Dead Freeway Maps

I'm obviously interested in information about Portland's dead freeways, so I always love finding cool stuff like this. Someone decided to put Portland's unbuilt freeways on a google map (plus the "Dead" freeway of Harbor Drive):


View Portland's Unbuilt Freeways in a larger map

Also in the same vein: Portland Freeway Ghost Ramps.


View Portland Freeway Ghost Ramps in a larger map

2013 Bike Ride Plans (and a quick look back at 2012)

Me in my element, pontificating during the 2012 Dead Freeways Ride. Photo guttmjo

Oh, don't you forget that the raison d'etre of the Urban Adventure League is to do fun urban exploration rides about Portland!

I don't really have a super-ambitious schedule of bike fun rides in 2013. Part of it is because my life is busy with so much other crap these days, and part of it is shifting priorities and not as much ambition. When I started doing Urban Adventure League stuff in (yeeps!) 2004, I was all full of vim and vigor, creating new events every couple months, constantly tweaking old rides, etc. Now almost ten years later I am not that person anymore. And to be honest, the fact that I've seen dwindling returns on my rides in 2012 doesn't inspire me to be that person I was in 2004. It doesn't feel good inside when you put a lot of work and effort into crafting a ride--and have no one (or nearly no one) show up.

But part of me says "Never Say Die", so I keep on doing these events. And before someone says, "If it isn't fun anymore, why bother?" Well, it still is fun. I still have fun thinking about them, planning them, etc. Even crafting the list you see below gives me joy and excitement. I just need to look at things in a sober light and not have unrealistic expectations. And most importantly, I need to scale back overall. The less ambitious I am with the overall calendar, the less I get disappointed.

Now with all that out of the way, what do I want to do this year?

• The annual Palm Tree Ride. This one is already scheduled for Saturday January 19th.
• A Dead Freeways Ride. Probably in spring. I normally do one during Pedalpalooza, but I feel that this type of ride may be better during a less chaotic time.
• A few Three Speed Rides. I hope to get the first one of the season out in March, and then do one or two more through the year, including one during Pedalpalooza. This year I really want to try to do the much-threatened "camping" ride.
• A Train Day Ride in May. I was initially supposed to lead this in 2011 but due to the busy-ness of my life getting ready for the Cross-Con Tour, I let Dan Haneckow lead it. There was no train day in 2012 but hopefully there will be one in 2013? And hopefully Dan will co-lead.
• As for Pedal Potluck Picnics, I'd like to do a few in 2013 but I don't think I want to commit to a regular schedule, since the turn-out in 2012 was lackluster. Maybe a couple special ones?
• Though it's not technically a "ride", I'd like to have at least one Bike Touring Workshop. The jury is out on whether or not I should do a Bike Fun Workshop.

And of course Pedalpalooza will be in June. I hope to do a bit for that, but maybe not as much as in the past:

• I've taken the keys back for the Pizza Ride this year.
• A Midweek camping ride would be good, too. (I'd also like to do a few throughout the year.)
• Of course another Midweek Columbia Gorge Ride would also be nice.
• A history ride of some sort with Dan Haneckow.
• And some other secret stuff I'm whipping up.

Yes, it does look ambitious. But compared to my schedule in the past, this is a light year.

Hope to see some of you out there on these rides!

My Pedalpalooza Week in Review: Thursday June 21 to right. About. Now.

Last time I left you cool cats April and I had stumbled home from the Solstice Ride. It's been a busy week or so since then, since the Pedalpalooza excitement just doesn't let up. Here's the almost painful blow-by-blow:

