Portland, OR

Helen: By this point in our road trip, the 5:30 wake up call was the norm and double hits of coffee were a must. Today, we crossed two state lines during our 8 hour drive: Washington and Oregon. But let me tell you (and please, feel free to be offended by this) Oregon, by far, had the worst welcome sign we have seen yet. And we have crossed 12 state lines so far (and have had to recross some because we missed the photo op). Really Oregon? What's your deal. You couldn't have thrown in any fun fonts or designs? Not sure if we would have doubled back for you, Oregon. Not sure.

womp womp.

Cilla:  Almost missed meeting up with another friend I haven't seen in a long time - 7 years or so.  Chris had not responded to my emails using an 0ld address, and I had almost given up.  Then the day before driving to Portland I discovered a cell number and gave it a try .  Chris answered right away, "Cilla!", and we ended up at her condo for 2 nights.  Just a block off the Willamette River.

   

First night, we went to dinner at a restored restaurant/movie theater where you can bring your food/drink inside to watch the film. Later Chris and i got into jammies and enjoyed some quality girl talk on her couch. Helen: I met up with Ashkahn, a friend from my high-school days, and he took me to a great bar called the Horse Brass Pub. At least 60 beers on tap and a rotating list of seasonals that changed daily. Hooray! We got to talking about his business in Portland--a sense-deprivation float tank that promotes relaxation, stress-relief and the occasional hallucination. Excuse me whaaaaa???!!!

   

I was intrigued. After checking out the tanks and hearing his pitch, my interested was piqued. "Come in tomorrow! Bring your mom!" Haha. No way. Mom would not go for this strange hippie new-age crap. Me, on the other hand, was game. When in Portland...you better get weird 

Cilla:  Spent the day contemplating the offer to float with Helen - very intrigued, and back getting pretty sore form all the 10 -11 hour days driving.  Meanwhile the 3 girls (Helen, Chris and I ) explored downtown Portland - streetcar to the city, long browse in Powell's Bookstore, lunch from the amazing selection of food carts, and taking in the scene in and around Pioneer Square on a gorgeous sunny afternoon.

 

Portland street art

Then, decision time.... "to float, or not to float?"  Decided to go for it.

Helen: "If you want to back out, I completely understand..."

Mom: "No! I'm not backing out!"

Oh boy. We were about to spend 1.5 hours "floating". Here's an excerpt from the website:

"About 40 minutes into your float your brain stops producing its normal Alpha waves and starts churning out Theta waves. These are responsible for that ‘between-waking-and-sleeping’ state, and you make them naturally every night before you conk out. While it only lasts for a few sparse moments in your bed, you can achieve a prolonged Theta state in the tank, a state of consciousness that is usually only seen in children and people who have spent years practicing meditation."

...eh-squeezeme?

Here's the process:

1. Walk into your private spa-like room and strip down to your birthday-suit

2. Take a shower and hop into the float tank (a SciFi-esque enlarged tub with a roof and a hatched door. This tank is filled with water at body temperature and a ridiculous amount of epsom salt so you're super buoyant. It is pitch black and completely sound proof. Literally zero sensory input)

3. Then you float! Just lay back and let the salty, salty water soothe you into a pseudo-sleeping state. You go in and out, you wiggle fingers and toes, stretch a bit, think about that nice river that is taking you downstream...

4. The music fades in and you're done! A quick shower you're on your way.We felt great!

Just call us Portlandians.

Me with the man behind it all

Slipped out early the next morning for another long day on the road.  Thanks Chris and Ashkahn for the great time in Portland. You're the best!

CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME!