On a housemate's laptop
Jul. 28th, 2007 02:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aprilstarchildIs it even possible to fall more in love with A. Portland and B. bicycles?
Because I totally did last night.
The online listing was for 8:45pm, and I figured that was probably more accurate (it was) so I got there around 8:30...riding the Eastbank Esplanade near sunset in such perfect weather was so fantastic, I have to say. With the gorgeous purpley-pink and orange sunset and the almost-full moon, I wished I had my camera.
So I got to the West side of the Steel Bridge and met up with Patrick, who was the one who told me about the ride (I ran into him as I got out of work a few days ago, he volunteers nearby with the IPRC, the people who run the Zine Symposium and help people publish their zines). He rides an Electra cruiser, which I road around in circles a few times. It's weird to sit that far back, but I can see the appeal. But oy! Only one speed, what a bitch to go uphill. And coaster brakes make it trickier to start from a complete stop--I swing my pedals around so that the left one (that's my dominant leg) is just past the top, so when I step on it I can get up some momentum quickly. With coaster brakes you're kinda stuck wherever you stopped.
Anyway. There were some people off on a food run, so a few more people collected and some of us chatted and waited and wondered. Then our Fearless Leader showed up and apologized for taking so long. Turns out this was the first Mystery Movie ride!
One guy had a speaker and iPod hooked up to his belt. First thing it plays is a Le Tigre song I fucking love. And then ABBA. YES! I ended up trying to ride near him the whole time just so I could hear the music. *lol*
We went by the beer festival going South on the Waterfront. Drunk walkers and fifty or so bikes don't mix well, lemme tell ya. They'd try to get out of your way and instead get into your way. I'm surprised no one got hit, but we all managed. People cheered at us and a few asked why we weren't naked. *LOL*
It was an awesome mix of people--a few people on fixies, a guy on a tall bike, someone on a dutch-style bike (hub gear, coaster brakes) in pressed chinos and a button-down shirt that I see on my commute a few days a week. Lots of pretty "normal" looking people, and a guy from Japan that had seriously just gotten off the plane, rented a bike, and joined the ride. He still had a huge-ass bag on his back.
The ride went over the Hawthorne Bridge and then headed due South, mostly through residential neighborhoods. Whenever someone on their porch/walking said Hi, everyone would ring their bells. So freaking awesome.
We went to an art gallery and walked around. I talked to a guy named Eric who was super-cute, about Icelandic graffiti, that rocked.
The ride went on to Oaks Bottom Wetlands via residential streets parallel to Milwaukie. There's a little ampitheatre there, and they'd set up a screen and projector with someone's laptop. There were big speakers too. First there were a few 80's vids, which was fun but not a lot of people were dancing. Then we watched the movie Frida, about Frida Kahlo. An odd selection, I think, but it was really good, even if Salma Hayek was kinda over-acting in places. People were passing around beer and food. My helmet makes a good headrest. I'm glad I brought a blanket.
After that movie, they played more music videos for a little while. By then, of course, people had been drinking, so there was a lot more dancing. And I realized I knew someone there--she'd looked familiar, she thought I looked familiar too. I asked her name, which was Rochelle, and I laughed..."We had French class together at Hilhi! I was a Junior and you were a Sophomore!" Sure enough. She lives less than a mile from me, and she just got a job at People's, so I'll see her here and there now. I had such a crush on her in high school. I told her that, which she thought was sweet.
After that they played a movie by the guy from Talking Heads. I would have liked it better if I wasn't so tired by then. And I'd been texting way too many people. So I ride home, taking the Springwater Corridor back to "civilization."
So that makes twice I've biked to Oaks Bottom. In the dark. *headslap* I was still pretty tipsy on my way home (three beers over a few hours on not much food) but I wasn't too worried. Not much traffic at three am. Hah.
Tonight I'm going to see Mandala, the student troupe where I take my bellydance lessons. They're performing at 6:30 at Mississippi Pizza, which is at N. Mississippi and Fremont-ish. Not a long ride. :^) And I get to ride the Eastbank Esplanade for the second time in two days, sweeeet.
