Where there’s real fall colour

Portland so far has been wanting in the fall colors department. Unseasonably warm weather has kept leaves still attached to the trees green, and the ones that did turn got blown off by the howling Gorge winds.

When it comes to fall colors, New England never disappoints, Our lucky friend Jeff Roddick just got back from that neighborhood. He drives a moving truck, so he gets to go all over North America. But he doesn’t carry 52-inch plasma TVs and waterbeds to exurban McMansions, oh no. He’s the guy you call when you want to transport art exhibits, or concept cars, or other way cool stuff.

Multnomah’s fall

“Uh, sir, you have to park your moped next to the bike rack.” (Orin O’Neill photos)

This weekend was the last gasp of Indian summer, so I decided to head for Multnomah Falls on the Historic Columbia River Highway. I’d been meaning to make this trip for a while.

Moped parking: Portland

Park your cage here at your peril (Orin O’Neill photos)

While Portland is often lauded as one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the U.S., the climate for scooter and motorcycle riders is friendly as well, if these examples are any indication.

Too much excitement

I swear, I am not making this up. There really is a town near Portland named “Boring.”

Hawaii Five-O

Brendan Shriane photos

Fall has landed with a thud in Portland. A week ago Tuesday it was a blazingly sunny 92°F. As I write this, it’s rainy and the temperature struggles to reach 60.

The weather’s much better in Hawai’i.

None dare call it homesickness

I’d talked for years about gettin’ the heck out of Seattle. I now realize only a gut-wrenching, life-altering event would’ve actually made me head for the exit. Like, f’rinstance, the one a couple months ago.

Hawthorne Boulevard

You are hereby warned (Orin O’Neill photos)

All of the young, hip, creative types flocking to Portland even though they have no job lined up have caused some to suggest that this is the coolest place in the world to be unemployed. And if that’s the case, one of the coolest places in Portland is the Hawthorne neighborhood.

Happy equinox

The leaves have turned on SE Divsion Street (Orin O’Neill photos)

At exactly 2:18 pm PDT, the autumnal equinox occurred. That means the season officially becomes fall. If you have white shoes, you’re supposed to put them away. I last owned a pair of white shoes in 1981, so I should be okay.

Not that you’d notice this in Portland. The high temperature is supposed to reach 93°F. By contrast, Denver may have snow by Wednesday.