Two Speed Walks

I had a dentist appointment in downtown Portland at the end of February. I began going to that dentist when I worked in the same building, and then I never stopped going. The staff is always great, professional, practical, and sensitive to my financial needs (since I pay out of pocket). I tried switching dentists once, for convenience. I went to a Timber Dental that was barely one block from Pedro’s house. They were busy, and shuffled patients through quickly. The cleaning was not thorough. My mind was blown at how freakishly expensive it was. A simple visit with a checkup, x-rays, cleaning, and flouride treatment was $627. The same exact services at my usual, 2nd & Madison Dental, costs me $170. So, I continue to take the trouble to go downtown and give them my business. Dr. Cindy O’Loughlin is always there, always personable, and she has thanked me repeatedly for continuing my business during the pandemic and after flirting with Timber Dental.

Anyway, to keep my fitness training interesting, I had the idea to speed walk the old route I used to walk when I worked downtown: a loop that crosses two bridges and follows the Willamette River waterfront. I wore my workout gear to the dentist’s office, so I could leave from there. It wasn’t until payment time when I realized that, in the interest of not carrying more than I had to for my run, I had left my purse in the Jeep. I couldn’t pay at all.

“No worries!” they assured me. “With seven years of being our loyal patient, we are not concerned about it. Just call in with payment when you get a chance.” I thanked them and took off at a trot, crossed Naito Parkway in no time, and was able to begin my speed walk on the waterfront.

I’ve traveled around the world and have seen that in some places people are actively moving outside, and in some places, not so much. The city of Portland is one place where pedestrians and bicyclists are a priority. The waterfront is developed with them in mind, and the paths are often busy with people, even on cold and rainy days. I tried to crop them out of my photos.

I walked across Tilikum Crossing for the very first time. The bridge was still under construction when I worked in this area, and never had the chance to use it. Unlike other bridges, Tilikum Crossing is not for cars. Only pedestrians, bikes, and the light rail train are allowed to use it. I have included a photo of it near the bottom of this post.

I noticed, looking away from the setting sun finally, that it was getting darker. I had been walking fast, but stopping often for photos, so maybe it wasn’t so speedy after all. Luckily, I was more than halfway done with my 4 1/2 mile loop. I picked up my pace and was soon headed away from the river and to my car. I was parked beside a park that had interesting ornaments in the trees that I had not noticed earlier in the day, but now they were lit up for the evening.

Portland has 12 bridges, and one of the city’s many nicknames is Bridge City. You’ve had a look at several of them. Prettiest of all is the St. John’s Bridge, which is not here. My mom’s favourite was the Sellwood Bridge, also not here. My fave is the Hawthorne Bridge, and I wrote a blog post about it thirteen years ago.

That evening, I rang the office and Cindy herself answered the phone. I explained that I was calling to pay, because the women at the counter said it would be ok. “Of course!” she agreed. She looked through the records as she talked, “You’ve been our client forrrrr….. seven years! Well I am so glad they told you that because we are so grateful to have you back for so many years.” It was nice to know that she runs the kind of environment where the people at the counter have autonomy to some degree, and that she supports their decisions.

I was surprised that the very next week, I completed almost that same exact loop, just a little shorter – only 4 miles – and circled the other direction. The weather was much worse.

The day before the race I went to the Oregon Convention Center to go pick up my race packet for Portland’s gigantic Shamrock Run. It was pretty straightforward and streamlined, which is likely due to having tens of thousands of participants every year, and learning how to do it right.

After I picked up my bib, and some safety pins to attach it, and a clear bag to use for checking in personal items for staff to hold during the race, and my Shamrock Run T-shirt…I headed for the door. I stopped with curiosity to see dozens of people clustered around three big posters, and getting selfies in front of them. I asked someone what it was and they said if you had registered for the race, your name would be there. So I looked, and found it!

Race day was forecast to be very cold and very wet. Portland delivered! I planned ahead and brought a fuzzy headband and gloves and a raincoat. Pedro had participated in the Shamrock Run before (I had not) and warned me that parking is impossible because it’s such a big event. So he dropped me off at a transit center, and I rode the MAX into downtown.

A couple of my Belle Brigade ladies were going to walk the race with me, but one got very sick the day before and had to stay home. I found the other one though! Veronica and I were dressed as festively as we could, despite the weather. She had begun with two pigtails decorated with green ribbons, but pulled those out in order to wear a warm hat instead.

The race was soon over and we both had warmed up a bit despite being pretty wet by the end. I had to say goodbye to Veronica and rush off to get home and shower in time for Pedro and I to go to a play. It all worked out and the busy, busy weekend came off without a hitch.