Pacific Northwest Trip 2015 Day 8 Sunday July 19: Portland to Seattle

LAST UPDATED: December 20, 2025

This is the 8^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2015 trip to Portland, Seattle, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of two years later or to add further clarification.  These are indicated by “NOW”.

I woke up just after 2 and couldn't get back to sleep. Someone was in the bathroom and when I went in after my socks became damp. Probably water but just in case I changed out of the socks and found a different bathroom.

[NOW: The hostel I stayed at in Portland was Northwest Portland Hostel.]

I checked out of the hostel a little after 4:30 and walked to McDonald's. The main entrance wasn't yet open (opened at 5) but there was a walkthrough entrance so I got breakfast to go that way. I walked downtown, getting away from more people who were threatening me due to my photography even though they were in a distance. I think it's good that I left Portland today. I think some damage to me or my camera or both would have happened had I stayed much longer and no I'm not joking. It was no longer safe for me to remain in Portland due to my habit of photographing my trip route.

I took final photos of Mill Ends Park before arriving at the Bolt bus stop an hour ahead of time. When the Boltbus arrived because there were no A ticket people (members; B is non-member prepaid and C is paid on the day) I managed to snag the front seat. An older woman sat beside me and we chatted during the trip to Seattle. I found I had no trouble holding a conversation while taking photos so that passed the time nicely. Unlike Greyhound, Boltbus, despite being owned by Greyhound typically arrives at its destination early so I got off 20 minutes ahead of time and took a 36 bus then a C bus (all non-Boltbus buses this day King County Metro Transit) to the hostel. I checked in and put the bags in storage and then visited the international Fountain.

[NOW: BoltBus changed its Seattle location before closing. The Seattle hostel I stayed at was City Hostel Seattle, which appears to now be closed.]

I was reconsidering my plan to go to Discovery Park but a Pakistani man, while nice, started talking to me so much I couldn't switch bus stops easily. Luckily when a D bus (like C a Rapidride bus) showed up he let me cut things off so I could run after the bus. I couldn't make it but there was another right behind that I took to Ballard (Ballard and other areas this day are part of Seattle). Passing Ballard's Sunday Market, I worked my way to my favourite part of Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, the Fish Ladder, where through windows you can see salmon returning to Lake Union to spawn. Not long before I likely would have left anyway, a tour guide showed up and since it was already crowded with kids I left the Fish Ladder then the Locks at this point.

 

[NOW: While the Lock are officially in the Ballard area of Seattle, parts of it  including the Fish Ladder are in the Magnolia area.

I walked north to the only branch of Rain City Video I hadn't been to before, and the only one left. I bought some DVDs. There were a few more that looked interesting but no price sticker. The woman wanted to send the receipt by text or email but I pressed for a physical one due to Customs. She seemed annoyed but also seemed to understand the situation and worked something out.

[NOW: Rain City Video has now closed.]

I walked to Sonic Boom Records then Arcane Comics. I wanted to have lunch at Ballard’s Burger King but it had closed down so I ate at McDonald's instead. I walked to Fremont and saw the plant dinosaurs.  Passing Fremont's Sunday Market i saw the Fremont Rocket which now needs repainting, as well as the way larger than life statue of VI Lenin. I visited Jive Time Records and then Ophelia's Books, looking for the cat there. I found a cardboard box in the downstairs level and knew that I had found the kitty. I visited the Center of the Universe signpost (arrows pointing to real and fictional places with distance) and then Waiting for the Interurban statue, which had been dressed up with a sign that said something like "Don't just wait there, dance!" I zoomed in on Rapunzel on the Fremont Bridge. At JP Patches Pl, the section of 34th Ave named after the character popularized by the late Chris Wedes, I saw the JP Patches & Gertrude: late for the Interurban statue.

[NOW: Arcane Comics has since moved to Shoreline. That Burger King has closed.]

I visited the Fremont Troll statue on Troll Ave under Aurora Bridge before crossing over to Wallingford and visiting Gas Works Park, a converted industrial complex on the north end of Lake Union, now a popular park.

