Tell the story

Go out and tell the story, let it echo far and wide

Go out and tell the story

My first “official” social engagement in Portland was to have lunch with Tom and a couple of lesbian friends of his. We arrived a little earlier than the arranged time and the place we were having lunch at looked busy so Tom went in to put his name down for a table. We had a walk up and down the street, looking in a couple of little shops before making our way back to La Petit Provence. The girls arrived and I was introduced to them, Tom explaining why I was in Portland with much enthusiasm. They were both lovely and really easy to chat to. Over lunch I explained that I had been trying to find some lesbians to stay with on my trip but had so far been unsuccessful. All of my lesbian friends live in London or Manchester so I guess I could always stay with some of them when I pass back through in February 2012.

After lunch Tom and I headed back to the house to collect Bensen and take him for a walk. We did a long walk round the grounds of the Nike World HQ where I stopped to get some photos of Dean and Horse. Tom walked off as I was setting Dean up, just in case he saw anyone he knew. Having given Bensen his exercise it was time for us to head into Portland for a few drinks. We met Brian, who had not long finished work, at a place called Bluehour. Predictably Tom knew people, saying hello to some people at the bar and at least two of the waiters as we walked through to where Brian was waiting. One of the waiters chatted to us for a while and recommended some of the dishes on the happy hour food menu. As it was happy hour we had a couple of cocktails to go with the food we ordered. I was still full from my lunch so I just had a taste of a couple of things that Tom and Brian ordered. A friend of theirs, Patrick, joined us for a drink. I gave a condensed version of my travels and how I had ended up in Portland. I figured I needed a potted version as I would be meeting a lot of people while I was out with Tom.

Once happy hour came to a close I was whisked off to my next social engagement, an exhibition being held at a nearby art gallery. It was a great space and there was some really interesting art on display. There was one piece in particular that I really liked and I walked up to it, looking at the price tag. It was just under $60,000. I walked away again. Maybe I’ll get it if I secure an advance for an 80 Gays book deal? I was introduced to more friends of Tom’s including a couple, Dave & Robby, who listened intently to the tales of my travels. Tom told them that they should host me for a night in Portland so they could be two of my 80 gays. They asked where my next stop was. I admitted that it wasn’t booked but it would likely be Las Vegas. I was surprisingly relaxed about the late booking of my next stop. Before I had set out on my trip the uncertainty would have made me feel uncomfortable but after a couple of months travelling I was getting used to it. Once we got back home I took the plunge and booked flights to Las Vegas, sorting out a hotel at the same time. I would only be there for a couple of days, a period of time that everyone told me would be sufficient. Just before I headed to bed I let Tom and Brian know that they would be getting rid of me on the date they expected.

Saturday morning started with breakfast with Tom and Brian. Brian was off to play tennis so Tom and I went to Portland. There was a big farmers market on and we had a good wander round there, bumping into plenty of people Tom knew and sampling lots of tasty things (and by that I mean the produce not the farmers). After the market we went to see Mill Ends Park, the world’s smallest park built in a hole where a utility pole was once destined to go. It was the perfect size for Dean. Tom once again walked off as I stopped to get some photos of Dean.

We walked along the riverside where Tom insisted on trying to get a photo of me. He had complained that I wasn’t in any of the photos of my travels so far. I explained to him that I was “photo-genital” – I look like a cock in photos. Tom made me pose, leaning on the railings at the side of the river. I felt very self-conscious. He told me to smile and I did. He took a couple of photos and then checked them and it was obvious they didn’t look good. He told me not to smile and I did. He took a couple more photos but with similar poor results. After a little while I got a fit of the giggles so was not good for any more photos. Tom gave it up as a bad job and we headed for the Saturday Market before heading back to the car.

Let it echo far and wide

From Portland we took a drive out to the Columbia River Gorge. It was a stunning drive and we stopped off a couple of times to take in the views from various look-outs. It was breath-taking scenery. Undeterred from the earlier attempt Tom made me pose for some more photos at Vista Point. We managed to finally get one photo that I was happy with (and about a hundred that would be hitting the recycle folder pretty quickly). Our drive took us up to Multnomah Falls. As we drove up Tom explained that in the summer season the place would be packed with tourists but that it should be fairly quiet this time of year. I jokingly asked him if the water would be turned on when we got there given it was off-season. For a split second he looked at me as though I was being serious. The Falls were still fairly busy but made for some great photos and definitely worth the drive out.

When we got back home Tom did a quick turnaround as he had a charity event to get to, which gave me a couple of hours to chill before he would be back to pick me up for a night on the Portland tiles. Our first stop was a bar called Scandals. I saw that they had Hendrick’s so I immediately liked the place. By the time I got back from the bar with our drinks Tom was chatting to a group of guys. He introduced me to them all and then told me to tell my story. I did a condensed version of my route to date, how I had met Tom and where I would be off to on the rest of my trip. They were a nice bunch of guys and they asked me lots of questions including the one I always struggle to answer – “Where is the best place you have been to so far?”. I got chatting to a guy who told me he was moving over to Denmark at the end of the year and that I would be more than welcome to stay with him. I also met a porn star, which was nice.

Our next stop was at a monthly event called Blow Pony. We joined the short queue outside the venue. Tom and Brian went in first having shown the doorman their ID. I got out my (provisional) driving licence and showed it to the man. He looked at it for a little while. “It’s a British driving licence” I explained. I then thought he said “Have you got a password?”. I thought he was joking so I said “Surely my accent is my password”. He then repeated what he had originally said but slower and louder. He wanted to see my passport. I told him that I didn’t have it on me and that my driving licence, together with my face, had always been good enough as proof that I was over 21. Luckily he let me in.

The club was very busy and there were a few people in costumes as this would be the big gay night out closest to Halloween for Portland. The downstairs room seemed populated with younger guys so we headed upstairs where the crowd was a little more mature. I was introduced to so many new people in Blow Pony that I didn’t even try to remember names and I was glad of having practiced a condensed version of the story the previous day as I was beginning to sound like a stuck record. One of the guys I chatted to said he would put me in touch with a friend of his in Vegas who would be able to take me out for a drink or two while I was there. There was some dancing, a bit more drinking and a late finish. I headed to bed as soon as we got back to the house. Bensen followed me and slept curled up at the side of the bed.

“Go out and tell the story, let it echo far and wide” 
Lyrics from Make them hear you from the musical Ragtime