An afternoon break

January 3, 2025

At midafternoon it suddenly occurs to me to check the weather, and I’m pleased to see we’ve got an unexpected two or three hour break from the rain beginning right about now. The Archival Project is rainy day work, so I quickly set the souvenir box aside for now and am on my way to the river with the new camera soon after.

Rachael would go for a walk herself, but she ends up sitting the day out because her foot hurts too much, perhaps triggered by last night’s energetic trip to the gym. We haven’t really talked publicly much about it before now, but Rachael is experiencing the beginnings of arthritis in first her hands and now her feet. It’s one of the reasons we’ve started changing our travel style, with shorter and easier travel days - her hands hurt enough when cycling now that longer rides are a challenge. She’s been meeting with some specialists here to confirm diagnoses and hear about treatment and adaptation options, so I’m sure there will be more to say about this in the months and years ahead.

We’re all getting older folks, each in our own unique and often challenging way.

Before going on to this afternoon’s river walk though, I want to share the funniest thing that’s come our way in at least a week or two (well, probably for at least six weeks, unless you’re into black humor). A couple of days ago Rachael walked over to Safeway on a typical shopping errand, one that included a refill on granola, raisins, English muffins, peanut butter and milk, items that constitute my normal diet when I’m in country and not eating out somewhere.

Before she goes I ask her if she’ll pick up a replacement for the six pack of the Black Butte nonalcoholic beer I’m just finishing up. I show her the can and describe where to find it on the shelf. I’d do it myself, but I don’t want to risk getting carded for such an absurd reason again and would just as soon not carry my passport with me on a beer run.

She agrees, she finds the right brew, she takes it to the check-out line, and then the checker (a different young man of about this time) just rings up the sale, no ID needed. Rachael walks out laughing at the absurdity of the whole thing, and when she’s back she jokes about the fact that she must look more charming or trustworthy. Pretty funny!

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There’s not too much to say about the walk, except that it’s an unexpected delight to get a few hours in on a day when it wasn’t expected. I take a four mile loop, walking south along the river until I come to Salmon Street and then cutting west through the heart of town because it looks like the weather is turning and also because I’ve been poking along playing with the camera and I’m starting to be afraid I’ll be late getting back for our dinner date. I decide to walk (slowly, because I’m developing shinsplints) up to 10th and intend to invest a buck in the streetcar stystem to get me most of the way home. When I get to the nearest stop though I see the next northbound tram isn’t due for 18 minutes, and it doesn’t seem worth standing there that long when I could be home by then so I just walk it in.

The real news from the walk though is the new Canon. Every time I go out with it now I feel more in control and confident, and I’m starting to get a handle of firing off short rapid bursts while holding the camera reasonably steady. I’m starting to really like the beast, and am convinced that eventually I’ll consistently come home with as good or better shots as I did from the Lumix, and will surely identify more birds too.

The preserved remnants of the Centennial Mills tower, an obvious graffiti target.

Nope, not gonna fall for this one again.

This female house sparrow is about it for small birds today, but the point is how much more proficient I’ve quickly become with the larger camera.

Today’s Steel Bridge shot. More to come.

Oops! At least I’ve found an effective means of not losing my glasses while taking the shot.

All the usual suspects. You’d think there’d be a short-billed gull down here in one of these crowded scenes, but I haven’t spotted one yet.

Very colorful also. Actually this doesn’t bother me at all but the vandalism at the top of the Centennial building annoys the heck out of me.

Looking west on Taylor past the Jackson Tower Building to the Fox Tower.

Standing on the corner of Powell’s Books, looking north up 10th Avenue at the Ritz-Carlton skyscraper.

For dinner we walk down to Ninth Avenue to Eleni’s Phyloxenia, a Greek restaurant we’ve been coming to for probably 15 years. We only make it there once or twice a year now when we’re back in town, but in the past it was in the rotation for a visit every few months.

The restaurant was founded by Eleni, a Greek expatriate who retired and sold the business not long after we went vagabond. We were really sorry to see her go but later were surprised it remained open under its original name and is actually better now. Tonight we’re greeted by the familiar server who’s been welcoming us for some years now. As we look around while she approaches the door to greet us, we see that like Alora rhis is aso a place that hasn’t changed its looks on us. It too looks identical to how it did the first time we stepped in the door - same long, narrow hall with a row of glass mirrors on the right that make the place feel twice as wide as it actually is; same Minoan artwork on the opposite wall - which always seemed odd to me because I think Eleni is from the Peloponnese, not from Crete.

When our server arrives she immediately asks where we were last night. Even though we’re only once or twice a year any more she knows our name, and apparently we made a booking error and booked our table for the wrong night.

In Eleni’s Phyloxenia, another long-time restaurant like Alora that looks identical to the way it was when we first stepped in the door probably fifteen years ago.

We’ve been seated back in the back near the kitchen, and so I notice for the first time this other artwork that’s further back still. The new phone with its superior camera helps because it performs so well in low light conditions.

There’s always a fish special on the menu, and tonight we both opt for it - a filleted branzino with vegetables, and we agree.it’s excellent. Mine pairs nicely with lemon water, since they’re out of the Spanish NA beer they often have in stock. Maybe next time, when we’re back in March..

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Suzanne GibsonI'm glad you're making friends with the new camera. It always takes a while to get comfortable with the different buttons, settings and size. And I find my small handlebar camera bag is very quickly accessible. Once you get used to it,you might find that setup just as fast as the back pocket on your bicycle jersey.
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2 weeks ago

Scott AndersonTo Suzanne GibsonThanks for the reminder to get a handlebar bag, something I haven’t traveled with in probably 20 years but looks perfect. I’ll need a bit more carrying capacity anyway, because the bags are about maxed out as it is.
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2 weeks ago

Scott AndersonTo Suzanne GibsonAnd thanks again for the nudge. I just ordered one from Lone peak, express delivery so it will arrive before we leave for Tucson.

Which happens next Monday, btw!!!!!
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2 weeks ago

Ben ParkeRachel might give some thought to a recumbent bike. Takes all the pressure off the hands (and pretty much everything else.) Azub makes the origami which is a folding recumbent. I’ve managed to stuff it in a Tern Airporter suitcase. It was my touring bike before I migrated to Velomobiles. Same 20” wheels as your Bike Fridays. Has a built in pannier rack. Nice little bike. I still have mine but haven’t ridden it now in a couple years.
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2 weeks ago

Scott AndersonTo Ben ParkeThanks, Ben. There has been talk of that, or of going to flat handlebars and so on. She’s going to start with consultations with the specialists to see what ideas they can come up with for her. Ideally she’d rather keep with the BF because she feels so secure and familiar with its handling.

The good news though is that we’re not thinking about converting to a tandem so she can lead a sightless copilot any more.
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2 weeks ago

Lyle McLeodKirsten suffered from sore wrists (early stage arthritis as well) and switching to flat bars with Ergon GP3 grips have made a big positive difference. The grips are the main game changer in her opinion. The GP3's have a small 'bar end' that gives an alternate hand position that is pretty close to riding the hoods on a standard drop bar configuration.

https://www.ergonbike.com/en/product/?a=griffe

I'm sold on this configuration too. I've got drop bars on my lovely old Kona Kappu steel road bike, but ride flats with Ergon grips on everything else (which is 90+% of our riding)
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2 weeks ago

Scott AndersonTo Lyle McLeodThanks so much for that, Lyle. That’s really helpful and encouraging. I’m sure she’ll look at it when she takes her bike in for its overhaul when we get to Tucson.
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2 weeks ago