[usa16] portland

Arriving in Portland in a shroud of mist and rain I fail to make sense of the city map at Union Station and head toward the wrong bridge of the Wilmlette River. Up here in the rain, eighty feet above the water I make the discovery that Converse trainers do not grip well on wet steel and skid into the railing a little bit too close too a midday swim for comfort.

I find the White Eagle Bar and Hotel, but I am three hours too early to check in. I leave my bag in the charge of the barmen come waiter come receptionist and his hectic lunch hour and head downtown. The centre of Portland is much smaller than the other cities I've vistied, with a tighter grid of streets and much smaller buildings. Although one of the largest cities in Oregon it feels like a small town and it is a while before I work out where the centre actually is. The overiding factor that seperates Portland to everywhere else on my route is how green it is. The trees, the streets, the buildings, the hills all permeate a deep green that makes me feel like I should be wearing a heavy check jacket and driving a pick up... it just does OK.

After being asked for directions for the tenth day straight, and endulging in an interesting milk free ice coffee at the Backspace internet cafe I head back to the hotel intending to get a bit of rest before taking in the evening's live music in the bar downstairs. Instead it seems the early starts and the walking have caught up with me and despite lying just a few feet above a live gig I am asleep before I mean to be.