Day 6 - Day 7: A Pause in Portland
After a few days of hotels, waterfront walks, and catching up with old friends, Day six was about reality. Laundry, car washes, errands, and figuring out where to land next.
Ashley had collected another army of bugs on the drive from Bend to Vancouver, WA, so before leaving the hotel on the waterfront, I went in search of a self-serve car wash. Vancouver has a beautiful new waterfront area, but once I drove around the neighborhoods, I wasn’t impressed. The city felt stuck somewhere between the ’70s and ’90s—flat land, tired strip malls, dead grass, and little in the way of charm. No Whole Foods, no inviting local restaurants, nothing that made me feel like I could see myself there.
At the car wash, I managed to rinse off Ashley, but it wasn’t a good experience. No option for bucket washing, no clear timer for how much money I was spending—just a high-pressure hose. Days later, when I checked my credit card statement, I saw I’d been charged $54 just to spray Ashley down with plain water. That has to be a mistake I’ll need to dispute, but in the moment I just drove away frustrated.
From there, I stopped at Costco near the Portland Airport to pick up a new Apple Watch. It felt like a little reward amid the otherwise mundane tasks. Afterward, I crossed over into the Alameda/Alberta Arts district in Portland and headed to a restaurant a friend had recommended called Eem. The hype was real—maybe too real. I had to wait an hour for a patio table since I had Max with me, and by then I was tired and hungry. The food was fine, but overpriced for what it was.
While waiting for that table, I searched Airbnb and got lucky—one nearby had last-minute availability. Even better, it came with off-street parking and a washer/dryer. I was so tired of the nightly hunt for a safe place to sleep that I booked it for two nights. With rain in the forecast, I also figured a stable spot would be better for both me and Ashley—especially after that hard-earned car wash.
After dinner, I checked into the tiny home. It was cozy and safe, but as soon as I walked in, I noticed a list taped behind the front door: “Take out the trash. Start the laundry. Wash the dishes.” Ah yes, the infamous Airbnb chores everyone complains about. I had forgotten about that side of it.
Still, I was relieved. I had a safe spot for Ashley, a home-like environment for Max, a washer/dryer humming in the background, and even a shiny new Apple Watch charging on the counter. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was exactly what I needed. Travel isn’t always about grand discoveries—it’s also about slogging through the unpolished parts and finding small comforts along the way.
