Breakfast, Bridges, Ducks, Beer, BPAL, Board Games, & Wild Ice Cream Combinations.

Hey folks, another post continuing my Geekonomic Stimulus tour of the Pacific Northwest.

I don’t think I could ever get tired of looking at the Willamette River. I have to say I was truly lucky to have so many sunny days on my trip there. I suppose it could get a bit gloomy most of the year but still, all that water has to make up for it.

 

The day started with waking up from one the most comfortable couches I had ever had the opportunity to use, and I have slept on many couches. Well, I suppose I woke up because Morris was a meowing, so I let him out while I mulled over what to do the rest of the day.

Once my gracious host Rachel roused herself from bed, the immediate plan for the day was set, with grabbing breakfast from Pine State Biscuits. Some truly massive biscuit making was underway as I witnessed through the window, but unfortunately reflections prevented good pictures from being taken.

Instead, here’s a view of the inside. It was a really nice looking kitchen, and the staff worked with crisp efficiency.

Coffee #4 I think. It was …partially Ecuadorian I think. Or something. They had ran out of one kind so I ended up doing halfsies of one kind and another. Either way, it was a delicious brew to start the day.

There were many options worth considering, such as The Reggie, The MsIsley and The Wedgie, but I opted to stick with what they were known for, biscuits and gravy. Well, I opted for something a bit more, The Moneyball, which is biscuits and gravy with a fried egg on top.

Ok, I also opted for the Double Down, an addition of yet another egg.

Hmmm, I’m beginning to see what decision making habits led to my weight gain after my trip. Anyhow!

A really beautiful space. I liked all of the vertical space and the mason jar lights.

I also liked the slow ooze of the yolk once I cut it into my egg and biscuits with a fork. The egg was fried perfectly and the biscuits had the right amount of give and butter to just blend perfectly with the sausage gravy. Man, these were great.

After breakfast, Rachel and I went back home to say our goodbyes and so I could pack up my gear to get on with my adventure. Morris was waiting outside to say goodbye as well.

Oh this cat. So great.

I decided to go back to the Esplanade to kill a few hours before meeting with Tristan J. Tarwater (author of The Valley of Ten Crescents trilogy and the author of A Fistful of Lunars), who I’d be staying with for the rest of my planned (and unplanned, more on that later) time in Portland.

Thanks to my time with Nathanael I knew of a great place to park for a bit and make my way around the Esplanade.

There’s a sub! I’d have to have went into OMSI to get a ticket to go in. Maybe next time.

Bridges! I looooove the bridges here. So many shapes and sizes to choose from.

In hindsight, I really needed to go to OMSI, if only to eat here. Truly a place a Cook and a Geek needs to eat at.

Lots of interesting things to look at while walking around though.

Here’s the U.S. Submarine Memorial.

There were many educational signs around the river.

The hinges could have used some greasing honestly.

More learnin!

I thought this was an apt thing to note during a road trip.

Did I mention I dig the bridges?

I think you get the idea.

Nah, here are more bridges.

Yeah.

Uh huh.

Wow.

Hey get off the sidewalk you tourists in a moving tourist trap! You’re straddling the pedestrian and bike portions of the sidewalk! Jerks!

Anyway, all bridge tours must come to an end and soon enough I figured it was time to head over to Tristan’s, since her daughter had apparently asked when lunch was, but first I’d stop at the Whole Foods to pick up some things to share with my gracious hosts.

I love how nerdy the barley wine bottle was. There’s even a character sheet attached to it.

By the way! Whole Foods in Oregon has Growler fills! Curse you California and your restrictive alcohol laws! I’m so jealous!

Upon arrival at Tristan’s, I was greeted by the sight of ducks.

Man, I love ducks.

I was also greeted by Leelu.

After looking around to meet and greet with Tristan’s lovely family, we headed to Pizza Roma, a pretty casual pizza by the slice place.

I had The Predator and a good beer that I have completely forgotten the name of.

While pretty straightforward, I give solid marks to this place for delivering a slice that hit the spot, as well as not being ridiculously overfilled with people.

We made our way back home and Tristan gave me a tour of the yard, introducing me to the ducks.

And giving me a number of alpine strawberries to snack on.

Good gravy, they were positively divine.

Tristan and her daughter also shared with me the experience of some of their Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab collection.

I was pretty stoked by some of the characters on offer.

True story, Jareth was one of the scents, and after smelling it I said “David Bowie smells amazing.”

Without missing a beat, Tristan’s daughter called me out with a “That’s creepy.”

It was the best experience of being called out ever. Hilarious. Adorable.

Here’s Crowley by the way.

And here are some other scents. Apparently the alignments and races and perhaps classes are meant to be blended together for a unique combination.

Lawful smells somewhat… like pine and peanut butter.

Elf smells somewhat… woodsy and spicy at the same time?

We also played a rousing game of Baldrick’s Tomb, a pleasant and heartwarming game of dungeon exploring and screwing over fellow explorers.

This was my character.

I am somewhat abashed to say I managed to pull off a win through stealing from both Tristan and her daughter. It was a gameplay mechanic, honestly!

After Tristan treated me to a great dinner of vegetable laden lasagna (which I am sad to report I don’t have pictures of) we headed over to grab some dessert at Cloud City Ice Cream.

I really need to stop doubling down on things.

The top was “Gold Digger $” chocolate and peanut butter, which through cloud city math = love.

The bottom was “The End Times!” -59% cordillera single origin chocolate + cinnamon + habaneros. It was enlightening and yummy.

Anyway, after that it was back home for Tristan and her husband to wrangle their daughter to bed to get ready for school the next day, and after that it was a somewhat early night of just hanging out.

It was pretty neat to see a can of 21st Amendment beer on hand at their house. The 21st Amendment brewpub is really close to my work, no more than three blocks away.

Anyway that concludes my Monday in Portland. More excitement to come!

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• Animals of the Pacific Northwest
• Geekonomic Stimulus Portland Edition Day 1