Time: 4:30 pm
Temp: 78 degrees F
Conditions: Sunny and slightly humid, wind 0 mph
Distance: 7 miles total
The first question for this run was: "Where do I go?" Central to Hillsdale (the first one) to complete the loop, then home? Do they have to be round trips? I realized that, as much fun as this goal-setting project has been, I was ready to wrap it up and move on to something else. So, in the interests of completion, I had Lisa drop me off downtown on a recent Saturday, where I ran home, thus making a complete loop of all Multnomah county libraries from home and back again. I rather like it!
Before starting the run, I stepped inside the Central library one more time to get a better look at the "story tree" in the children's section. What a cool thing! I wish I'd gotten a better resolution of it but it's got some "wild things" on it:
Then I headed out and ran south toward Portland State University, noting some interesting coastal sculptures along the way, and beyond where I spied a bit of west hills where lies the Oregon Health Sciences University and VA Hospital.
I soon took a right turn onto the Terwilliger Parkway for a bit. As I ran past a gas station, I recalled that it used to be the site of the Carnival Restaurant, an exciting stop for burgers as a kid (before the days where McDonalds was omnipresent). Ah, memories...
Then, past a water reservoir (with pipes running straight up a hillside), I turned into the Marquam Nature Park, to sneak in a little trail run along the way (and catch some much needed shade from the warm day), which began here with the Marquam Shelter (sort of a way station to chill out, have a rest, and check out one of the trail maps on an enclosed kiosk).
Ahh trails! My happy place!
Onward and upward toward Council Crest, spotting some houses peeking through the foliage, as well as a sign reminding me I was now on the "4T Trail" (as covered in my blog post from 2011).
And this little trail detour really paid off, because I was rewarded at the top of the crest (quite an ascent actually) with a spectacular sunny-day view. (Sorry, the resolution of this pic doesn't show the mountains in the distance.)
...And on down the other side, where I was very happy to immediately come across a Benson Bubbler water fountain. Didn't know there were any that far from downtown!
One of the things I love about city trails is this: You come down a little path, which leads out to an intersection with a road, and you think, "Okay, I'll walk along this road now." But no, there's a little entrance for pedestrians only, which you only see as you get closer. And this one went down some steep stairs. Fun!
A few more miles of southwest city streets, and finally down Multnomah Boulevard toward home, into the sunset, which seemed quite appropriate.
And here's the whole map, mostly east of my house.
"What next?" Well, training for my 3rd Portland Half Marathon in early October is underway. And I really want to do some long runs through Forest Park while the weather is dry and warm. And then there's the Washington County library system, to the west...
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LAST LIBRARY'S MUSIC
Front 242, Pulse (2003)
Electronic/industrial music from Belgian duo Front 242. Kind of a Nine Inch Nails vibe, catchy and heavy.
Dillinger Escape Plan, Ire Works (2007)
And speaking of heavy, it doesn't get much more intense than these guys. And the falsetto singing is a nice touch.
