Mike and I were lucky to be able to make a trip back to Portland this past Spring. It had been just about a year and a half since we packed up the car to make the move back to the East Coast, after an amazing year of dwelling in this magical corner of the country. We relished being embraced by the surroundings we had so missed over the past year and a half: mountain views, forest roads, tall trees, and misty air. The days filled with bike rides along the water, long hikes to mountain-top picnic spots, drives to the coast, and a good fill of favorite craft ales and local food. It was a healthy dose of nostalgia as we revisited all of the places that had made such an impression on us when we considered ourselves halfway locals. The beauty of the Pacific Northwest is something I will forever be eager to return to.
