Sleeping in Portland

Posted: November 1st, 2008 | Author: Marissa K. | Filed under: | No Comments »

I think if we’d stayed in Seattle, we’d have partied all night long. From the Facebook pictures, the parties were wild and wooley with all sorts of crazy costumes. Heck, there’s another dressup pub crawl that we’re missing tonight–all by skipping town and heading to Portland for the weekend. Instead of Sleepless (and likely intoxicated) in Seattle, we’re sleeping peacefully in Portland.

Rather than parties and costumes, our Halloween consisted of staring at our niece and commenting how cute she looks in her Halloween onsie. Nate and I took a twilight run through Forest Park until it got too dark to see, and then we came home to indulge in an awesome fajita dinner.

That was all a prelude to today… the first of November; always the day of the Verboort Sausage Festival. (Before today, I didn’t know or understand the significance.) Since 1934, the small town of Verboort, about 40 miles outside of Portland, has been making and serving sausage and sauerkraut on the first of November. Since 1999 and every year since, 13 tons of sausage and 350 gallons of sauerkraut are prepared for this event. They serve over 8000 dinners throughout the afternoon. Amazing.

We, being in the Portland spirit, joined up with several other cyclists to get there. Brian took the first SAG-leg with Hazel. (He took these great pics.)

I took the SAG after 13 miles of riding and followed the cycling gang all the way to the festival. It was yummy! Nate, Hazel and and the sausage are all here to attest to its goodness.

Sadly, it ended in pain for a couple of the guys. New rule: never ride home after ingesting sausage at the Verboort. For me, it ended in a six-mile run. Am I crazy? Yes. But at least I’ll sleep well tonight.

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