OK, who forgot to send out the announcement about

being filmed in Northwest Portland?

That's about the only explanation for what I saw on Northwest 23rd Avenue this morning: A man on an all-black motorcycle, decked out in full samurai gear, with two sheathed swords at the ready behind him.

No joking. Just watch the video.

I was filming footage of the popular shopping district's ongoing reconstruction when the mystery road warrior pulled up at 23rd and Everett. As you can see, his face is completely covered by the samurai helmet. I wasn't about to ask him if that complies with Oregon's helmet laws, only to have him slice me a new head hole.

Obviously more stunned than amused, the flagger flipped her sign from "stop" to "slow," and the samurai rider zoomed off.

Of course, stranger things have been seen in Portland. After all, it was this time last year when people reported the good deeds of

.

Whatever happened to him? Maybe he's switched to a bad-ass motorbike.

Either way, my guess is the sight of the samurai motoring around Portland's streets, his two swords standing upright like antennas, freaked the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks out of a few commuters today.

Actually, a quick Google search found that the motorbike samurai has been creeping out Portlanders for a couple years. According to

, librarian Charles Wood wrote a letter to then-Mayor Tom Potter after spotting the ninja in downtown.

The response from the mayor's office: Motorcycling ninja's have rights too.

Jeremy Van Keuren, Potter's public advocate wrote:

"By all appearances, the samurai is not breaking any laws (including carrying a sword) and does not pose any immediate threat. Provided that the samurai does not engage in threatening behavior, the samurai is welcome in Portland."

Apparently, Mayor Sam Adams also has no beef with this guys, um, hobby.

"I've seen him before," said Roy Kaufmann, the mayor's spokesman. "As long as he's not a public safety issue, he's welcome in Portland."

Asked whether she has received any complaints about the

on the Suzuki, Adams' Public Advocate Amy Stephens said, "No. But I wish had."

Seriously, what's this guy's story?

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