riverfront
It rained all last night and into the morning, with gray clouds hanging low over Portland throughout the afternoon, but about an hour after getting home from work I noticed sections of blue sky opening up above, and decided to put some miles in on my bike.
I took off in the direction of the Willamette, thinking that a trip south along the Springwater Corridor before crossing the Sellwood Bridge and coming back along the west bank sounded like the right number of miles for me on this particular day.
I was nearly to the Portland Opera House on the east side when I heard a sharp report, and the distant sound of people shrieking in delight. Coming around a bend in the trail, I saw two sailing ships circling ’round each other, just north of the Ross Island Bridge, and occasionally one or the other would fire their cannon in a burst of smoke and thunder.
Not for the first time on this ride I cursed myself for not having packed my camera along. Still, it wasn’t as if I could get a good shot, anyway: I was out of sidewalk and was looking out at the dueling ships through several bushes and the gangplank for one of Portland’s river cruise ships. Grudgingly I remounted my bike and made to resume my trip around the river.
I hadn’t gotten very far before I looked over and realized that gate to a private parking lot on the edge of the river was open, and that at the edge of the lot where the ground dropped away suddenly to the river was a perfect spot to get a shot or two of the ships — I’d be close enough to get a good shot even with my cell-phone camera. I hopped off my bike and picked it up over one shoulder, carrying it with me as I jogged across the gravel lot. The security guard either didn’t notice me or consented to ignore me as he went about his rounds. I walked right up to the edge of the embankment, and snapped off a few shots with my phone as the ships circled again, firing away. I got at least one shot good enough to share.
i didn’t know portland had real live actual PIRATES! awesome!
And that very riverfront is going to be under one hell of a celebration this week…in the rain….with the Rose Festival going on. Ships arriving today, I think? I just heard that it’s within two feet of flood stage. I tell you, we live in one hell of a place here. Absolutely beauty perfected. Thanks for sharing.
You guys have pirate ships? That is so awesome!
I’m moving to Seattle very soon, and I’m happy as can be, that’s my town. But I pushed my wife really hard to find a job in Portland because I love it there and have always really wanted to live there. Now, with the Pirates moving in, I’m extra bummed.
I’m pretty sure I asked Portland very nicely to relocate itself adjacent to Wenatchee. I see no signs of it yet. This is tragic enough on its own, but now that you have pirate ships?? Seriously. Get on it, already.
Also, you’re riding your bike? Beautiful.
Cool! Those are quite the sailing ships.
I know quite well how frustrating it can be to see a good shot and have nothing with which to take it. I’m glad you found a spot that would work for your cell’s camera.
That’s it…Portland is back on the short list of new life locations for Hilly.
I forgot it was the Rose Festival this weekend. I should drive into the city, but it’s SO FREAKING EXPENSIVE to do the festival on the waterfront anymore!
The pirate ships are all sorts of awesomeness.
I just said the other night that I’ve really been missing a good old-fashioned cannon ship fight.
kat, we have actors who play pirates, which is the next best thing to real live pirates.
lewis, the river IS super high, there were a lot of tree around the waterfront that are almost completely submerged.
miss britt, they’re awesome, AND they shoot cannons at each other.
brandon, I think you made the smart move, what with all the pillaging that’s about to ensue.
shari, we tried to make the move earlier this month, but ran into some complication with zoning laws, they said I should talk to my lawyer.
claire, the spot and the sun were perfect, and I actually did go back the next night with my other camera. stay tuned for those pictures.
adena, you’re not the only one who forgot. ahem.
karl, it was a sight to see alright.
Argh! I missed Hilly on the first round of replies. I meant to say:
“hilly, you’d best hurry, who knows if anything is going to be left once the pirates are done with this place.”
I love the smell of cannon fire in the morning.
Great shot with a phone.
There’s going to be a few more where this came from, hopefully. I need to go through my shots from the next day and see which are worth publishing.
i think i was in portland last year for rose fest, but somehow missed out on all the action! i want to see pirate ships, too!