Chris Walsh (chris_walsh) wrote,
Chris Walsh
chris_walsh

And at least one nice picture happened during it

Another free-ish day, and another I spent getting around thanks to my usual threesome: feet, buses, and trains. (Wait, what did you think I'd say?)

And because I'd wanted to finally finish what I'd hoped to do a week ago, I succeeded in riding the WES from Beaverton to its southern end at Wilsonville, wandered around Wilsonville for about 40 minutes, and got an early dinner at Sonic. On a nice day, a day I don't think I got sunburned in (thanks, sunblock!) but I'll see about that. Time to note stuff:

  • Riding the WES is civilized. Closer to a long-haul train than light rail is, close enough that I briefly flashed on that scene in Unbreakable. Saw a little more of how the line runs: it has three cars, all of which apparently spend the midday in Wilsonville then get sent north on a staggered schedule so that when one's leaving Wilsonville to return to Beaverton, a southbound WES passes within a few minutes and the third train passes in Beaverton. I also saw what look like two backup WES trains (different train design, with TriMet logos) on a siding about 50 yards to the northeast of the Wilsonville stop. And the views are nice: slight hills, woods and fields near Wilsonville, more developed north of there.

  • I'm really no longer used to suburbs. I committed to walking around a part of Wilsonville and that took a while, as it's spread out. And I just went to about half a mile south of the transit center where the WES stops. But it's a spread-out, mostly industrial (warehouses mainly) area, not really neighborhood-y. I don't know how close I was to places people actually live. I like stuff being closer in; another reason I'm in Portland. I haven't really lived in suburbs since high school, and I graduated in 1992. It's been small towns like Hermiston (11,000 and fairly contained), mid-sized cities like Eugene (population 50,000) and here. I must have the "walk somewhere" option!

  • *checks* Looks like I didn't have enough sunblock on my face. OK, skin lotion now...

  • A nicely random (for me) moment as I returned to Portland: while waiting at Beaverton Transit Center for a MAX light-rail train, I heard the drone of several prop planes. And looked up to see seven World War II-era planes fly over, eastbound, in formation. The one in the middle was larger, a bomber likely; probably not a B-17, though, as I didn't see a turret in the bottom of the fuselage.

    It was random for me because I'm sure the pilots knew where they were going. Still, don't see 70-year-old airplanes every day. Except 70 years ago.

  • And that was my afternoon. Some of it. I don't tell y'all everything. Deal.
    • Tags: peregrinations
    Subscribe
    • Post a new comment

      Error

      switch
      default userpic

      Your IP address will be recorded 

      When you submit the form an invisible reCAPTCHA check will be performed.
      You must follow the Privacy Policy and Google Terms of use.
      Help
    • 0 comments