• Thursday June 21st: Didn't do much as we were recouperating from being up all night. I managed to catch the beginning of the Folding Bike and Tea Ride, at least the tea part, as I had no bike to fold (and had to meet someone later.) As I was quoted on Facebook: "I came for the tea."
• Friday June 22nd: There were a few rides I could have done (which is fast becoming my Pedalpalooza theme) but only ended up participating in the Central Eastside Industrial District tour, led by my friend Nim. About 20 of us rode around looking at places while vainly dodging raindrops. Quite informative!
• Saturday June 23rd: A fairly big day. I caught up late to the West Hills Architecture Tour co-led by my friend Carl. We peeped many a classic mid-century house designed by the likes of Yeon and Belluschi. Then down from the hills and into the NW neighborhood for the Northwest Neighborhood History Tour, aka The Dream of the 1890s is living in NW Portland ride. About 50 folks spent a couple hours looking at many a historic site in the hood.
• Sunday June 24th: Another busy day. Despite April and I waking up late, we managed to enjoy an hour and a half of riding on Sunday Parkways in North Portland, one of the five times a year the city closes off a 6-8 mile circuit of city streets to car traffic. But more importantly, Sunday June 24th was yet another installment of my Three Speed Ride series. You'll get a full report soon!
• Monday June 25: I led another installment of my Dead Freeways Ride, touring the sites that were freeways or could have been freeways, with a sampling of the current freeway system thrown in as a comparison. We had ten people total (seven made it for the entire five hours of the event) and I talked myself hoarse.
• Tuesday June 26: The last ride I've led for Pedalpalooza this year, my Pedal Potluck Picnic. The weather was problematic with on-and-off rain through the day. While it didn't rain during the ride, my original destination would suffer from wet ground. So I pulled out a back-up location: the picnic structure at Abernathy School in Ladd's Addition. (So what if it made the ride less than a mile?) Thirteen folks (eleven adults, two kids) enjoyed a sumptuous feast.
• Wednesday June 27: A ride that I used to lead, but passed on to my friend Chris, the Epic Pizza Ride.  Five pizzerias in five hours. The most clever bit about this year's ride was all the pizzerias were within a three-mile section of N/NE Killingsworth Street. But the loopy, circuitous ride meant the ride was actually fifteen miles long!

And after that? Nothing. No event on Thursday or Friday particularly captivated me. And to be honest I'm a bit burnt out by all these bike rides. I'm glad that Pedalpalooza is barely longer than three weeks, I don't think I could handle a month. I can barely handle the three weeks!

Pedalpalooza Cometh! And here are the Urban Adventure League events.

Yes, friends, we are only two short weeks away from Portland's annual bicycle extravaganza of bike fun, Pedalpalooza. Three weeks of bike rides and events? Almost 300 unique events? I must be in heaven!

And the Urban Adventure League has been a part of Pedalpalooza since Pedalpalooza's inception in 2004, save for last year when I was out of town. In fact, the debut of the Urban Adventure League happened during the first Pedalpalooza!

And this year I will be leading or co-leading, seven, count 'em, SEVEN events! And what might those events be? Well feast your eyes, fancy person!


Monday 11 June
BICYCLE TOURING WORKSHOP 
Velo Cult, 1969 NE 42nd (north of Sandy) 
6:30pm - 9:30pm
Are you itching to hit the open road and explore nature in a way you haven't yet? Are you a regular bicycle rider but have never taken a bicycle tour? Then join us to learn more about Self-Supported Bicycle Touring, We'll be discussing equipment, planning, and cost as well as day-to-day life on the road. We'll also have a loaded touring rig or two to check out. Touring can be easy as an overnight camping expedition close to home, and can be as complicated as a cross-country or around-the-world expedition!  But it will be fun!

Wednesday 13 June
MIDWEEK RIDE TO THE COLUMBIA GORGE
Ruby Junction MAX station, 19750 SE Burnside, Gresham, OR (Meet near the eastbound MAX platform)
9:30am - 5:30pm, We depart at 10am sharp!
Riding to quiet country roads and spectacular scenery is easier than you think. The Columbia River Gorge is just a short bicycle ride away. And you can totally handle it if you are an everyday rider. Bring a snack, water, and Trimet fare. Geared bikes recommended.  Approx 40 miles round trip.

Sunday 17 June
PORTLAND PERIMITER PERMANANT-POPULAIRE 
Velo Cult bike shop, 1969 NE 42nd (north of Sandy) 
9:30am, Ride starts at 10:00am exactly
Join the Oregon Randonneurs on a 100km ride around Portland! Bring a helmet, bike repair kit, pump, bike map, somewhere for a cue sheet, and a pencil to fill out your info card. There is no ride leader or SAG support but most of the area is well served by Tri-Met and food is available at mini-marts along the way.
What’s randonneuring?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris%E2%80%93Brest%E2%80%93Paris

Monday 18 June
S240 MIDWEEK BIKE CAMPING 
Expo Center MAX Station, 2060 N Marine Dr 
4:30pm, Return to Portland sometime in AM/early PM Tuesday, depending on group wants/needs
Let's do a quick little bike camping overnight! Whether you're "funemployed" or can get off work a little early, a weekday camping excursion is a lot of fun. The destination: Battle Ground Lake State Park in Washington, a 25 mile ride with moderate traffic/terrain. Campsites $12/night, divvied up appropriately. Bring all the things you would need for an overnight camping trip. (Grocery stop in Battle Ground.) You can probably make it to work on time Tuesday!

