Oh my gosh. I don’t know if there’s anything better than a Portland summer. I realize it is ironic that I say this, since I have spent a lot of this summer so far not in Portland, whether for fun travels elsewhere or for work in the Washington woods. But omg.
.
(This was not Portland; this was an amazing 4th-of-July backpacking adventure to the Olympics:)
.
Last night, James and I went to a free outdoor concert at Mt Tabor Park, which was packed with folks of all ages dancing, picnicking, and just enjoying the evening outside with awesome music. We unexpectedly ran into some friends there and ended up walking and biking home with them, which always makes me feel like I’m part of a sweet community, when I randomly run into people I like and then proceed to un-planned-ly hang out with them:)
.
(In another not-Portland adventure, we also went backpacking with our two little nieces (and their parents;) in Tahoe and it was THE BEST <3 )
.
Omg. And this evening I escaped for a bike ride after a long, long work week and everyone was outside playing, it seemed like. I was passed by two also biking dudes wearing signs on their backs, one of which said “less crude; more nude.” (As far as I know, the World Naked Bike Ride isn’t till the 26th, but perhaps there was a smaller naked ride happening today?:)*
I passed a different, non-naked Bike Summer ride, at least 60 folks on bikes looking happy riding together with decorated bikes. (Side note: this morning, just in the course of normal commuting, I also saw many people riding decorated bikes, like one with a giant stuffed whale on the front, and a woman wearing a helmet with a Santa hat on it, which I assumed were all holdovers from variously-themed Bike Summer rides;)
There was an ad hoc concert full of young folks happening in the abandoned Ross Island cement factory. There were a million smiling folks on bikes and scooters and foot and rollerblades on the Springwater path. At least 15 people were out picking blackberries into containers or directly into their mouths.
I could not stop smiling. I love this so, so much about Portland, the unbridled adult joy and play.
Awwwww I love my little part of the world so very much <3
.
(And I also love all the sweet adventures I’ve been able to have outside of Portland this year:)
.
I feel very grateful <3
.
*Ah, I see now that there was a “Full Moon Naked Bike Ride” this evening. That’s probably where they were going;)