First stop, Westmoreland Park, somewhat waterlogged from the spring rains but still rather picturesque. I spotted some petanque (pronounced "pay-tonk") players nearby, but didn't stay long, as this lawn bowling was a bit slow for my taste.
Through the park I walked parallel to Crystal Springs Creek, which eventually along 21st Avenue turned into Johnson Creek and the same-titled park:
I continued south until connecting with the Springwater Corridor Trail, which goes all the way from this point to Gresham, where it connected with much earlier Walk 17. Turning east, the trail crossed three bridges, over Johnson Creek, McLoughlin Boulevard and the Union Pacific train tracks. This was cool, because as I saw the red arch over the bridge, I remembered that I had seen this from the other end at the far point of Walk 25. It was all starting to fit together now!
From the bridge over McLoughlin Boulevard, I saw this blue building, which for a minute or two I thought the painting on the back said "Your ornamental tron specialists." "What's an ornamental tron?" I wondered, until I had another "doh!" moment as I realized the word was...iron. Ohh, brother.
Retracing my way back along the Springwater Trail, I then headed west into Andover Place, past the Waverly Country Club (more golfing I wasn't doing!) and then north on 9th Avenue.
Here I saw some out-of-circulation trains by the side of a street. Kind of unusual; kinda cool.
Right next to the trains was some new condo construction, which was a little weird because they were building behind a brick wall. Not sure if they're going to tear down the brick when they're done or leave it, but if so it seems strange to leave it there now.
Heading back toward the starting point, I entered a neighborhood that seemed vaguely familiar. I soon found out why: At 9th & Sherrett was the former site of the "T-Hows," where Lisa and I experienced some really great summer evenings with friends, drinking tea in a homemade community building, constructed by permaculturalist/architect Mark Lakeman. I found this article that describes Lakeman's efforts and what the tea house was about (but frustratingly no pictures), including:
Built during the winter of 1995 out of recycled doors and windows, plastic sheeting, and stormfall, it was a lovingly crafted tea house, built around and through the trees on a yard.
It's impossible to describe how cool this place was, and how sad it made me when it had to be dismantled due to local building codes, but the memory remains thanks to the "Share-it Square" (get it...Sherritt square?)... A kids' play area, painted intersection, and "T-Station." Maybe again, someday?
And so back to the start. And yes, at Westmoreland Park I did see yet another pukatron. As I walked past, it was spinning away, set in motion by unseen forces that were no longer present.
