Bend, Or
Day 22
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
One of the seeds of this trip was this idea to explore different cities. What really made one city different than the next? As someone who has lived in one area most of their lives, what do I desire from a place I call home? One day in Bend is all I needed to know that it is a place I would enjoy living. From the friendly people to the river raging through the middle of town. There was something special about this place. So, maybe not soon, but I have a feeling I will be back here one day, perhaps to stay.
Check-Ins
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 11:12am
Meet Cinder. I stole him from my host and we went exploring in the city…that has a freaking, raging river rushing through it. 😲
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 12:22pm
This is a river!
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 12:34pm
Rivers are water that decides to move in the same direction.
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 12:55pm
Here is a photo of water having fun, splashing around and over rocks!
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 3:34pm
The beer here is made from river water that decided it wanted sacrifice itself for humanly pleasure. Camera shy: Yummy NACHOS!
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 5:26pm
Bend’s river beers come in different flavors. They were all super delicious.
Drinking: Humm Zinger Kombucha Radler, Deschutes Riverbank Bock, Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Fresh Squeezed IPA, Origin Story Milk Stout.
Check-Ins
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 11:12am
Meet Cinder. I stole him from my host and we went exploring in the city…that has a freaking, raging river rushing through it. 😲
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 12:22pm
This is a river!
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 12:34pm
Rivers are water that decides to move in the same direction.
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 12:55pm
Here is a photo of water having fun, splashing around and over rocks!
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 3:34pm
The beer here is made from river water that decided it wanted sacrifice itself for humanly pleasure. Camera shy: Yummy NACHOS!
Day 22 – June 13, 2018 ∙ 5:26pm
Bend’s river beers come in different flavors. They were all super delicious.
Drinking: Humm Zinger Kombucha Radler, Deschutes Riverbank Bock, Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Fresh Squeezed IPA, Origin Story Milk Stout.
Bend, Or
Day 23
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Spent the day out playing in nature. I chatted it up with some of the local wildlife and mountain biked some amazingly fun trails.
Check-Ins
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 11:30am
This backward microscope is AMAZING! Unfortunately, we didn’t get to play with it during my stay.
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 1:17pm
Scrumptious fuel for the riding to come!
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 2:55pm
This is my face. Time to mountain bike aimlessly and attempt to find Phil!
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 4:12pm
There were many of these cute and fuzzy creatures running around. This is Fred, he has a master’s degree in nut gathering. Fred identifies as a ground squirrel.
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 5:25pm
Not a cute and fuzzy creature, per se, but super cool nonetheless! Meet Palmer, he's just commuting to work to devastate all the nearby pine trees in preparation for the great infestation!
FUN FACT: The Pandora Pine Caterpillar, like Palmer here, is a tasty treat to the northern Paiute native people.
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 10:18pm
After conquering some of the best trails I’ve ever ridden and making some new woodland friends, I needed some late-night munchies. And a beer of course.
Check-Ins
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 11:30am
This backward microscope is AMAZING! Unfortunately, we didn’t get to play with it during my stay.
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 1:17pm
Scrumptious fuel for the riding to come!
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 2:55pm
This is my face. Time to mountain bike aimlessly and attempt to find Phil!
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 4:12pm
There were many of these cute and fuzzy creatures running around. This is Fred, he has a master’s degree in nut gathering. Fred identifies as a ground squirrel.
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 5:25pm
Not a cute and fuzzy creature, per se, but super cool nonetheless! Meet Palmer, he's just commuting to work to devastate all the nearby pine trees in preparation for the great infestation!
FUN FACT: The Pandora Pine Caterpillar, like Palmer here, is a tasty treat to the northern Paiute native people.
Day 23 – June 14, 2018 ∙ 10:18pm
After conquering some of the best trails I’ve ever ridden and making some new woodland friends, I needed some late-night munchies. And a beer of course.
McKenzie Bridge, Or
Day 24
Friday, June 15, 2018
The internets told me of a great waterfall and a giant blue pool that was about an hour’s drive away. I probably should have saved it for my way to Portland, as it was along the way. But the day demanded something special. And so while my bike and I did almost slide into a frigid, raging river, my leg torn up and a bloody mess, I count the day as a complete success.
Check-Ins
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 10:27am
I decided to order a simple Bloody Mary with breakfast. 😮
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 12:51pm
My trail companions. It was only about a 20-minute ride to the falls, but with almost no flat, smooth terrain. My shocks and triceps definitely got a workout.
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 1:04pm
What a magnificent place. I went above the falls to the McKenzie River feeding it. The water was quite the frigid 37 Fahrenheit (2.8 C), so I decided not to take a dip.
