Memorial Day Garden Tour

As was discussed at the People's memorial, a group of us is planning some sort of memorial ride to see a few of the gardens that Steve worked on in southeast Portland. We'll leave from People's at around 3 or 4pm to end around 5 either a garden barbeque (weather permitting) or at Roots (weather prevailing).

The exact details will depend on how many gardens we can line up, but we'll probably leave People's Food Co-op around 3pm on Monday, May 25, to finish around 5pm. If you would like to take part in the garden party barbeque afterwards, please email Elinor to let us know if you are a vegetarian and what (if anything) you would like to bring. More food = more fun, eh? Extra points for the most bizarre and tasty combination of Asian ingredients and/or seaweed.

Also, please bring photos and memories of Steve to share.

There shall probably be one final memorial gathering after probate is complete, at Steve's house, in October.

People's Food Co-Op is at 3029 SE 21st Ave, Portland OR 97202, (503) 674-2642. Roots Organic Brewing is at 1520 SE Seventh Avenue, Portland OR 97214, (503) 235-7668.

For a PDF copy of the tour map, please email Rory.

Reach the Beach 2009

Anyone who had spoken to Steve in the past three years or so had probably heard about the "Reach the Beach" fundraising ride for the American Lung Society and his good friend, Brian Reynolds. Brian had fought lung cancer for fifteen years, and the disease had taken one lung by the time he and Steve met. Brian got around with the aid of an oxygen bottle, yet managed to ride in this fundraiser over 100 miles each year, aided in later years by helpers who would ride alongside and push on the uphill bits. Steve was one of those helpers and would often speak of Brian's courage and inspiration. When Brian died near the winter solstice in December of 2007, Steve was devastated, and a brochure for the 2009 Reach the Beach ride was the top paper on Steve's desk when he went into the hospital.

Brian's obituary is online, as is information on this year's Reach the Beach event, which shall include many of Steve's mates from Team Beer.  Those who may wish to honor Steve are encouraged to consider riding or supporting an RTB rider this year or next, in memory of Steve and his good friend, Brian.

This year's Reach the Beach takes place next Saturday, May 16, 2009.