If you want to read about time well spent with a purpose out west read Julie's entry about actually running the marathon.  I am super proud of her.  For me, leaving the house on Saturday morning, was strange.  I was not traveling to race this weekend.  All the normal race weekend gear was still in the closet.  I felt like I was forgetting something really important.  The truth was, I did not have my bike.  I was not counting how many shoes I had packed and the drawer with riding clothing stayed closed. 

We were going to a part of the country I love.  Only minutes off of the plane and we were walking by the Handmade Bicycle Show exhibit in the Portland airport.  We got the rental car and before we knew it we were walking around downtown Eugene.  After picking up Julie's race packet, we stopped by the Eugene City Brewery, which in truth, is essentially a Rogue Brewpub.  There was so much beer on tap.  I opted for two pints, each only available in the brewhouse.  The first was Smoked Frog, a deep smoked porter.  The second pint was called Love and hoppyness, brewed for John, the Rogue brewmaster's wedding.  So good. Back to the hotel to sleep.  We were up bright and early to see Julie off.  I ran around campus catching her at miles 1 and 8.  After that, I had about an hour and a half until I would see her next.  So I checked out of the hotel and started to drive over to the finish. 

On the way I stopped by the Wandering Goat Coffee house to buy some whole bean coffee to bring back.  When I started talking about whole bean espresso, the guy behind the counter got super interested and took over the conversation.  He went in back and bagged a pound of coffee specific for me and how soon I will be pulling shots of espresso.  He sat down with me over a fresh shot and we talked about pull times and weights.  I am super excited to make some of it at home.  I got to the finish, met up with Julie for mile 15ish and then again at the finish.

We did not stick around Eugene much after the finish and headed back to Portland.   We got the best hotel ever, super fancy room cheap on hotwire.  We went out to a pretty sweet bar with a beer menu that was almost 100% west coast brewed and also had a happy hour menu super cheap!  Tomorrow morning before we go to the airport I am going to stop by Molly Cameron's shop, VeloShop.  I am not alowing myself to buy anything, especially the very very sweet FMB tires.  If it were not for two or three really big reasons, I'd be moving here in the very near future.