On such deliciously crisp fall days, a mid-afternoon walk is crucial. As a newbie to Fo Po, I’ve yet to discover the best neighborhood walks, but the walk to Mt. Tabor is one of my faves.
I walk North on 72nd, which dead ends at Mt. Tabor here:
From there on, it’s just up and up, until you find the gorgeous view that suits you best. Along the way today, I spotted a camera crew filming filming hipster knights with suits of armor made of Tecate and PBR cans. Keep Portland Weird, indeed. I also spied a family running around in their own private meadow just above the southern reservoir, which was recently drained for renovation. Looks like a fun place to skate:
Bikers, hikers, and walkers passed as well, often as not singles, like myself, out for a Sunday contemplative stroll. I wandered up a hill, following a string of solo-walkers… the path beckoned…
… but I turned back after the first hill, and was rewarded with a lovely view of the second reservoir, with a (somewhat hazy) view of Portland in the background:
Then I walked back whence I came, save for a slightly different southern descent through the off-the-leash dog area, through Warner Pacific College, and back on 70th.
What’s your favorite stroll from Fo Po? And can you top my PBR-Knights citing?
If you haven’t been out there lately, the Portland Acupuncture Project has placed one of their giant needles at the reservoirs, the general purpose being to call attention to the controversy over what to do with the reservoirs (cover them vs. leave them open) and how it is related to the health of the city. This is one of 4 needles currently poked into Portland – I believe there are 5 needles in total, each 35 feet tall, which are placed for approx. 2 months before being moved to other locations. The needle at the reservoirs will be in place until 14th June 2010. It is located “above” Reservoir #5 (the “upper” reservoir).
More info: http://acuportland.org
Thanks a bunch for pointing this out! I would love to have some pics of the needle on the site… (That’s an open invitation to any FoPo photographers.)Personally, I think the reservoirs should be left open. Then again, I don’t know that much about this issue. I just have personal experience, which is that the reservoirs are beautiful and I love seeing the water.One thought: why not float a few solar panels out there? I talked to a PSU engineering grad student the other day who is working on this for one of the reservoirs. So you can imagine what that might look like, here’s a link to a story about a Californian vineyard that’s done it: http://www.smartplanet.com/technology/video/solar-that-float
I suppose “a few” solar panels wouldn’t be much harm; wouldn’t be much benefit, either tho… The argument for keeping the reservoirs uncapped is something about the UV rays naturally killing the bad little bugs and their ilk [obviously I don't know much about the issue either]. But I suppose if they end up capping them, why not do it with solar panels?I’ll be out & about tomorrow; if I swing by there with a camera I’ll snap a pic or two and post.-d