How 2020 Changed Things ~ Part 1
The Year 2020 Started With a Bang
Everything in my life was going smoothly: I retired, my sister moved in with me, and together, we had various exciting experiences. We made it through the holiday season of 2019 and were looking forward to the new decade.
Looking back 2019 was full of changes, fun with friends and family and I was looking forward to more in 2020 and beyond.
Then, on January 21, 2020, things exploded when news of a highly contagious and potentially lethal flu-like virus began to hit the headlines. It entered the United States via the West Coast in Washington State. This virus was new, with no available vaccination and I live in the state where it was first reported in the United States. Despite the fear surrounding it, I didn’t feel personally threatened and carried on with life as usual, although with some caution. My sister, understandably, was more apprehensive about the situation. While I took precautions, I still ventured out and interacted with others somewhat.
Portland, Oregon 1/30/20 thru 2/10/20
During the first week of February, I had plans to visit friends in the Portland, Oregon area and attend The One Motorcycle Show. This event featured several activities, including racing, with one of the classes being a minibike race that two of my friends were participating in.
In preparation for my trip to Portland, I phoned my friend Lee to see if we could meet up while I was there and possibly attend the show together. Unfortunately, he would be in Montana during that time. However, he generously offered me the use of his condominium in downtown Portland, which was conveniently located just across the Willamette River from Veterans Memorial Coliseum where the show was held. The Broadway Bridge is making it an easy pleasant walk.
Staying in Lee’s condo was a luxurious experience for me. Despite a few homeless individuals camping nearby, the area around the condo and the route to the Coliseum felt clean and safe at the time. Unfortunately, this has changed since.
A New Bed for my Van
I decided it was time for a change in my van’s sleeping setup. While the cot I was using served its purpose, I wanted something more convenient. Taking down the cot every time I needed to haul something in the van was becoming cumbersome. I had my sights set on a Murphy bed-style system for easier handling.
My friend Allan volunteered to build it for me, and since it was February and I’d be driving to Portland in the van instead of riding a motorcycle, it was the perfect time to make the switch. Allan worked on it after his regular job, and I enjoyed spending time with him while he crafted the new bed for my van. Now, with the bed that flips up and attaches to the wall, I can easily haul things in the van and even fit two small motorcycles inside.
The bed turn out great and I’m so happy I was able to get this done. I appreciate Allan taking time out of his busy schedule to do this for me. Between, measuring, shopping for supplies, cutting supplies, painting the same supplies, some welding, placement, and finishing it took most of the week.
Mini Bike Races
Meeting up with friends at the One Motorcycle Show and the races was the highlight of my week. I really enjoy the buzz around the races in the pits beforehand and the thrill of watching the races. Although I’m not competitive myself, I love cheering on my friends as they race.
The mini bike races, while competitive, are more about having fun. They’re not as serious as the main races, with many riders dressing up in costumes and enjoying the playful atmosphere.
However, the fun took a dark turn when a group of racers showed up late and clearly intoxicated. Despite the rule stating that racers had to attend pre-race inspections and riders meeting to be eligible, the promoter made an exception for this group due to their numbers.
During the race, things seemed lighthearted as everyone raced in their costumes. But then, to my shock, one or maybe two riders from the intoxicated group deliberately crashed into one of my friends, causing him to wreck. Despite being close to the incident, the track officials didn’t intervene, and the offending rider wasn’t penalized.
After the races, we discussed the incident, and our two riders were unaware of what was going on with the intoxicated group. They mentioned receiving hostile comments from them before the race, but we couldn’t figure out why there was a problem in Portland, especially since we’d all participated in a similar event without issue before.
Tired from the day, we parted ways, making plans for our next gathering before we did. Despite being offered a ride back, I opted to walk and enjoy the beautiful evening and capturing some photos of the river’s lights along the way.
More Fun in the Area Before Heading Home
My friend Barbara had been inviting me to go hiking with her to a waterfall for a while. Typically, I prefer solo hikes because I’m slower than most people, and trying to keep up or lagging behind isn’t enjoyable for me—I end up feeling breathless.
However, since I was in the area for a week, I decided to join Barbara for a hike. She’s a good friend and promised to go at a pace that suited me. She adjusted her speed so that we hiked together, and I didn’t feel like I was falling behind.
Overall, it was a great day, and I appreciated the time spent with my friend.
Time to Return Home but First . . .
Since I am retired, I didn’t feel rushed to get home, although my plan when I woke up was to make it home by the end of the day, even if it meant arriving late. Sometimes I prefer to head straight home, but on days like this, I enjoy taking my time.
When I choose to take my time going home from Portland, I often opt for the Historic Columbia River Highway. It’s a narrow and winding road that’s fantastic for motorcycling, although it’s not quite as enjoyable in my van. Nevertheless, I still appreciate the scenery along the way.
The Columbia River Gorge, east of Portland, Oregon, boasts more than 90 waterfalls scattered on both sides of the river. While Washington also has its share of waterfalls, they don’t compare in number to those on the Oregon side. Some of the Oregon waterfalls are located right next to the Historic Columbia River Highway, with pullouts making it easy to stop and enjoy. These waterfalls are fed by various sources, including glaciers, snowmelt, and winter rains, cascading from cliffs, slot canyons, and rock formations
Latourell Falls Adventure
After enjoying the hike to a waterfall a few days before with Barbara I wanted to stop at another waterfall. With plenty of time on my hands, a visit to Latourell Falls in Guy W. Talbot State Park was added to my day. This 249-foot waterfall is truly spectacular. There’s a parking lot at the trailhead, and a short, paved path leads to the lower Latourell Falls, just five-minutes from the parking lot. This type of easy hike suits me perfectly, but I decided to continue on the rest of the two-mile loop to see what else I could find. The trail was rated as easy, so I felt comfortable going further. Along the way, I had the chance to admire the 1914 Bridge that spans Latourell Creek, which was a highlight of the hike, aside from the falls themselves.
The past week had been a refreshing break, especially with the constant news about the virus. It was a relief to disconnect from all that and simply enjoy the company of friends and the beauty of the outdoors.
Although I enjoyed my time exploring trails and waterfalls, it was time to head back home. When I’m on the road, whether in my van or on my motorcycle, I prefer not to be driving after dark. This is especially true when I’m on my motorcycle; being stopped before nightfall is a priority. Visibility decreases after dark, and there’s less margin for error. Motorcycles, with their smaller size and fewer lights, are also less noticeable to other drivers. While I still aim to be off the road before dark when driving my van, it’s not as critical.
Driving east through the Columbia Gorge, I soaked in the sights of the majestic Columbia River, the rugged terrain, and the windmills dotting the hilltops. Despite having traveled through this area numerous times, it never fails to captivate me.
Fortunately, the drive back home was smooth, and I arrived before nightfall as planned.