Living in Portland is truly astonishing sometimes. The opportunities to have a relatively "wild" nature experience within the city limits, are plentiful, and always wonderful! Forest Park is over eight miles long, Mt. Tabor park, 10 blocks from my front door, is on top of an extinct volcano covered in old growth pines, and the Willamette River bisects the east side from the west, and virtually laps at the very doorstep of downtown Portland.
We experienced nature in a very different way from the usual ones last weekend when we decided to check out a canoe rental shop near the river. Under the Hawthorne bridge is a cute little dock and canoes for rent for a very reasonable price of $10 p/hour, or $30 for a 4-hour float. They have life jackets, paddles, and a canoe dolly to get it to the dock. Then, you're on your own, and we gingerly set out, hugging the shore.
The Mr. and I are enthusiastic canoe novices, and we are very careful adventurers. "SAFETY FIRST!" is my battle cry, followed by "DON'T FORGET THE SNACKS!" which usually makes for a very pleasant experience, all told.
Canoeing along the Willamette River in downtown Portland is FABULOUS, and surreal. You float beneath busy bridges you usually cross in a car, bus or on a bike, but now rush-hour traffic is whizzing over your head, oblvious to you at the foot of the pillars below, bobbing along in the shade with the ducks. So cool! There are freeways crossing the river too, and you see huge semi trucks gliding far above you as you float along.
There are the other water crafts like the huge yacht cruising by with people drinking on its deck, leaving a massive but gentle wake that rocks your canoe in a thrilling fashion. ("thrilling" is a relatvie term, for us safety-loving adventurers, it doesn't take much.)
A speedboat whizzed by pulling two people on what looked like an inflatable couch!
But the real surreality begins when you float by the enormous submarine at OMSI which we have named "Monstro" in honor of the whale. It is a very strange feeling to float right by that beast, and then turn to watch the Portland aeiral tram with its little silver pods gliding overhead on its cables.
Then, just to really make our eyes get round with wonder as we tried to paddle a straight line past the submarine, we saw a catapult. Above us on the cliff of the shore, was a catapult pulled back and released just as we took notice. It catapulted something into the air and out of sight and we heard cheers break out. Then the onlookers came into view, high five-ing each other. We felt happy for their ovbious catpult success, but confused as to where we were....what exactly is going on here?
I HIGHLY recommend renting a conoe under the Hawthorne bridge and floating carefully around the Willamette river near downtown. Although strange, it is so beautiful and peaceful, and safe, if you're careful! Next time I plan on bringing a little folding back rest and a cooler with better snacks! xo DR
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