I was sound asleep when the train split in Spokane, WA with seven cars heading to Seattle and six towards Portland. I woke while approaching Pasco, WA. Traveling alongside the Columbia River on the Washington side, our view is of Oregon on the opposite bank. The terrain is rugged and desolate with many windfarms, some boat traffic and, at times, you can see Mount Hood in the distance. I discovered that during the night, we made up the time and now are scheduled to arrive in Portland on time.

The train runs right on the bluffs above the Columbia River through Wishram, WA, then Bingen-White Salmon, WA offering views of the surrounding mountains, occasionally cutting through short tunnels but constantly hugging the coastline all the way to Vancouver, WA.

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Once in Vancouver, we crossed a bridge into Portland, Oregon, arriving on time. Disembarking and gathering luggage was a relatively easy process and, with the assistance of Uber, arrived at Dossier Hotel by 11:00. The extremely nice young men at reception stored my luggage for me and assured me that my room would be ready within an hour. A great location, Dossier is central to shopping and restaurants in the Pearl District. So, I took off to explore, first finding a barrista where I could indulge my predilection for cappuccino. No cappys on the train so I was in major withdrawal.

Once sated, I walked to the riverfront where the Saturday market was well underway. The largest continuously operated arts and crafts outdoor market in the United States is well worth visiting. I knew this could consume hours of my time so I put off checking out the booths and just wandered around town. There are a lot of homeless persons and many seem young. One of the most disconcerting things is to be walking past a pile of blankets that starts to move as you walk by.

Despite that, the impression I have of Portland is young and vibrant. Music can be heard almost everywhere in this district with bands performing on street corners and along the waterfront. Lots and lots of dogs and people take them everywhere. I went into a Nordstrom (a high end department store) and saw people with their dogs. Eventually I wandered back to my hotel and checked in, then spent some time reorganizing my baggage back from the train ride. I then spent several hours exploring including the Saturday Market.