I then did something I've been wanted to brave for years; returning to Fremont, I crossed Aurora Bridge, which is very high up, to south of Fremont, getting some great Fremont photos in the process. I walked along Queen Anne Drive and then Queen Anne uphill and then walked down an increasingly steep downhill. I visited Video Isle and Queen Anne Books. I went to a vending machine at Safeway and got what from the photo looked like a Gatorade drink but which proved to be bottled water and in fact tasted a lot like slightly cooled tap water.

[NOW: The above branch of Video Isle has now closed.]

I walked south to Kerry Park Viewpoint for a great aerial view of the Space Needle etc. I then spent some time back at the International Fountain at Seattle Center.

I returned to the hostel and finished checking in now that the room was ready. I found that the hostel had been renovated. No more computer terminals, so all these typos are the result of me continuing to use this piece of fecal matter mini-notebook with its piece of fecal matter tiny keys. At the Seattle Center Armory I had dinner at Mod Pizza and then returned to the International Fountain until 8, when the police told everyone that the park was now closed. There were a lot more people there today including lots of food stands due to Take a Bite Out of Seattle so maybe something got out of hand somewhere. I got some drinks at the QFC nearest Seattle Center before returning to the hostel.

[NOW: Typos all hopefully corrected for this blog post. The police shutdown was due to some evening event at Seattle Center being about to start.]

Pacific Northwest Trip 2015 Day 7 Saturday July 18: Portland

LAST UPDATED: December 20, 2025

This is the 7^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2015 trip to Portland, Seattle, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of two years later or to add further clarification.  These are indicated by “NOW”.

I got up a little after 5:30 and walked to Providence Park MAX Station. Across the street at Providence Park itself, people were either waiting early for some event or were transients. Definitely more transients or whatever the proper term is now than before. Got hassled a few times about my camera but won't describe those because I don't want to commit those situations to memory. I took a Blue MAX train (all transportation today TriMet unless noted) to Washington Park MAX Station. I walked along the outside of Oregon Zoo and checked out a few things including a rather dull looking Vietnam War memorial. I took a Blue Line MAX train back from Washington Park MAX Station (which is underground in a tunnel) to Providence Park MAX Station and had a light breakfast (I think the hostel gets slightly old bread somewhere) before heading out again.

[NOW: The hostel I stayed at was Northwest Portland Hostel. To clarify, you take an elevator from Washington Park MAX Station to the above ground area of Washington Park. The full name of the memorial is Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial.]

 I walked downtown to Mill Ends Park and Salmon Street Springs, then crossed Hawthorne Bridge to the east side. I considered riding the CL Line Portland Streetcar (I've barely ridden the CL Line) but it wasn't running due to construction. I crossed Hawthorne Bridge back over the Willamette River to the west, got a Slurpee from 7-11, and visited the Ira Keller Fountain, not yet on. I took the Yellow Line MAX train north and bought a DVD at the Everyday Music nearest the hostel, then visited Powell's. I took the MS line Portland Streetcar (I believe the city owns the Portland Streetcar but they accept TriMet passes) to the Portland Aerial Tram. The aerial tram is $4.50 return, or $4.50 up/free down if you prefer. Great view of the city. It didn't return down right away so I got some nice shots at the top, which is at a hospital. Back down, I took the Portland streetcar downtown and got some bus schedules from the tourist info centre. There was a sand exhibit there (Pioneer Square) with a suggested donation but they let me in for free because I wanted the info centre not the sand sculpture exhibit. I did take a few photos very briefly to from the info centre but mainly took them outside.

 

[NOW: That 7-11 has closed. The CL Line is now the A Loop.]

I took the 56 bus south (realizing too late I dropped that schedule) to Impulse Video. Minimal selection for sale so no impulse buying. I took another 56 bus downtown and found the schedule. I had a pizza to go at Pieology and took it to Director Park. Despite my using the box as a shield a kid in the fountain there (Teachers Fountain from yesterday) managed to scoop up some chlorinated water and splash some of it on my pizza. 