I was going to go to some of the Division/Clinton street fair stuff today, but most of them were aimed at kids, so meh.
Because I totally did last night.
The online listing was for 8:45pm, and I figured that was probably more accurate (it was) so I got there around 8:30...riding the Eastbank Esplanade near sunset in such perfect weather was so fantastic, I have to say. With the gorgeous purpley-pink and orange sunset and the almost-full moon, I wished I had my camera.
So I got to the West side of the Steel Bridge and met up with Patrick, who was the one who told me about the ride (I ran into him as I got out of work a few days ago, he volunteers nearby with the IPRC, the people who run the Zine Symposium and help people publish their zines). He rides an Electra cruiser, which I road around in circles a few times. It's weird to sit that far back, but I can see the appeal. But oy! Only one speed, what a bitch to go uphill. And coaster brakes make it trickier to start from a complete stop--I swing my pedals around so that the left one (that's my dominant leg) is just past the top, so when I step on it I can get up some momentum quickly. With coaster brakes you're kinda stuck wherever you stopped.
Anyway. There were some people off on a food run, so a few more people collected and some of us chatted and waited and wondered. Then our Fearless Leader showed up and apologized for taking so long. Turns out this was the first Mystery Movie ride!
One guy had a speaker and iPod hooked up to his belt. First thing it plays is a Le Tigre song I fucking love. And then ABBA. YES! I ended up trying to ride near him the whole time just so I could hear the music. *lol*
We went by the beer festival going South on the Waterfront. Drunk walkers and fifty or so bikes don't mix well, lemme tell ya. They'd try to get out of your way and instead get into your way. I'm surprised no one got hit, but we all managed. People cheered at us and a few asked why we weren't naked. *LOL*
It was an awesome mix of people--a few people on fixies, a guy on a tall bike, someone on a dutch-style bike (hub gear, coaster brakes) in pressed chinos and a button-down shirt that I see on my commute a few days a week. Lots of pretty "normal" looking people, and a guy from Japan that had seriously just gotten off the plane, rented a bike, and joined the ride. He still had a huge-ass bag on his back.
The ride went over the Hawthorne Bridge and then headed due South, mostly through residential neighborhoods. Whenever someone on their porch/walking said Hi, everyone would ring their bells. So freaking awesome.
We went to an art gallery and walked around. I talked to a guy named Eric who was super-cute, about Icelandic graffiti, that rocked.
The ride went on to Oaks Bottom Wetlands via residential streets parallel to Milwaukie. There's a little ampitheatre there, and they'd set up a screen and projector with someone's laptop. There were big speakers too. First there were a few 80's vids, which was fun but not a lot of people were dancing. Then we watched the movie Frida, about Frida Kahlo. An odd selection, I think, but it was really good, even if Salma Hayek was kinda over-acting in places. People were passing around beer and food. My helmet makes a good headrest. I'm glad I brought a blanket.
After that movie, they played more music videos for a little while. By then, of course, people had been drinking, so there was a lot more dancing. And I realized I knew someone there--she'd looked familiar, she thought I looked familiar too. I asked her name, which was Rochelle, and I laughed..."We had French class together at Hilhi! I was a Junior and you were a Sophomore!" Sure enough. She lives less than a mile from me, and she just got a job at People's, so I'll see her here and there now. I had such a crush on her in high school. I told her that, which she thought was sweet.
After that they played a movie by the guy from Talking Heads. I would have liked it better if I wasn't so tired by then. And I'd been texting way too many people. So I ride home, taking the Springwater Corridor back to "civilization."
So that makes twice I've biked to Oaks Bottom. In the dark. *headslap* I was still pretty tipsy on my way home (three beers over a few hours on not much food) but I wasn't too worried. Not much traffic at three am. Hah.
Tonight I'm going to see Mandala, the student troupe where I take my bellydance lessons. They're performing at 6:30 at Mississippi Pizza, which is at N. Mississippi and Fremont-ish. Not a long ride. :^) And I get to ride the Eastbank Esplanade for the second time in two days, sweeeet.
I was going to go to some of the Division/Clinton street fair stuff today, but most of them were aimed at kids, so meh.