Sunday 24 June
THREE SPEED RIDE AND PICNIC 
Gammans Park, N Buffalo St at N Wilbur Ave  (Small park one block off of Sunday Parkways Route, near Arbor Lodge Park)
3:30pm - 6:30pm, leaving shortly after 4pm
What better way to finish Sunday Parkways than ramble around North and Northeast on your humble internally geared three speed bicycle? Bring your trusty three speed bicycle of British, American, Japanese, Dutch, etc vintage.  (Three speeds preferred but come along if you don't have one.) Casual paced ramble of approx. 8-10 miles, fairly flat. We'll have a picnic and tea brew up towards the end, bring all the necessities like food, a teakettle and a camping stove. Check forum for more info.

Monday 25 June
DEAD FREEWAYS RIDE 
South Park Blocks in front of Lincoln Hall (PSU), 900 SW Market St 
5:00pm - 9:00pm, depart from Park Blocks at 5:30pm
What if...Portland built all the freeways it planned? This ride follows the routes of several highways that never made it off the drawing board, such as the fabled Mt. Hood Freeway, some that did but were later removed, like Harbor Drive, and also as a reference some freeways that currently exist. We'll see the parallels of the past freeway fights with what's going on with the current Columbia River Crossing project. Approx 13 miles of riding through moderate traffic.

Tuesday 26 June
PEDAL POTLUCK PICNIC 
Peoples Coop, 3029 SE 21st Ave 
6:30pm - 8:30pm, Last Tuesday in May - August
After a year off, the PPP returns for its SEVENTH season!  A casual bicycle ride traversing approx. 3-5 miles (5-8km) with a different route/end each time. The end destination is a mystery "park" or park-like destination. (Expect the unexpected!) At the endpoint we'll enjoy a picnic dinner. Eating will be potluck style, so please bring interesting food and drink to share (preferably vegetarian/vegan). Bring lights! Please bring your own silverware, plate, and cup. If it looks like it'll rain we'll end up at a COVERED destination.

Big Plans for 2011

As the year closes, it's time for me to think of what I'd like to do in the auspices of "The Urban Adventure League" for 2011. It's pretty obvious that I haven't done any rides or walks in a long time. This is due to various personal reasons (read: I'm busy and/or slacking) and the change in seasons. But we've passed "the hump" of Winter Solstice, the days getting longer, and the promise of spring not too far away. And this invigorates me! I've already mentioned my annual Palm Tree Ride for January here. So what else do I want to do?

1. Well, I'd like to bring back the popular Dead Freeways Ride. Not sure when, maybe February or March.
2. I haven't done a "walk" in awhile, so sometime soon would be ripe for a Council Crest Climb.
3. I'd also like to pull off a three-speed themed ride AND a Sans-Derailleur tour. "Mr. Dutch Biking of Vancouver, Washington" Todd Boulanger and I have been talking about a SD Tour for the last couple years (Todd even pulled one off during PedalPalooza 2009,) but the planets never aligned for a repeat. The concept is a short, overnight tour on non-derallieur geared bikes--fixie, single speed, or hub gear. The three-speed themed ride would be a variation concentrating on the hub gears, and a day "romp 'round town" that wouldn't involve camping. (Yes, these rides are in the same vein as the Tweed Ride, but more on bikes/riding, less on clothing.) Tentatively looking at three-speed in March, SD in May.
4. National Train Day is Saturday, May 7th, and I'd like to do a Portland railroad themed ride, possibly titled "The Portland the Railroad Made".
5. And spring means bike touring season will be upon us! Ian Stude and I will probably do another Bike Touring Workshop in early spring.

It's turning out to be quite the full plate! Check back here; I'll have more details when they become available.

PEDALPALOOZA!

Yes, it is here! here is my detailed post about ALL the events I'm involved in. Questions? Leave a comment or email urbanadventureleague { at } gmail { dawt } com

MONDAY JUNE 14

BICYCLE TOURING WORKSHOP

HI-Portland, Hawthorne Hostel, 3031 SE Hawthorne Blvd

6:00pm - 9:00pm

Are you a regular bicycle rider but have never taken a bicycle tour? Now that summer is here, are you itching to hit the open road once the weather gets nicer and explore nature in a way you haven't yet? Then join us to learn more about Self-Supported Bicycle Touring. We'll be discussing equipment, planning, and cost as well as day-to-day life on the road. We'll also have a few loaded touring bikes to check out.