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 2:02pm
The pool was like rippled glass and the bottom was easily seen. Its blue cast was fantastic. A random forest animal passing by told me that a lava flow 1,600 years ago buried a stretch of the McKenzie river. It resurfaces at the Tamolitch pool seeping up through the porous lava, creating a pristine turquoise blue-colored pool. The falls are dry the majority of the time, so this was a real treat. 😊
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 2:12pm
Took a second to sketch the falls.
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 3:02pm
Climbed down to a semi-precarious cliff edge where a nice human-person offered to forever immortalize my spirit in an image.
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 3:12pm
Some of the most technical mountain biking I've ever attempted. And I nailed it. But once on a flat, safe part of the trail, I stop and pause to catch my breath, and as I put my foot down...it slips, I fall, and I go tumbling down a hill, sliding, pinned upside-down under the bike, leg cut, bleeding, and bruised. A few feet further would have dropped me off a cliff, a significant number of feet down into the quickly moving, ice-cold raging river. 😖
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 4:35pm
Hey look, Mount Washington, the first president of mountains!
FUN FACT: The mountain is notorious for its erratic weather. At the summit, a recorded wind speed of 231 miles per hour (372 km/h) holds the record of highest measured wind speed not associated with a tornado or tropical cyclone!
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 6:22pm
The damage.
FUN FACT: Special receptors called nociceptors send a signal to the brain when we hurt our bodies. There is the first phase of pain, known as fast pain, then the second phase of pain, causing a person to experience an intense, burning, aching, sometimes overly debilitating pain that persists, sometimes long after, the stimulus has stopped. 🤕 😣
Check-Ins
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 10:27am
I decided to order a simple Bloody Mary with breakfast. 😮
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 12:51pm
My trail companions. It was only about a 20-minute ride to the falls, but with almost no flat, smooth terrain. My shocks and triceps definitely got a workout.
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 1:04pm
What a magnificent place. I went above the falls to the McKenzie River feeding it. The water was quite the frigid 37 Fahrenheit (2.8 C), so I decided not to take a dip.
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 2:02pm
The pool was like rippled glass and the bottom was easily seen. Its blue cast was fantastic. A random forest animal passing by told me that a lava flow 1,600 years ago buried a stretch of the McKenzie river. It resurfaces at the Tamolitch pool seeping up through the porous lava, creating a pristine turquoise blue-colored pool. The falls are dry the majority of the time, so this was a real treat. 😊
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 2:12pm
Took a second to sketch the falls.
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 3:02pm
Climbed down to a semi-precarious cliff edge where a nice human-person offered to forever immortalize my spirit in an image.
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 3:12pm
Some of the most technical mountain biking I've ever attempted. And I nailed it. But once on a flat, safe part of the trail, I stop and pause to catch my breath, and as I put my foot down...it slips, I fall, and I go tumbling down a hill, sliding, pinned upside-down under the bike, leg cut, bleeding, and bruised. A few feet further would have dropped me off a cliff, a significant number of feet down into the quickly moving, ice-cold raging river. 😖
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 4:35pm
Hey look, Mount Washington, the first president of mountains!
FUN FACT: The mountain is notorious for its erratic weather. At the summit, a recorded wind speed of 231 miles per hour (372 km/h) holds the record of highest measured wind speed not associated with a tornado or tropical cyclone!
Day 24 – June 15, 2018 ∙ 6:22pm
The damage.
FUN FACT: Special receptors called nociceptors send a signal to the brain when we hurt our bodies. There is the first phase of pain, known as fast pain, then the second phase of pain, causing a person to experience an intense, burning, aching, sometimes overly debilitating pain that persists, sometimes long after, the stimulus has stopped. 🤕 😣
Portland, Or
Day 25
Saturday, June 16, 2018
A goodbye to Bend, and while circumstances did not allow much time with my friend Lorealle while there, it was nice to see her nonetheless.
Now, it was on to Portland where some of my oldest friends showed me around town. And I finally was able to explore the mind-blowing, one-city block cathedral that is, Powell’s Books.
Check-Ins
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 8:50am
Goodbye Bend! Big thank yous to my amazing friend Lorealle for making me unhomeless these past days. Wish we could have hung out more; I’ll definitely be visiting again!
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 2:23pm
Portland with CURTIS and RENE! All set to explore the city, our first stop was this fantastic Cuban restaurant for some yummy comfort food. I didn’t order the chicken though; I inquired and the chicken’s papers claimed it only had a tiny 2-acres to roam free on. It was local though. #blameportlandia
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 3:55pm
Faith47. “Capax Infiniti” 2014. Art Mural.