 

[NOW: Impulse Video and that Pieology have closed.]

I took the Blue MAX train to Goose Hollow/SW Jefferson MAX Station where I wandered my way to Daedalus Books in the north end. I walked and took a 20 bus to the waterfront, where I visited Bill Naito Legacy Fountain, which meant getting through a Saturday market to reach. I walked along the waterfront to Salmon Street Springs where I went in the fountain to cool off. I stayed there for a while to relax. At one point Fire & Rescue and an ambulance showed up to deal with some boat matter.

As I visited and took photos of Mill Ends Park a woman, probably intentionally loud enough for me to hear said "... stupid. It's just a pot and a plant." No doubt she's a lot of fun at parties and baby announcements. I got a flavoured water at Rite Aid, revisited Director's Park, and took a Green MAX train to Floating World Comics. I walked back to the waterfront and revisited Bill Naito Legacy Fountain, Salmon Street Springs, Ira Keller Fountain (still not on). I then took a Blue Max train to McDonald's to go. I took one more Blue MAX train back to Director's Park and then Salmon Street Springs, which was off. Back to Naito, then I walked north to Steel Bridge.

 

[NOW: Rite Aid is now defunct.] 

Unlike most bridges in Portland the pedestrian/bike part is lower than the vehicles, affording an interesting different view. I crossed over to the east and back, again over the Willamette River. A visit to 7-11 did not reveal a single beer. One final visit to Director Park, then Portland Streetcar NS line to Powell's Books. One last visit there. Wish I was there a week Monday as Jimmy Carter's doing a book signing. I got a beer from Naturally, same place as yesterday, and returned to the hostel to pack all my DVDs. My suitcase has to be tight because the other large bag needs to be carry-on.

[NOW: Unlike Canada, many US 7-11s sell beer.]

Pacific Northwest Trip 2015 Day 6 Friday July 17: Portland, Clackamas, Johnson City, Oatfield, Gladstone, Oregon City, West Linn, Oak Grove, Milwaukie

LAST UPDATED: December 20, 2025

This is the 6^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2015 trip to Portland, Seattle, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of two years later or to add further clarification.  These are indicated by “NOW”.

First off I'll add an extra day to the Providence Park old name contest, so Sunday BUT now two people have used Wiki to find the info. The idea is to test the memory (or do some clever detective work); it's cheating if you just Google it.

[NOW: Providence Park MAX Station was previously JELD-WEN MAX Station.]

Definitely a day of mishaps though luckily of the type that's easy to come back from.  Nothing lost or damaged. I woke up at 3 and couldn't get back to sleep. Finally got up just before 4:45 and went to the Union Stn/SW 6th & Hoyt MAX Station and got a daypass. I took me 20 minutes to notice the screen saying no train for another 45 minutes. I walked to the same Subway as last night but it wasn't yet open. I grabbed breakfast at 7-11 and briefly visited Mill Ends Park. I walked to SW 6th & Madison MAX Station and took the Green MAX train (all trips today TriMet Transit) to Clackamas Town Centre MAX Station in Clackamas. I walked to Clackamas Town Center Transit Center and took the 75 bus to SW Roots St, Oatfield, missing my stop because the bus screen and audio voice indicated some stops but not others. Another issue this whole day is I've only found one bus schedule thus far. I got a bit turned around but then crossed the street to the tiny town of Johnson City. Yes, Roots runs along Johnson City. Ahem. It's only 0.18 km so it's probably the smallest Johnson in the US if not the entire world. Didn't see any store but the City Hall was by Johnson Lake. I walked east to a stop in Oatfield and after a bit of a wait took the temporary (due to construction) 179 bus to Gladstone. Not as close as the 79 would have been to where I wanted off but close enough. I headed west and then crossed the Clackamas River Bridge (yes over that river) into Oregon City. Now, you know how with many towns you want to get past the fast food places etc. to get to the prettier part of town? Well, with Oregon City aside from part of the river walk and one small strip, the fast food places ARE the prettier part of town; Very industrial. I crossed the Willamette River briefly into West Linn and back, on the way back spotting the Willamette Falls.