This class is FREE. Donations accepted.

TUESDAY JUNE 15
PEDAL POTLUCK PICNIC

Alberta Cooperative Grocery, 1500 NE Alberta St (meet in front of co-op)

6:30pm - 9:00pm,

The PPP returns for its SIXTH season! A casual bicycle ride traversing approx. 3-5 miles (5-8km) with a different route each time. The end destination is a mystery park. The term "park" will be used liberally here, so expect the unexpected! At the endpoint we'll enjoy a picnic dinner. Eating will be potluck style, so please bring food and drink to share (preferably vegetarian/vegan). Bring lights! Please bring your own silverware, plate, and cup. If it looks like it'll rain we'll end up at a COVERED destination.

THURSDAY JUNE 17

MIDWEEK RIDE TO THE COLUMBIA GORGE

Ruby Junction/E 197 MAX Station, SE Burnside St and SE 197th Ave, Gresham

(we'll muster by the eastbound MAX platform)

9:30am - 5:30pm, we'll take off on the ride at 10am sharp, get there early for ride prep

Riding to quiet country roads and spectacular scenery is easier than you think. The Columbia River Gorge is just a short bicycle ride away. And you can totally handle it if you are an everyday rider. Bring a snack, water, and Trimet fare. Geared bikes recommended. Approx 40 miles round trip for the day ride. Two-day overnight camping option available.

MORE INFO AND DETAILS FOUND IN FORUM ENTRY FOR THIS LISTING, PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK TO READ MORE!

FRIDAY JUNE 18
DEAD FREEWAYS RIDE
South Park Blocks in front of Lincoln Hall (PSU), 900 SW Market St
5:45pm - 8:45pm

What if...Portland built all the freeways it planned? This ride follows the routes of several highways that never made it off the drawing board, such as the fabled Mt. Hood Freeway, some that did but were later removed, like Harbor Drive, and also as a reference some freeways that currently exist. We'll see the parallels of the past freeway fights with what's going on with the current Columbia River Crossing project. Approx 13 miles of riding through moderate traffic.

SUNDAY JUNE 20

SOLSTICE RIDE (PLUS TOUR OF LATE NIGHT "DINERS")

People's Cooperative Grocery, 3029 SE 21st Ave 9:00pm - 7:00am, we'll take off from People's shortly before 10pm

Celebrate the shortest night of the year by riding all night (yes, ALL NIGHT) around Portland. We'll be doing the obligatory hill or two but we'll also be checking out late night food in unlikely places. Bring cash for eats/drinks. Ride your bike that you feel most comfortable riding on for hours. Bring something warm to wear, food and drink (for you and/or to share), and lights! No whiners.

TUESDAY JUNE 22

EPIC PIZZA RIDE

Undisclosed (must RSVP to get ride start info)

5:45pm - 11:45pm

A haphazard yet precise expedition around the the city to sample the "holiest" of foods. Hardcore pizza buffs and novices are all welcome to join us as we eat, ride, repeat over a course of many undisclosed miles. Due to logistics we're limiting the ride to 50 people.

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. $10 PER PERSON. EMAIL ME AT urbanadventureleague (at) gmail (dot) com for more details and/or to register.

FRIDAY JUNE 25
BIKE-IN MOVIE AT THE HAWTHORNE HOSTEL
HI-Portland, Hawthorne Hostel, 3031 SE Hawthorne Blvd
7:00pm - 10:00pm, music and food start at 7pm, movies start at dark

Our annual tradition...watch bicycle related movies under the stars in the Hawthorne Hostel's spacious side yard! Enjoy some pre-movie live music and food donated by local businesses! Volunteers needed, contact us to help out!

This year we'll be showing "The Cross Canada Project", a documentary about Mike Beauchamp's 2005 Canadian bicycling odyssey. http://mikebeauchamp.com/crosscanada/

QUICK RIDE REPORTS
PedalPalooza 2009 wrap-up

Did you catch Pedalpalooza? YOU DIDN'T? Were you living under a rock or something for the last three weeks?

So now it is time to play catch-up. But I still don't have the time to write the detailed reports for the nine (nine!) events I undertook. So for the time being, please snack on these bite-sized reports!

BIKE TOURING WORKSHOP (Mon 6/15, 35 participants) The secret to keeping
people awake when you talk for three hours is to provide free coffee.

PEDAL POTLUCK PICNIC (Tues 6/16, 26 participants, destination Frazer Park, NE 52nd and Hassalo) Torn down juvenile
detention facilities can make great parks. And everyone loves bread and hummus.

