Highway planners probably never figured that I-5 would ever be so over capacity. We spent at least an extra hour and a half creeping along the six or more lanes at less than 30 mph. I really hadn't considered I'd have spent so much time in second gear while getting to Portland.
We found a cheap hotel along Interstate Ave at around 4:30 pm. The LRT Yellow Line runs right front, so we were in downtown Portland in a matter of a few minutes. We paid up for day-passes as they were only $5 each for unlimited travel.
An Italian Festival was happening at Pioneer Court Square. We bought breakfast items in a city-center Target and walked familiar streets and down to the River Front Park.
We will be back in the truck tomorrow exploring the Columbia Gorge.