Happy Friday! The weekend is nigh and we're feelin' alright, alright, alright.

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, high 76, low 56.

🎧 Sounds like: "Wishy Washy" by Coco and Clair Clair

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Judith Farrow!

Today's newsletter is 952 words — a 3.5-minute read.

As thousands lace up for the start of the massive Hood to Coast relay race today at Timberline Lodge, another group will be preparing to to make sure all those runners finish safely.

Why it matters: For nearly 30 years, Eyes on Wheels – a group of volunteers on motorcycles — have been conducting safety patrols on the western part of the race course.

Catch up quick: The patrols formed after three runners were groped on the course near Scappoose in 1996, Gary Wasserman, secretary with Eyes on Wheels, told Axios.

• The following year, a group of six Nike employees and their spouses patrolled the section and the response from runners was immense, with thousands emailing the race organizers to say how much safer they felt, Wasserman said.

State of play: Eyes on Wheels has fielded 34 riders this year to keep tabs on the runners from Portland to Seaside, a section often traveled in the dead of night.

• "Most of it is pitch black," Wasserman said. "There's only a few places where there are even street lights."

What they're saying: The riders haven't encountered anything like the assaults in the 90s recently, but Wasserman said the patrollers stay busy nonethelesss.

• They've dealt with hostile residents who live on the race course, upended Porta Potties, injured runners and even a wayward bow hunter who put a scare into some racers.
• Wasserman said the presence of the riders — decked out with safety vests and radios — acts as a bit of a security blanket.
• "It's like when you were a kid, and you were worried there were monsters in the closet," he said. "Having the light on is sort of your way of making yourself comfortable, and so that's kind of the role we play."

The bottom line: Organizing a large group of riders to patrol different legs of the race throughout the night can be a logistical nightmare, Wasserman said, but it's all worth it.

• "When people stop us and say, 'Thank you so much for being there,' … When you get that kind of feedback, you just want to keep doing it."

Tell a runner

I hopped on the I-5 last weekend and headed up to our (objectively) bigger neighbor to the north for a friend's wedding.

• While there, I visited my awesome colleagues and bopped around several shops and restaurants (my faves were Pipe & Row, Made in House and Sea Wolf in Fremont).
• Plus: I took a spin around Lake Serene during golden hour on a pedal boat.

🤔 It got me thinking: Considering our cities are so close — and offer a lot of the same great things — why do I, a Portlander, hardly ever make it up there?

• Seattle is only about three hours away, yet it rarely registers as an easy weekend getaway for me.

👂🏻 I want to hear from you: How often do you visit Seattle? What keeps you from going? And if you do, what do you love about it?

• And listen ... I know our cities have beef — over sports, food and even whose mountains are better. But let's put it aside for now.

✅ Take our quick poll here and tell me what you think.

• Responses may be used in an upcoming newsletter.

🏊🏼 Southwest Community Center pool will close temporarily close for "critical repairs" to fix leaks and corrosion in the building's roof. Portland Parks & Recreation said it expects the pool to reopen in November. (KGW)

Seven families sued Central City Concern over the past three years, alleging the housing provider failed to conduct required wellness checks before residents' bodies were found days or weeks after their deaths. (The Oregonian)

🏙️ A California real estate firm bought the 46-unit Brooklyn Yards apartment complex in inner Southeast, signaling continued out-of-state investment in local housing. (Portland Business Journal)

The Oregon Department of Justice declined to open criminal investigations into six reports alleging federal officers used excessive force against protesters in Portland and Eugene.

• Officials said the cases didn't warrant full investigations. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

The best parallel parker in Portland will be crowned this weekend and it could be you — if you got the moves.

State of play: What began as a half-joking challenge between two friends last year quickly turned into a grand Kerns neighborhood event, drawing dozens of competitors and spectators of all ages.

• Now in its second year, the Parallel Parking Competition returns Sunday and will yet again put drivers' curbside skills to the test.

How it works: Drivers bring their own cars and are judged on how precisely, and cleanly, they maneuver into a designated curbside spot — without relying on backup cameras or any automated parking aids.

• Judges will then decide who moves into the championship round.
• A PBOT parking enforcement officer will be there, as well as KOIN-TV meteorologist Josh Cozart and drag queen Nicole Onoscopi, according to the Oregonian.

Plus: There's prizes.

But organizer Daniel Lyman won't be entering his own contest despite years of practice parallel parking in front of his home.

• "It wouldn't be fair," Lyman told the Oregonian.

If you go: Eager competitors are encouraged to show up at Southeast 30th Avenue and Pine Street Sunday between 1-4pm.

• Godspeed.

🦦 Meira is trying to get a few more river days in before cooler weather comes and ruins her vibe.

😋 Kale is probably eating a dehydrated backpacker meal.

This newsletter was edited by Geoff Ziezulewicz.