MIDWEEK RIDE TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE (Wed 6/17, 46 participants) Getting
46 people to ride up a long hill to Crown Point is easier than you think.
Getting 46 people with bikes on MAX is a lot harder than you think, unless
it's Sunday night.

DEKUM TO WOODSTOCK (PORTLANDIA OBSCURIA II) (Thurs 6/18, 80 participants?)
Who would have thought sharing a tandem bike with Carl would be so much fun? Who
would have thought so many people would be interested in street names?

SOLSTICE RIDE (Sat 6/20, 100 participants at the start, 30 until the bitter
end) The secret to getting people to ride to the top of Council Crest is to
not tell them you're riding to the top of Council Crest.
NOTABLE KIRAN QUOTE FOR THE RIDE (1): "Shawn Granton is the Tom McCall of
Portland Bike Culture."
NOTABLE KIRAN QUOTE FOR THE RIDE (2): "This was never supposed to be a candy
'ride one mile and drink beer' kind of ride."

DEAD FREEWAYS RIDE (Sun 6/21, 30 participants) I'm hoping when engineers
designed pedestrian bridges across I-5 they never thought "This would be a
good
place to murder someone".

EPIC PIZZA RIDE (Mon 6/22, 100 participants at the start, 24 at the end. Seven pizzerias covered in about 7 hours, 23 miles of riding.) "Is Shawn leading us all the way to St. Johns via the St. Johns Bridge on this ride? OMG! He is! Is he really that cruel? WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO? I JUST WANT TO EAT PIZZA!"

TRAVEL STORIES: BICYCLE TOURING (Tues 6/23, 18 participants) "Well, this is just a talk. So we're safe, right? Shawn's not going to make us ride up to Council Crest again, right?"

BIKE-IN MOVIE NIGHT AT THE HAWTHORNE HOSTEL (Fri 6/26, 150 participants) "Seeing a documentary movie about someone who rode their bikes for 19 months from the bottom of South America to the top of the Canadian Arctic makes me want to complain less about Shawn's rides. For now, at least."

Springtime is on the way...
and I've made the new calendar for Urban Adventure League events for the upcoming months! Check what I've got going on:

*****
Portland Coffee Tour
Saturday 7 February, 11 am
meet at Hawthorne Hostel, 3031 SE Hawthorne Blvd
probably will take about 3 hrs
bring bus fare ($2.00)
transit: #14/Hawthorne

In conjunction with the Hawthorne Hostel, this will be a series of semi-regular walks (and possible bicycle rides) exploring the unique world of coffee in the Rose City. For the first one, we’ll be hitting up some of our roasteries. Bring cash for those drinks, we encourage those interested in attending to purchase something at least two of the cafes.
STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE TOURS!

*****
Mt. Tabor Meander (An Urban Hike)
Saturday 21 March, 11 am
meet at Seven Virtues Coffeehouse, 5936 NE Glisan St
3 hours
bring bus fare ($2.00)
transit: #19/Glisan, #71/60-122,
MAX red/blue lines

Sure, you’ve been to Mt. Tabor umpteen times. But this hike will explore the Eastside’s highest point (643ft/196 m) from angles that you may have never seen before! We’ll ascend using the lesser known north slope using stairways and secret paths, and meander our way along the top and check out the action on the “back side”. What better way to celebrate the first official day of spring? Bring water, snack, and good footwear.

*****
Bicycle Touring Workshop
Wednesday 8 April, 6:30 pm
Hawthorne Hostel,
3031 SE Hawthorne Blvd
2 hours
transit: #14/Hawthorne

Are you a regular bicycle rider but have never taken a bicycle tour? Are you itching to hit the open road once the weather gets nicer and explore nature in a way you haven’t yet? Are you ready for the challenge of riding 40-100 miles in a day, carrying all you need on your bicycle, and creating a new home night after night? Then join us to learn more about Self-Supported Bicycle Touring. We’ll be discussing equipment, planning and cost as well as day-to-day life on the road. We’ll have a few loaded touring bikes to check out.

*****
Dead Freeways Ride
Sat 11 April, 11 am
meet at Madison Plaza, on the Eastbank Esplanade by the Firehouse and the Hawthorne Bridge
3-4 hours
transit: #4/Division, #6/MLK, #10/Harold, #14/Hawthorne, #33/McLoughlin (Hawthorne Bridge stop, #14 westbound only)

What if...Portland built all the freeways it planned? This ride will either talk about or follow the routes of several highways that never made it off the drawing board, such as the fabled Mt. Hood Freeway, some that did but were later removed, like Harbor Drive, and also as a reference some freeways that currently exist. Approx 12 miles of riding through moderate traffic.

