After watching Portlandia on the last Friday of February, I felt inspired to take some photos of Downtown Portland. I parked at the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry on the east side of the Willamette River. Walking north I soon reached the Hawthorne Bridge where the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade begins. The Esplanade extends 1 1/2 miles and includes a floating walkway, the longest one of its kind in the United States. At the Steel Bridge, the north end of the Esplanade, there is a walkway under the Bridge only 30 feet above the Willamette River.

Upon reaching the west bank of the River, I turned north following a wooden pathway next to the condos along the River. Near the Fremont Bridge I began a loop through the Pearl District before returning to the River. On the way there were small groups of costumed adults pushing decorated shopping carts. They were “competitors” in the Portland Iditarod. Their “sleds” were the shopping carts. Each group was protesting something. Upon asking a guy with a pig mask what they were doing, he said his bunch were protesting consumerism. When I mentioned it was too nice a day, he admitted they were protesting boredom. Only in Portland.

After reaching the River, I began the loop back to OMSI enjoying the views along the way. During the walk seven bridges could be seen; Marquam, Hawthorne, Morrison, Burnside, Steel, Broadway and Fremont from south to north. I suppose that is why Portland is sometimes called the City of Bridges. All in all, it was a pleasant 4 1/2 mile walk. And, it was great for the spirit to see cherry trees in bloom in the middle of winter.

Cherry Blossoms along the Willamette River

Starting Line of the Portland Iditarod

A reminder that Portland is a deep-water port

Floating Esplanade on the Willamette River

Hotl Lips Pizza in the Pearl

Big Pink behind the Burnside Bridge

Bicyclists taking a break by the Willamette River