From YVR to PDX: Our first family bike vacation...Day 4

Our last full day in Portland was quite eventful, but we decided to keep it a transit day and give ourselves and our bikes a rest. The great thing about Portland's transit is that for only $5.00 you can purchase a day pass and ride as much as you like! So after a big breakfast, we hopped on the MAX line and headed to Old Town and the Saturday Market. The market is huge, full of vendors selling everything from pottery, clothing, jewellery, food and whatever else you can think of. So we took a wander through, eventually ending up at the waterfront and another fountain for the kids to splash in. This is clearly a tradition for many Portlanders because there were tons of kids running through having a ball.

The crowded Saturday Market

Etienne splashing around again!

From there, we walked a bit through downtown, and then caught the tram back to our apartment to get ready for the main event. The kids got out of their wet clothes and we all got on our Whitecaps gear, ready to support our team in enemy territory. Chris had actually been wearing his shirt all day, which created a random conversation with a family from Vancouver who happened to be travelling through and was looking for a way to get tickets. We also had a Portland fan give us some post-game transit advise, which was so nice! So there you go, kids can make friends anywhere and a sports jersey can strike up a conversation. Who knew?

Etienne waiting for the train, all set to cheer on the 'Caps

Once back downtown ready for the game, we stopped at what is now my favourite pizza joint, Sizzle Pie. We first ate here on our last visit at their East /Burnside location, and I insisted we go again. With creative names for each of the pies, and a grunge kind of aesthetic, it's just a cool place to go. I recommend The Four Hoursemen pizza, featuring mozza, white cheddar, ricotta and goat's cheese. Delicious!

That is one giant pizza!

From dinner, it was off to Jeld-Wen field with the rest of the fans, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps alike. While making our way to the supporters gate, we managed to time our walk with the arrival of the team bus, and we able to show the WCFC players our support before the game, including the kids getting a high five from our keeper, Joe Cannon! Once in our seats, the cheering began, and to my surprise and pleasure, the kids joined in with every chant they knew, and for the ones they didn't, they clapped their hearts out. We will make football fans out of them yet!

A few hundred of our fellow WCFC supporters

Clap, clap, clap...White Caps!

Sadly, the Whitecaps fell 2-1 to the Timbers, but the game was electric and it was so much fun to be with our fellow fans to support our team on the road. It was a new experience for everyone, and well worth the trip. We hopped on the tram back to our apartment, the kids exhausted after an long and exciting evening. Only one day left before we leave Portland and return to Canadian soil.