I mention "downhill all the way" as in "uphill all the way back".
For Rose that walk would just be warming up, for me it would probably be crippling. However, I'm going to give it a go someday. I figure if I walk it that means I could drink more beer at lunch - I like that plan.
Rose has a lot of activities there, like beading groups, beading stores, beading ?? Ah, there must be more beading stuff...
Our post office is there and I'll ride my bicycle up and down the step hills daily for exercise. Seriously, it is like San Fran here. I can ride fine, just not walk. Actually, there is a post office nearer our place in Hillsdale, but the locals say only the truly unsuspecting venture through the door. The old women that runs the place commutes in via broom everyday. Best to respect the "Local Knowledge".
The "neighborhoods" or villages around Portland look like they are stuck in the 1970s, which is a good thing. They like their old buildings. The roads are narrow for horse and buggies.
That brings up a good point, your postal address here is Portland. Doesn't matter what town, village, neighborhood you live in - it is Portland. So, the locals say what "neighborhood" they live in. Reminds me of living in the islands. The waitress would ask you what you wanted to drink and you'd say a Coke, then she would ask what kind of Coke you want and you'd say a 7 UP. Made sense down there anyway.
We had lunch at Renner's Grill. Reminded me a lot of O'Keefe's back in the 1970s. Dark and freindly kind of local bar with food. The owner Steve came over and introduced himself and gave us the rundown of the place. The food was good. A real Slider of a greasy cheese burger, clam chowder, and good fries with a homemade sauce for them. OK, we had Bloody Marys, too.
The town has lots of small places to eat, shops, bike shop, bars, good lunch window shop spot.
We came across a "Hand Bag Sale for Charity" being held in one of the shops. I blindly followed Rose into the bowels of hell. There were women everywhere, wholly crap, the terror of it all rose up my spine. Quick to the Door! I think I see light between those two gals, and, yes, out the door. Once outside I found a couple of much older, and obviously wiser, men standing around. They smiled at me, told me to come over, as it was safer away from the door. We laughed about should a fight break out over a handbag and the ensuing bloodshed. Periodically, a wife would appear to show her husband a bag and to get the "nod" was it OK to really spend that kind of cash, "It's for charity" you could see on their faces. Now, we all know, this is just a polite jester on a wife's part, as a husband has no say in the matter. Proof of point, one guy told his wife she could get a bag, minutes later she came out after buying two bags! She said one was for her daughter. He looked and me and said, "I should have know that was coming". All fun stuff. I like hanging around with the old guys. They can tell you a lot with just a smile, or a nod.
David
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