[NOW: The hostel I stayed at was Northwest Portland Hostel. The bridge I crossed to and from West Linn was Oregon City Arch Bridge. I later learned that there are nicer areas of Oregon City away from the river.]

Heading northwest to get a better view of the falls, I was briefly blocked when the sidewalk seemed to end at a tunnel. Finally, I spotted an unmarked pedestrian tunnel. Reaching the falls view area of Oregon City I noticed the falls weren't natural but rather a dam from the ugly industrial complex. Heading to a bus stop and wanting to get out of this ugly town, I waited a while and the 33 finally came and took me to Oak Grove. Mike's Comics Collectibles was gone and CD/Game Exchange wasn't yet open. I then made a huge mistake and waited for the 32 bus a block away, not realizing it was far more infrequent than the 33 and going to the same place. About 40 minutes later the bus finally arrived, by which point I was in a pretty bad mood.

[NOW: When I walked to the 32 stop, I crossed over from Oak Grove to Oatfield. CD/Game Exchange has closed.]

I bought a DVD in Milwaukie at a store called Acme-TV Movie Classics. I also photographed the headquarters of the comic company Dark Horse. Things from Another World wasn't yet open. I should have stayed longer in Milwaukie because it seems nice but was still frazzled from before and so instead took the 29 bus back to Clackamas Town Center, passing Johnson City along the way. I decided to skip the mall but did walk to nearly Happy Valley and back. I got on the Green MAX train again at Clackamas Town Centre MAX Station, took it to Rose Quarter Station, and then took a northbound 4 bus to Mississippi Rd.

 

[NOW: Acme-TV Movie Classics has closed.]

Reading Frenzy had little stock. I visited Bridge City Comics, made friends with a bulldog, and bought DVDs at CD/Game Exchange.  I took another 4 bus to near Title Wave Books,  a fancy library bookstore. For the first time I didn't find any books I wanted to buy though I did get two DVDs. Returning to the bus stop, another 4 bus got stuck in congested  traffic and I was a bit overheated by the time the bus drove from east to west through downtown and then east again. I got a bit confused and thought Clinton Street Video had closed but in my tired state (2 pm and no lunch) didn't realize yet I was on the wrong street. I walked north to Hawthorne and then east from there. I was pleased that I spotted my old hostel from 2008 before I saw the hostel sign. A quick visit to a record store, then I took the 15 bus east a ways. I had lunch at Subway and then visited CD/Game Exchange and Powell’s on Hawthorne before heading to Belmont and walking to Walgreen's.

[NOW: The hostel from 2008 was HI Portland Hawthorne Hostel, now closed. It was a decent hostel; I just prefer staying closer to downtown. Reading Frenzy, Bridge City Comics, both CD/Game Exchanges, Title Wave Books, that Subway, and Clinton Street Video have closed.]

Because I didn't have a card and was too tired to sign up for one, i was overcharged for pop and returned it. I walked to Movie Madness, which seems to alternate because lots of neat stuff and stuff I’m not interested in. This being an even year, it was the latter. Realizing my earlier video store mistake I took a 75 south to Division, a 4 bus west, and then walked south to Clinton Street Video. Returning to the bus stop I arrived downtown. I saw a bus I wanted to catch but the bus wasn't stopping near there so I skipped that plan until tomorrow (by the way, everything after title Wave was originally planned for tomorrow at some point).

[NOW: The bus downtown was another 4 bus.]