Here is the beautiful art mural, “Capax Infinit" made by South African artist, Faith47. It's painted on the side of the Carlyle Building downtown. Hey look, Washington Street!
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 3:55pm
This was discovered in Powell’s ‘rare books’ section. I was very close to purchasing it.
FUN FACT: A pulp author, Fredric Brown’s stories were adapted into a film by Guillermo del Toro, into episodes of Star Trek and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and even comic books. He was acclaimed by the likes of Philip K. Dick, Robert Heinlein, and Stephen King.
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 5:20pm
A beer and bites at a ho-hum bar. Not impressed Curtis! Try harder!
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 5:56pm
Okay, this place is more like it. In the depths of the Flatiron Building lies an excellent speakeasy-esk, ‘craft cocktail’ bar. Much sipping of delicious poisons was done here.
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 9:01pm
The food here was so amazing, rumor has it they named a province in China after it. Also, I forgot to take any photos! So, here is one of the sign that is on perpetual loan from the world wide web.
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 10:14pm
This is a terrible photo of the chalkboard beer menu of the local haunt of my hosts Curtis and Rene! Make sense as it’s literally a few minutes’ walk from their front door!
Check-Ins
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 8:50am
Goodbye Bend! Big thank yous to my amazing friend Lorealle for making me unhomeless these past days. Wish we could have hung out more; I’ll definitely be visiting again!
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 2:23pm
Portland with CURTIS and RENE! All set to explore the city, our first stop was this fantastic Cuban restaurant for some yummy comfort food. I didn’t order the chicken though; I inquired and the chicken’s papers claimed it only had a tiny 2-acres to roam free on. It was local though. #blameportlandia
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 3:55pm
Faith47. “Capax Infiniti” 2014. Art Mural.
Here is the beautiful art mural, “Capax Infinit" made by South African artist, Faith47. It's painted on the side of the Carlyle Building downtown. Hey look, Washington Street!
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 3:55pm
This was discovered in Powell’s ‘rare books’ section. I was very close to purchasing it.
FUN FACT: A pulp author, Fredric Brown’s stories were adapted into a film by Guillermo del Toro, into episodes of Star Trek and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and even comic books. He was acclaimed by the likes of Philip K. Dick, Robert Heinlein, and Stephen King.
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 5:20pm
A beer and bites at a ho-hum bar. Not impressed Curtis! Try harder!
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 5:56pm
Okay, this place is more like it. In the depths of the Flatiron Building lies an excellent speakeasy-esk, ‘craft cocktail’ bar. Much sipping of delicious poisons was done here.
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 9:01pm
The food here was so amazing, rumor has it they named a province in China after it. Also, I forgot to take any photos! So, here is one of the sign that is on perpetual loan from the world wide web.
Day 25 – June 16, 2018 ∙ 10:14pm
This is a terrible photo of the chalkboard beer menu of the local haunt of my hosts Curtis and Rene! Make sense as it’s literally a few minutes’ walk from their front door!
Portland, Or
Day 26
Sunday, June 17, 2018
A relaxing Sunday spent taking the rail around town, and nerding out at an enormous gaming store. Portland is definitely battling it out for amazing places that I would love to eventually explore on a more permanent basis.
Check-Ins
Day 26 – June 17, 2018 ∙ 11:50am
Mellow mornings with freshly baked pastries.
FUN FACT: The Great Pastry War of 1838 broke out between France and Mexico over an unpaid debt to a French pastry chef. True story.
Day 26 – June 17, 2018 ∙ 1:40pm
Curtis introduces me to his other haunt. Jaw, meet floor. Also, we took the train here. Super cool. Super cheap.
Day 26 – June 17, 2018 ∙ 2:00pm
We hung out, drank beers, and played games. In a world normalizing my ‘nerd’ roots, it was nice to feel properly ‘non-mainstream’ again. I wonder how long that’ll last.
Day 26 – June 17, 2018 ∙
715pm
I appropriated this photo from cyberspace because my photos were dark, grainy, and blurry, like some amateur drunk took them in a dark, poorly lit bar. 😐
Check-Ins
Day 26 – June 17, 2018 ∙ 11:50am
Mellow mornings with freshly baked pastries.
FUN FACT: The Great Pastry War of 1838 broke out between France and Mexico over an unpaid debt to a French pastry chef. True story.
Day 26 – June 17, 2018 ∙ 1:40pm
Curtis introduces me to his other haunt. Jaw, meet floor. Also, we took the train here. Super cool. Super cheap.
