I love to bike

I've never been much of a cyclist. I sold my bike when i was 12 to buy books and apart from the occassional tourist pedal on free city bikes, I've not been on 2 wheels much for the last few decades. But when in Rome etc and Portland is definitely a city in which cycling is as close to a religion as possible.
Bike "boulevards" parallel the main roads on quieter side streets, bike lanes are wide and clearly marked and take into consideration parked and turning cars. Bascially, even for a scardey cat like me it was easy and fun to get around. And such freedom of the city you get! After an essential coffee stop for a locally roasted brew, we cycled downtown to graze at the farmers markets - fresh picked berries, speciality cheeses, organic wines; browse at the craft markets and then headed up to a street fair on Mississippi. The whole street was blocked off as far as you could see. Funky bands, groovy arts and crafts, mouth watering food and a local brew pub (with the fabulous name Amnesia!) jsut beckoning us in. Saw some great community projects in the area, including a recycling store which, amongst other things, offers demolition services to building sites so they can reclaim all the reusable old fittings - aisles of beautiful old doors and windows, washbasins, you name it. My dad would love it! It's all not-for profit, provides employment and training for disadvantaged people and has become a catalyst for regeneration and new start ups in the neighbourhood. Sustainability doesn't need to be a bad word!
The cycle home became the start of the brew pub tour. We only made it to the door of Whidmans as I was distracted by some murals up the road and we ended up sneaking in on the tail end of a ghost tour. Eveyone (except us) had little remote control like devices with winking green and red lights that apparently informed you when paranormal hot spots were around. Grisly murders of "ladies of the night" vied with lonely sailors and jealous lovers for top billing!
Free wheeling down the hill in the late golden sun, we detoured via the up and coming east industrial area which seems like Soho in New York might have been 50 years ago. The Green Dragon called our name and I have to say he brews the best pale ale I've ever had. the bre pub was casual and understated and I cant understand why we dont have them in Oz. Has VB killed our collective good taste?
Onwards and uphill to the aptly named Hoptown for yet another fine ale and a good pizza (both organic no less). And we're not talking a tiny, hole in the wall joint here either - this place was the size of Newtown's Malborough! Bring on the chemical free world.

And as a footnote, here's a good rave for Portland from Planetizen http://www.planetizen.com/node/40171