Bridge Walk

Providence hospital puts on its annual Bridge Pedal each August.  Participants are given the unusual option of riding the length of up to ten of Portland's bridges.  Associated with the ride is also the “stride,” for those who feel more comfortable on two legs.  Last weekend Ryan and I joined my parents and Ryan’s mom, here from Mexico, to take on the five-mile, two-bridge walk.  It was similar to the one Ryan and I did in Busan last year.

walking on 405-usually a packed freeway

first glimpse of the Fremont Bridge

the "Striders"

the Moms

refuel snack

Broadway Bridge

our old neighborhood

Border to Border

Last spring, two friends of Ryan's from Korea began a bike ride from San Francisco to Canada.  In May Ryan loaded up his new bike and joined the guys at the Oregon/California border, ready to work his way up to Washington. 

All ready!

The week he spent on the road was full of sunshine, rain, wildlife, camping, couch squatting, and eating just barely sustainable meals.  Ryan describes the adventure as an incredible, memorable, and exhausting experience.

The beginning

The riders

Oregon Coast

Dinner

Bandon Game Park

Staying with old friends along the way

Half-way there!

A stop in Eugene to see Alayna on her 13th birthday

She got Taylor Swift concert tickets!

Outside Salem

Willamette Falls

Ryan stopped to play tour guide for his friends once they reached Portland.  He completed the ride from Portland to Vancouver this past week, meaning he has now ridden the state of Oregon from border to border.

The end

Mission accomplished!

Celebrating Two Years

I’ve spent summers visiting central Oregon since I was a little girl.  My grandparents built a house there in the early ‘70s, and today it still sits within the gorgeous Black Butte Ranch.  After the wedding festivities of late July, Ryan and I spent a week there taking advantage of the opportunity to swim, hike, and relax in the sun.  

I was overjoyed to have an oven, which I used to bake a delicious blueberry tart and some yummy dinners.

Ryan spent a morning golfing with his dad, who happened to be in Black Butte where he and his wife celebrated their twenty-first wedding anniversary (congrats!) and we also joined them for dinner.

We also spent time in the adorable towns of Sisters and Bend, where we joined Ryan’s aunt, uncle and cousin at their house for a wonderful dinner.  Credit should be given to them for putting the idea of travel in our heads, without which this little blog would not exist. :)

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On our actual anniversary, Ryan surprised me with the prettiest bouquet I’ve ever seen.  We toasted two years of marriage with margaritas (what else?) and later saw a movie.  The wedding cake that had sat in my parent's freezer since our wedding day was dessert once we got home.  And you know what?  It was actually quite tasty.

It's a lot of fun to look back on last year and see where we were.  I can’t wait to see what the future holds for next year. :)