Comments on: 48 Hours in Portland

By: Julian

Julian — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:16:58 +0000

Just took an Azor Transport (big but not long dutch city bike) down on Amtrak to Portland. Had a friendly interaction with Seattle baggage folks who still suggested I not bring such a beast next time. The guy in Portland was mighty crotchety, and was aggressively shooing me out of the car as I bungied it to one of the side rails. For some reason, they didn’t want to hang it (“too heavy for the folks on the other end”). So not sure what I should do next time … will probably try again, since it was such an excellent adventure.

Full disclosure: I do have more bike geek paraphernalia bolted to that bike than is reasonable (front kid seat, le Veltop windshield and bike-tent, front rack with wald basket, etc). I’m approaching Val territory. In fact, they asked me if it was a motorized vehicle.

By: Mitchell T

Mitchell T — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:56:27 +0000

It was super fun having you and Ann down. I’m glad the eats worked out well and heckling while you loaded up the van was a bonus.

tfahrner: Go Biwa! But I’ll the ante with Pok Pok

By: Val

Val — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:13:36 +0000

Amtrack hasn’t really figured out what their story is, though they’re working on it. Going to Portland, we have been able to load XtraCycles on several occasions without disassembly, and have seen tandems loaded similarly, even though the official policy is that all bikes must hang from the hooks provided. The boxing requirement is for longer distances, such as on the Coast Starlight. It really depends on the individual in charge of the baggage car; on one trip, we loaded the bikes in ourselves, and everyone was happy. When we got to our destination and tried to unload them, we were told that only the baggage car attendants were allowed in the baggage car, and that we should tell them which bike, and they would unload it. Once they actually tried to lift our bikes, they allowed us in the baggage car, grudgingly. I get the impression that it’s an evolving system. Let’s give them plenty of reason to allow more, yes? All aboard!

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:08:55 +0000

Tim – Yeah, it would be nice if they got their stories right – I didn’t trust them when they said it until he let me write his name down and another employee gave me the pen to do it.
Looks like you had a blast in Portland! It was a nice weekend to go.

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:25:51 +0000

Stephan,

Thanks! It was a good one.

The Oma burped and farted and dropped a mudflap on I5 but made it nonetheless.

mmm – lamb sounds good. you’ll have to make us a list of good places to eat and drink when we wander out to Chicago…we’ll probably just rent bikes from you on that trip.

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:19:36 +0000

Todd,

It was good to see you – thanks for the directions!

Biwa was on our list – we were planning to go there on Sunday but didn’t know they weren’t open for lunch. Next time.

And you’re right about making different bike choices (at least for Tim). Again, next time.

By: stephan

stephan — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:47:37 +0000

Hey, happy anniversary. Glad that you can take your Oma on vacation, even though she really is a heavy old homebody. Hope she didn't burp or fart too much on the way. Speaking of well fed, I just had a lamb shank plate delivered to the shop for lunch from Baba Pita. Yum.

By: tfahrner

tfahrner — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:34:17 +0000

dudes: bromptons. glad you enjoyed granola disneyland.

i would add biwa (http://biwarestaurant.com/) to your list of cool places.

By: Tim K

Tim K — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:53:22 +0000

Hi AJ — I sure wish Amtrak would get their story straight. Is that too much too ask? Oh, yeah, it probably is. Oh well, between kid drop off/pick-up, the train timing would have been quite a stretch.

Its our first tank of gas since we went camping more than a month ago, so I’m trying not to let it bother me too much. Maybe the train will work next time when I have my _new_ (shorter) bike, eh?

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:29:40 +0000

We took Amtrak to Portland a few weeks ago, and Amtrak told us they could load the Xtra, just like a regular bike. Gene at King Street (in Baggage) said it was no problem.
We took the Talgo (Cascades) and not the Coast Starlight, not sure if that makes a difference.