City of Roses

The Portland Rose Festival is in full swing. From the end of May to the second week of June Portland celebrates roses and we get to enjoy the festivities.

Last Saturday we had a perfect, beautiful, sunshiny day after weeks of gloomy weather, so I had to get outside. We headed to the waterfront to walk around the Waterfront Village and get a glimpse of the Sling Shot, but this year that's all we did, get a glimpse. I included a picture of the riders at the highest point anyways since last year I didn't have my camera.

(Look up to the left side of the picture. They look like ants in the sky.)

Later that night we traveled downtown again to watch the Starlight Run, where people are not only running for the best time, but also for the best costume. My favorite was the group of sychronized swimmers. I so wish I had taken a picture of them. It was 5 men wearing one piece women's swimsuits, goggles and a swimming cap. At certain points along the run they would perform a sychronized routine. Loved it!

Waiting for the parade to start.

After the race we stayed to watch the Starlight Parade. People came out in droves to watch the Parade and I decided that seeing it one time was enough. It ain't no Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade if you know what I mean.

Running and THE SLING SHOT...

This weekend David was off the entire weekend plus Monday. Now, this is a rarity, so we had to soak it up. I am in training for a half marathon so on Saturdays I generally do my long runs. David decided to come with me to this awesome running trail in NW Portland. I was introduced to this trail last fall by a friend and it is the BEST trail. It is a twenty-two mile out and back trial that is marked every quarter mile. You climb the first 6 miles or so, but while climbing you can think about how in just an hour or two you get to go downhill those last 6 miles. It's great motivation. Sometimes I do 3 miles and feel like crap, and then other days like Saturday, I do 16 miles and feel great. I wish every run felt that good.
We then went downtown to the water front to enjoy some of the Memorial Day festivities. There was a carnival and the Saturday Market was open. So, we just wandered around while David critiqued "portlanders".



Just one of the many interesting things to see in Portland.

Portland Riverfront

David debating if he wants to get his palm read...









Sunday at church there was a man there that I had not seen before. Now, our ward is pretty small, so new people stick out like a sore thumb. I told David to make sure to talk to this guy. David talked with him during Elders Quorum and found out this guy owns a carnival ride and was just in town for the Memorial Day Carnival on the riverfront. Lucky for us, he invited us to come down there and told us he would hook us up.

Monday morning we went for another great run on a trail that David learned about that he thought I would love. It was another great run and then we just hung out stretching and reading by the trail head for awhile. We then headed downtown to the carnival to find this ride. We found the ride and realized the Sling Shot ride cost $50 for two people. A little bit more than I was expecting to spend at a small carnival, but, lucky for us, Barney from church remembered us, and since he owns the ride, he let us ride for free. Not once, but twice. When we got on there we had no idea what to expect. The ride shoots you up into the air about 240 feet and then flips you over as you come down the first time, then you just kind of fling up and down a couple more times. The first part of the ride I just screamed and screamed. I must have said, "Oh, my gosh" at least 30 times. Then I could not stop laughing. David couldn't tell if I was crying or laughing. It was hilarious. I would highly recommend this ride to anyone. It was the best location for this ride since each time we came back down we were facing the river and it was beautiful. David thought it was better than skydiving. I don't know if I completely agree with him, but it was definitely fun. We forgot our camera so we didn't get any photos, but you can check out the ride on this site below:

THE SLING SHOT


After the sling shot ride we were positioned right next to the canons and they were prepping for the Canon Salute and the jets to fly overhead so we hung out a bit longer to watch this. When the canons were going off, all I could think of was how grateful I am for those who fight for our freedom. I enjoy peace and quiet so the noise from the canons was really unsettling. It made me think of those who serve our country and who endure so much that we might have our freedoms and live in a land that has peace. I wanted to go up and hug each one of those soldiers after it was all done. I really do not know how they do it.