Day After Portland Marathon 2014

All body parts were ready, willing, and able, although moving slower than normal.  Walking was the best solution and was done immediately after washing up following our 26.2 mile run as well as early the following morning.

After cleaning up from our excursion around Portland with 9000 other marathoners (actually not sure of the runner count but that was what we heard), we went to Buffalo Wild Wings for sandwiches, tacos, beer and wine.   Hungry and thirsty for something other than post run healthy snacks and water, the ambrosia of fattier choices and alcohol went down pretty well.

We did a lot of walking and stopping in places of interest before heading back to the room where it took all of 5 minutes after hitting the pillow for our eyes to close and heavy snoring to begin. Up early the next morning, our last morning in Portland, ready to stretch those tired limbs, we found a delicious little breakfast-bakery called Cheryl’s on 12th.

Healthy, hearty and filling

A shared bowl of steel cut with raisins.

The “Green” egg white omelet with fried peppers, avocado, fruit and dry rye.

Portuguese rice for Ted with eggs, brown rice, vegetables and Portuguese sausage. This was the house specialty and everyone around us was ordering it. Ted said it was good.

An after breakfast surprise arrived at our table

Fresh, hot, moist, delicious Beignets!

Following our late morning meal, we rented a car and took off to Bob’s Red Mill Store.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get there in time to catch a tour, from 10 to 11 am, but we spent time perusing all the loaded shelves in the store and the restaurant.

Across the street was Dave’s Killer Bread. Always organic and made with whole grains, seeds and quality ingredients.

The sampling of Seeded Honey Wheat practically melted in my mouth.  It was light and flavorful.  Wish there were room in my suitcase since they had a special on the purchase of 4 loaves. 

We left Milwaukie Oregon, or rather Bob’s and Dave’s and set off to the Pittock Mansion.

A house of historical significance and visual magnificence, the Pittock Mansion offers an opportunity to peek into the past, and study our world as it was – from the viewpoint of one Portland’s family.

The Pittock Mansion was home to Portland pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock from 1914 to 1919. During the late 1800s and the early 1900s, their lives and work paralleled the growth of Portland from a small Northwest town site to a thriving city with a quarter million population. 

A beautiful mansion with gardens and an outstanding overlook of the Willamette River and Portland.  Back in 1916 when it was in it’s “heyday”, with the tree line shorter/smaller the view must have been spectacular.  In the photo below, justice isn’t done with a cell phone camera as we tried to capture the peaks of Mount St. Helens and St. Adams.

After finishing our mini tour, we dropped off the car, spent an hour off our feet back at the hotel and decided to do our final walk along the water front park where we eventually stopped at McCormick & Schmick’s for dinner while watching the Seahawks beat the Skins.

Our last walk past the fountain.

Memories, so many memories.  The days before the marathon, enjoying the city, river walk running, the expo, a cruise along Willamette River, food, wine, beer.  There were too many beers to try in this city of beer, city of trains, city of bridges, and city of roses.

The day of the marathon beginning with the national anthem which runners sang together, an organized wave start, so many wonderful volunteers and spectators was one of the best marathon day’s I’ve experienced.  I say that boasting 14 marathons in my pocket at this point in 7 different US States.

Will we revisit Portland? Oh, it just might be in the cards.