Wrote last week about the recent string of three early, exhilarating, dry rides down NE Broadway across the Broadway Bridge, so today chose another NW destination to replicate that sense of freedom,   But because the road and bridge were frosty today, we had to be more cautious or one of today’s five might have slipped and fallen.

The first thing we noticed about the Sterling shop was that bike parking outside was a challenge.   The second thing was that inside it was postage stamp sized, with limited bench seating on two sides, making discourse and hanging out for long periods of time a challenge.   The third thing was that the small tables had linens – we think the only one of the 110+ shops visited – and the baristas were the most formally attired.

As it was difficult for the five of us to engage in the same conversation, there were usually two going on at the same time with topics as far afield as: M’s upcoming week in Alaska to watch the Northern Lights with his son and son’s Australian friends & friends’ fathers; the vagaries of teaching credentials needed at PCC, OSU, and PSU’s various schools;  whether a Phd. vs. a MS is appropriate to be an occupational therapist; the stumbles a spouse or two were having in retirement after devoting so much of themselves to their work; and some success stories of inmates being trained/placed in obscure trades such as eyeglass repair.      417 NW 21st    Sterlingcoffeeroasters.com