SPECIAL NOTE: I led this ride in June and November 2008, and both were overwhelmingly popular. Consider this one as a “Part 2” to those, as this time I’m staying on the eastside so we can cover some areas we didn’t cover on the previous rides.

*****
Pedal Potluck Picnic
1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesdays from May
until the 1st Tuesday of September
6:30pm

The PPP returns for its FIFTH season! A casual bicycle ride traversing approx. 3-5 miles with a different route each time. The end destination is a mystery park or park-like setting. The term “park” will be used liberally here, so expect the unexpected! At the endpoint we’ll enjoy a picnic dinner. Eating will be potluck style, so please bring food and drink to share (preferably vegetarian/vegan). Please also try to bring your own silverware, plate, and cup. We will also stop at a grocery store along the way. If it looks like it’ll rain we’ll end up at a COVERED destination.
1st Tuesdays meet at the Hawthorne Hostel,
3031 SE Hawthorne
3rd Tuesdays, Alberta Co-op,
1500 NE Alberta
5th Tuesdays, Food Front, 2375 NW Thurman

Ride Report: Dead Freeways Ride, 11 June 2006

RIDE REPORT

DEAD FREEWAYS RIDE

SUNDAY 11 JUNE 2006

start: Food Front Co-Op, NW Thurman at 23rd

Endpoint: SE 50th Av at Franklin

Riders: 18 at the maximum, about 7 all the way to the end.

Time: about 3 hours total

I wish I was more prepared for this ride, but that seems to be the case for most of the rides I've done lately. There's always more research that can be done and a zine can be made. One of these days, I'll get around to it.

The ride departed from Food Front around 11:30 and headed west on Thurman to the foot of Macleay (Forest Park) and then looped back to 23rd via Wardway and Vaughn. This was the site of what would have been I-505, or the St. Helens Freeway, a highway that would have taken all the land between Vaughn and Thurman from the foot of the Fremont Bridge to the foot of the West Hills.

At 23rd and Thurman we made a quick detour onto the on-ramp for the Fremont Bridge, and then promptly got off to get down to NW 19th. We rolled along the secret "pedestrian" path that ODOT had built under the Fremont Bridge viaducts and then cut through the Pearl to get over to Front Ave.

Eventually we found our way to NW 9th by the railroad tracks. And here is where I made a bad judgement call. Rather than take NW Front (and yes, I will call it Front) to the Waterfront Park path, we paralleled the tracks and then ended up in the yard at Union Station. To get to the end we passed through a gauntlet, fence one side, stopped freight train the other, with about a four foot wide gap and big pieces of gravel. I think I scared off a couple people with that one (but maybe I had to do it to fulfill that sense of "Adventure" one lunkhead anonymously commented to this blog some months back).

And now we were following Front Ave with Waterfront Park to our left. This was the site of Harbor Drive, a primitive freeway used by US 99-W from around 1940 to 1974, when it was torn down for the park. It's hard to imagine this area now with a freeway. Where would we put summer festivals, like the Rose Festival's Midway (which was happening at this time)? Gresham?

We paused for a moment at the ghost ramp that leads up from Front and then got on the Hawthorne Bridge. On the east side we stopped underneath the Hawthorne Blvd Viaduct at SE Water to see the evidence of Portland's last interurban railway (pre-MAX), which was closed down in early 1958, ironically the same weekend that the Banfield Freeway (I-84) fully opened. Then a stop by the Marquam Bridge to see the ghost ramp that would have led onto the fabled Mount Hood Freeway.

I'm not going into much detail about the Mt. Hood Fwy on this blog, but you can read plenty about it on this Wikipedia page. We started our tour of the proposed freeway at SE Division and MLK. We lost a good deal of riders here, and the remainder rode up SE Clinton to see the route, stopping briefly at Piccolo and Richmond Parks, two parks built on land acquired for the freeway.

The ride ended at SE 50th and Franklin, the site of an " neighborhood information center" opened for the express purpose of selling the Mt. Hood (now a Planned Parenthood office, ironically). Jeff, Jill and I retired to the Hedge House for lemony tea and veggie burgers, and then I took a nap in Laurelhurst Park. What a day!

Thanks to Carye Bye for photos. More can be seen here.