I saw a Red Line MAX train and took it to the airport just to see the airport. There I drank lots of cold water. I took a Red Line MAX train back south to 182nd St, where I got back advice on which direction to catch a 72 bus. I soon course corrected and took the 72 bus to Alberta Rd, where I bought DVDs at the only remaining VideoRama I hadn't been to before. I took another 72 bus to Killingsworth MAX Station, briefly getting a nice and cold water from a vending machine at 76 gas station. I took the Yellow Line MAX train downtown and grabbed pizza to go from Sbarro. I visited Mill Ends Park, sat at Salmon Springs, visited Mill Ends again, and walked past the animal fountains to a much larger fountain I kept meaning to go to called Teachers Fountain. In that area they were doing Shakespeare.

[NOW: All branches of VideoRama have closed down. The Sbarro was at Pioneer Place; it has also closed. The animal fountains are called Animals in Pool fountain. Teachers Fountain and the Shakespeare production were at Director Park.]

Walking to near my place I looked a beer prices at Whole Foods Market but their beer was... organic prices. I found another smaller organic convenience store that had some inexpensive non organic beer and returned to the hostel. Tomorrow I'm going to do the impossible:  have a low key day!

Pacific Northwest Trip 2015 Day 5 Thursday July 16: Portland, Gresham, Boring, Sandy, Hillsboro, Beaverton

LAST UPDATED: December 20, 2025

This is the 5^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2015 trip to Portland, Seattle, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of two years later or to add further clarification.  These are indicated by “NOW”.

I had breakfast to go at the McDonald's near the hostel and when to Providence Park MAX Station (the only person who's "guessed" what it used to be called used Wiki so the old name contest is still up for grabs). I bought a daypass and took a Blue MAX train (unless noted all transit this day TriMet) to Gresham Transit Center MAX Station/Gresham Transit Center. There was a wait for my bus so I wandered around randomly and found a nice park called the Plaza of the Arts. There were water jet holes on the ground but only one jet was on. Curiously there was a "No Lifeguard on Duty" sign even though the only way someone could drown would be if they passed out drunk with their mouth over one of the jets. Returning to Gresham Transit Center, I took an 84 bus as far south as it went, quickly visited a Chevron in this no man's land south of Gresham, and walked the rest of the way to Boring; same farm animals along the way.

[NOW: The hostel I stayed at was Northwest Portland Hostel. The old name for Providence Park MAX Station was JELD-WEN].

In Boring, I saw the street SE Andy, signs referring to Boring's partnership with Dull Scotland including an upcoming Boring & Dull Day, and Boring Mini-Storage. I bought the movie Frankenfish and a pop at Green Food Mart, partly to get a Boring receipt. There was a sign saying "Boring MS Students & Staff"; hopefully the sign referred to the nearby school and wasn't claiming that multiple sclerosis was boring. I also saw Boring Station Trailhead Park, Boring Middle School (always a highlight) then heading a route I hadn't gone in 2014 saw a sign that said Boring Industrial -->. I didn't investigate further because it looked like it might be too far out of the way. The Boring Shell, which I visited briefly, had a sign that said "Beer Up at Boring Shell". This time the Not So Boring Pub Bar & Grill didn't have a funny sign about beers. I briefly visited McCall County Store, briefly revisited Trailhead Park, saw the Post office that had some reference to Boring, the Boring Rural Fire District (with the Boring Fire District Training Tower and a van saying Boring Fire), and Boring Bark & Landscaping which was offering timber wood and espresso.

 

[NOW: Not So Boring Pub Bar & Grill has closed. Boring Rural Fire District is now Clackamas Fire Station 14.]

 I left Boring, taking pictures of signs for drivers nearing Boring as I walked south a very long ways to Sandy Oregon. Blockbuster was not yet open but it was exciting to see an existing one that would soon be open for the day. I walked further south, visiting Walgreen's during a brief rain. I walked to the downtown core and saw Sandy Chainsaw and Sandy Bicycle (neither a good combo). Oddly the ant farm didn't have Sandy in the name. I then returned south to Blockbuster, where I bought a DVD called detention of the Dead. The reason this Blockbuster still exists is because Blockbuster licensed out the name but this branch wasn't actually owned by the parent company. I caught a SAM bus ($1, Sandy Transit) back to Gresham. I visited Oregon Trail Shopping Center (outdoor shopping centre) where I visited Big Lots, got a drink from Dollar Tree, visited CD/Game Exchange. I walked to Cleveland MAX Station, where I took the Blue MAX train all the way from Gresham to Hillsboro (so far east to far west). I'm pretty sure one woman had a phone call on speaker phone for a long ways. At one point a young woman smelling of pot got on and talked to a guy about her probation officer related to her drug use.

