (Portland's downtown is very walkable.) The day I rented a car, it was only to get me further out of town so I could go hiking. Two trails, probably about three miles total. One hike was just over a mile long one way, and up the side of a bluff about 700 feet, to the top of Multnomah Falls. Funny, it took me much longer to go up, than to come back down. The trail had one evil twist (a more natural twist than, say, on Boy Meets Boy, but...): The last tenth of a mile went back down from a ridge. I had to do some hiking uphill both ways — literally!

On the way back down, I saw where some fool in a bright orange shirt had climbed over the protective railing near the top, and was on the opposite side of the top of the falls, over 600 feet above the splashdown pool. "Darwin Award nominee" came to mind.

Other than that, lots of driving. Five hours down I-5 to my parents' house. Two days back up the Oregon Coast to Portland. More hiking. Driving over to Vancouver, Washington, for dinner with college friends. Driving down to Salem for a reunion event. More use of light-rail and walking in Portland to take advantage of a gorgeous Sunday afternoon (80° and sunny).

I am so ready for the next trip...