The view of the Portland skyline is stunning. Unfortunately, phone cameras aren't good at capturing stunning views when the sun is shining directly into them, hence the white blob off in the distance.

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When I passed by the restaurant where he was sitting yesterday evening, Rich left behind a cold beer just to come walk with me for a while.

I spent last night with these guys, eating, talking, listening (to what, you will soon find out), and walking (we took a post-dinner stroll around nearby Lone Fir Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Portland).

From left to right: Betsy, Scotty, Mark

Almost.

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Thanks to Lindsay (posing) for inviting me over, and Patrick (her friend in LA) for remotely buying me a delicious burrito lunch.

Meet Roger (left) and Buddy, the guys who designed and built, respectively, my extraordinary Runabout stroller. I've pushed that poor thing 3000+ miles across some extremely rough terrain, never once oiling it or performing any other maintenance, and it's still rolling like a champ. Absolutely amazing.

I also spent the night at Roger's house. He took me and his grandson, Bailey, out to dinner at Huber's, the oldest restaurant in Portland. At Roger's recommendation, I had a turkey dinner (their specialty) and a Spanish Coffee (the preparation of which involves, among other things, the tableside ignition of booze). And not to be outdone by some restaurant, Roger cooked up an enormous feast for breakfast this morning before I left.

Roger and his wife, Jan (who was unfortunately sick during my visit), used to run the well-remembered Ice Cream Saloon in Beaverton for many years (in fact, our host at Huber's remembered going there as a kid).

A man of many ideas, Roger built a vertical (to drain the grease without mess), infrared (to cook the meat evenly) hamburger broiler for the Saloon. Among other works-in-progress are a kitty litter scoop and a truck-mounted sawbuck. And in addition to the Runabouts, Roger and Jan are also currently making BMX seats (they used to run a BMX track next to the Saloon) and fruit syrups. Quite a diverse line of products!

Portland's light rail system

Roger, Bailey, and I took a little stroll after dinner and checked out the view from the roof of The Nines, a downtown hotel. I believe all those people were gathered to watch an outdoor movie.

There was quite a party going on when I arrived! Tony and Conny (and their two daughters) invited me over for the night. Conny's parents were visiting from Switzerland. Another good friend and her niece (who was visiting from DC) came over for dinner. And then, after we finished eating, the neighbors showed up (with homemade beer). A festive end to my time in Greater Portland!

From here, it's just three short days over the mountains (where one last cell dead zone likely awaits) to Tillamook, and then the final march north to Rockaway!

By the way, Tony builds pumpkin cannons for the annual pumpkin patch events at his parents' farm in northwestern Washington. So if you live nearby and want to blast a pumpkin 2000 feet (!), you should go visit around Halloween.

Clockwise from left: Tony, Pam, Terra, Willy, Conny, Doris, Alyx, Kerrigan

Even in context, it was totally unclear what this sign was talking about.

Inside!!

It was not at the winery.

Boing.

This must be where they buried that giant submarine.

And my final mountain range.

once lay the community of Idiotville. I'm not sure what Brian has to do with this.