Remember the commuter derby?

Orin O’Neill photo

Some of you have asked about the commuter derby the GTS and I did last summer.

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.”

Did you mean “unicycle?”

I’ve lost count of how many people get here by searching on “one-wheel scooter.” Wouldn’t you know, Honda has actually come up with one.

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.

Four strong winds

The GTS is enjoying the view of The Dalles Dam, on the Columbia River (Orin O’Neill photos)

The trip on 395 seemed easier. Maybe because it feels like it goes downhill more often southbound. Or maybe because there weren’t so many trucks, it being a Sunday.

I slept like a log at Rob’s (a long ride on a scooter is quite conducive), and hit the road early. Rob gave me directions to WA 14 that avoided the freeway (available on a new map on the World Famous Scootin’ Old Skool Maps page. Also new is a way to get from Tri-Cities to Spokane without using 395, created by Rob’s brother Rick). I was ready for a nice, scenic trip.