As some of you may already know, I am currently in Portland, Oregon.
I was just here recently for the NAHBS 2017 trip, but I have returned to this land once again to fulfill an important mission.
After transferring in Seattle, I arrived at the Portland airport in the early afternoon. Oregon’s rainy season ended last week, bringing the time of year that everyone agrees is the best, and I was immediately greeted by soft sunlight.
The first place I headed upon landing was the bike assembly area right by the baggage claim. That’s right, this stay will be a long one—about three months. So, of course, I brought my own bike with me.
Thanks to the bike stand, which is fully equipped with tools and a pump, I can assemble my bike and go for a ride right after a long journey. In this country with its endless expanse of land, airplanes are used for travel much like trains are in Japan, and bike towns like Portland are incredibly welcoming to those who want to enjoy riding even when they are away from home.
In the city, there are even more cyclists than when I last visited, firmly incorporating bikes into their daily lives for commuting to work and school. This is my first time visiting Portland at this time of year, but to be honest, I think I’m already captivated by this comfortable climate from the very first day.
The place I headed straight for from the airport was this one. Yes, as I noted in the records of my previous trip, SimWorks has secured a new base. And my role is to properly take that baton and carry it forward.
There are so many people I want to see and places I want to go, but I’m going to make these three months count. I’ll be sharing what’s happening here from various perspectives—as Circles and as SimWorks—so please look forward to it.
So, the "SimWorks way" is to get your body moving the day after you arrive to shake off the stiffness from a long trip. When I mentioned going to the pump track, I took Addison, Oscar’s beloved daughter—who is just as impatient as any kid, already fully geared up in her full-face helmet and ready to go—to a park nearby that has a pump track.
The days are long and it’s still bright outside until nearly 8:00 p.m., so in this season, you can easily go for a ride in Portland after work.
Addison is desperate to make sure she doesn't get caught by her dad, Oscar, from behind.
I’m also very glad to see Mako-san, the previous runner in this baton relay (a.k.a. the Sim Marathon), doing well. Now, the next three months begin. I’m sure they will fly by once they’re over, but I want to keep running while firmly holding onto the baton that everyone has entrusted me with.
In any case, have a great weekend, everyone!