Day 26 – June 17, 2018 ∙ 2:00pm
We hung out, drank beers, and played games. In a world normalizing my ‘nerd’ roots, it was nice to feel properly ‘non-mainstream’ again. I wonder how long that’ll last.
Day 26 – June 17, 2018 ∙
715pm
I appropriated this photo from cyberspace because my photos were dark, grainy, and blurry, like some amateur drunk took them in a dark, poorly lit bar. 😐
Portland, Or
Day 27
Monday, June 18, 2018
There was something wonderful about my childhood, every one of my friends was close by, easily accessible. Eventually, we grow up and have that one asshole who moves away. Then another, and more and more as we all grow in different directions. Proximity will always be a factor when it comes to connections, but sometimes we can overcome that. If we want we can keep those connections alive and thriving. I am happy to count Curtis and Rene as two of my good friends who do not happen to live close by. For now.
Check-Ins
Day 27 – June 18, 2018 ∙ 8:30pm
After working all day, we went for a nice walk and ended up at the beautiful Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden.
FUN FACT: Beverly Cleary wrote Ralph S. Mouse, the first book lil Dean remembers reading on his own.
Day 27 – June 18, 2018 ∙ 9:31pm
Ravenous, I scarfed down my pizza before immortalizing it forever. It shall live forever in my dreams. Here is the aftermath.
FUN FACT: Americans consume approximately 350 slices of pizza per second.
Check-Ins
Day 27 – June 18, 2018 ∙ 8:30pm
After working all day, we went for a nice walk and ended up at the beautiful Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden.
FUN FACT: Beverly Cleary wrote Ralph S. Mouse, the first book lil Dean remembers reading on his own.
Day 27 – June 18, 2018 ∙ 9:31pm
Ravenous, I scarfed down my pizza before immortalizing it forever. It shall live forever in my dreams. Here is the aftermath.
FUN FACT: Americans consume approximately 350 slices of pizza per second.
Portland, Or
Day 28
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
A long time ago, my grandmother created a character so lil’ Dean would have someone to play Dungeons and Dragons with. These days, and for the past few years, I have been lucky enough to play DnD with a close group of friends. Life can be a desperately lonely experience, and I have learned to never take for granted the power of good company and shared experiences. Thus, I was thrilled when Curtis invited me to partake in some might and magic with his (other) friends and their DnD adventures.
Check-Ins
Day 28 – June 19, 2018 ∙ 2:46pm
Via internet magic, I connect with a lady just returning from overseas and staying with a friend for a bit in Portland! She was an international school counselor that was living in China, lived in Myanmar before that, and is getting ready to move to Bangladesh. We decided to meet, drink, and be merry together!
Day 28 – June 19, 2018 ∙ 7:00pm
Wandering the agentless streets of Hollywood and stumble upon the amazing Hollywood Theater that was built back in 1926. Here is a photo of the sign.
Day 28 – June 19, 2018 ∙ 9:34pm
Curtis plopped me down as a character in his ongoing DnD campaign. Much laughter was had. Many tater-tots were consumed.
FUN FACT: Tater-Tot is trademarked. These palatable potato pellets go by many names around the world, like potato gems, potato royals, pom-poms, hash bites, oven crunchies. And my personal favorites, tasti taters and spud puppies. Thank you, Canada.
Check-Ins
Day 28 – June 19, 2018 ∙ 2:46pm
Via internet magic, I connect with a lady just returning from overseas and staying with a friend for a bit in Portland! She was an international school counselor that was living in China, lived in Myanmar before that, and is getting ready to move to Bangladesh. We decided to meet, drink, and be merry together!
Day 28 – June 19, 2018 ∙ 7:00pm
Wandering the agentless streets of Hollywood and stumble upon the amazing Hollywood Theater that was built back in 1926. Here is a photo of the sign.
Day 28 – June 19, 2018 ∙ 9:34pm
Curtis plopped me down as a character in his ongoing DnD campaign. Much laughter was had. Many tater-tots were consumed.
FUN FACT: Tater-Tot is trademarked. These palatable potato pellets go by many names around the world, like potato gems, potato royals, pom-poms, hash bites, oven crunchies. And my personal favorites, tasti taters and spud puppies. Thank you, Canada.
Next Week on Dean Runs Away!
Battered, but not broken, Dean entered Portland for some good ol’ fashioned rest and relaxation, but rumors of midget river pirates are in the air. How long will Dean lallygag around in Oregon before heeding the call?
Continue the adventure into Week Five to find out!