 

[NOW: The “ant farm” proved to be AntFarm Cafe and Bakery, so most likely a play on the Sandy name. Blockbuster, that that Big Lots, CD/Game Exchange are now closed.]

At Hatfield Government Center Station in Hillsboro I got off and visited Jacobson's Books & More but decided to skip Arcade Book Exchange because last visit they were snobbish when I asked about something, maybe graphic novels. The downtown core of Hillsboro didn't really wow me this time either so might skip next time unless I want the train ride. I visited a McDonald's for lunch hoping a different street would wow me more; no luck. I took a Blue MAX train from Washington/SE 12^th MAX station to Beaverton Central MAX Station in Beaverton.

[NOW: Jacobson's Books & More is now closed.]

I visited Things from Another World. I noticed that the McDonald’s with the nice fountain was being extensively renovated so all the nice decor outside was gone.  I visited Powell's and Everyday Music (got a DVD for a $1) (these Beaverton stores should not be confused with their counterparts near the hostel in Portland, and saw the (outside of Heroes & Hobbies, a store that doesn't open until 4:30 and is said to open late).  I returned to the MAX station, having now hit all the places I planned to visit over an hour early. So to offer some relief for the busy day tomorrow started on an easy place to jump on that itinerary. When the Blue MAX train arrived I got  on but instead of getting off downtown (which I was tempted to do as I think the guy in front of me after the first stop had a cold)  I continued on to Lloyd Center/Northeast 11th Avenue MAX Station. I cut across the park to Lloyd Center and got through Macy's into the mall proper, where i took photos of the ice rink. I bought a couple DVDs from Suncoast Motion Picture Company (owned by f.y.e. and comparable stock) and visited Barnes & Noble before cutting through Macy's again and heading east. Heading south I passed the Sunshine Milk Company with the giant rotating milk cartoon on the roof. I visited the Everyday Music on Sandy Blvd before catching a 19 bus to Stark's Vacuums, where I took photos of the small corridor but free Vacuum Museum. Instead of taking the bus downtown I decided to cross the bridge on foot; if you're there two or more days you should do this at least once. It's a nice way to see the Willamette River. I walked north along the waterfront, passing Bill Naito Legacy Fountain and Mill Ends Park before arriving at Salmon Street Springs.

[NOW: Beaverton's and Sandy Blvd Portland's Everyday Music and Suncoast Motion Picture Company, as well as Macy's and Sunshine Milk have closed. The ice rink has since been renovated. The Vacuum Museum has been significantly reduced. The bridge I crossed was Burnside Bridge.]

There were a couple more things I wanted to do so I visited Cameron's Books & Magazines and got a Slurpee from 7-11 I was craving before passing Mill Ends Park again and relaxing at Salmon Street Springs. In the Willamette River a boat was spraying jets of blue and red water into the river. I relaxed at the fountain some more and then visited Mill Ends Park once more, then went to Sbarro and Pioneer Place. I wasn't crazy about the pizza choices this time though.  I saw the animal fountains and the statue of the cloaked woman which was now cleaned of gun. Wandering north I found a Subway for dinner. The woman at the counter complemented me on my camera (lots of women have complemented me on the camera this trip). i wandered around a bit more before returning to the hostel.

[NOW: Cameron's Books & Magazine and Sbarro are now closed. The fountain is Animal in Pools fountain. The cloaked woman is Kvinneakt.]

There are now only two days where I HAVE to get up before 6: the day I go to Seattle and the day I return home. I might still get up before 6 on other days (likely will especially tomorrow) but in theory I'm entering a period where there's less of a need to get up so early.