Description:

This is a historic (exploratory) walk of downtown Portland's wicked past (yes, we will be eating, enjoy a coffee or two, and making a trip to Powells on this trip).

Portland is now home to swank eateries, posh coffee shops, and a lively urban scene, but at one time it was a wild seaport town with a wicked and lusty underworld. For decades, weathered sea captains bartered in blood money for shanghaied recruits and seedy saloon grifters preyed on freshly arrived tenderfoots from the east. Portland was a place where rotgut whiskey flowed freely, bordellos floated on the Willamette, votes could be bought for a pint of beer, saloons numbered 1 for every 40 people, murder was common, and corruption was a way of life.

Although I’ve been to these locations this is the first time trying to piece together a good chunk of Portland's historic wickedness. Everyone on this trip will help with digging up old stories, finding locations of former saloons, and trying to peel back the facade to reveal Portland's colorful history underneath. We'll also be looking at the cities modern side and artwork while we walk.

The trip begins & ends at the Eugene Amtrak Station. In Eugene, please be outside the front of the train station by 7:20 am to board the bus. Car parking at the station is $6 and permits can be purchased at the outside kiosk outside. Our walk in Portland will have a relaxed pace, there will be frequent stops, and we'll grab a bite of lunch somewhere. The plan is to be finished by 2 pm-ish, allowing for personal free time in Portland to visit Powells etc. and to grab some food for the train. We should be inside Union Station by 5:30 pm for seat assignments. We'll be back in Eugene by 8:40pm.

INSTRUCTIONS:
After signing up for the trip on the Obsidian website you will need to book the following at Amtrak.com; a round trip from the Eugene Amtrak Station (EUG) to Portland Union Station (PDX), round trip tickets can run about $58, this is cheaper for seniors.

The bus/train combo we are taking this trip is:
A. Leaving on Amtrak BUS #5544. 7:30 am - 10:15 am
B. Returning on Amtrak Cascades TRAIN #505. 6:05 pm - 8:40 pm