Date with the Gate
As I had mentioned, my plan for today was to go to Alcatraz. Tourist mode, full speed ahead! But until about 10:30, sleep was more important to me, and after that, they had sold out of tickets. So I'm scheduled to go tomorrow.
Lacking other plans, I decided to go on a road trip around the Bay. At first, I was very literally going to drive around the Bay — up to Richmond and across to Marin, down on 1 through SF to as far as Half Moon Bay, then east through San Jose and back up the other side — but I quickly realized the amount of time and gas involved in that plan was ridiculous. I shortened it to the improvised route in the map at the left.
I had never driven the Richmond bridge before. Now I have. Not sure what else to say about it. It's an ugly bridge, but at least nothing fell on me.
After passing the prison at San Quentin, the landscape surrounding southbound highway 101 turned lovely! Beautiful inlets speckled with sailboats, and rocky hills dotted with expensive-looking houses and condos. Through a tunnel (I love road tunnels) and onto an exit, and I was in Sausalito. I had packed a lunch, so I took it to a bench near the harbor and admired the view of San Francisco.
After a little confusion as to the proper method of returning to 101, I was on my way over the Golden Gate Bridge. I'd passed over on my bike before, but never driven over it. The two-way traffic keeps you on your toes, that's for sure.
I then took an aimless jaunt down 101 through the city, but realized that I'd rather be closer to the coast. Most of the reason for the drive in the first place was to find some scenic places, and Van Ness isn't. So west again through the Presidio to the ocean! The wind was unusually calm today, so the surf was pretty low. I overheard some surfers complaining about the lack of waves. Dude.
Hopping back into the car and heading south along the Great Highway, I run right out of San Francisco and into Daly City. The horror! I hit the E-brake and pulled a U-turn back into oncoming traffic, tore over a grass median, and returned north. (Well, not really. But that's pretty exciting.) I wander over towards Mount Sutro, thinking I could get up to the tower and take some cool pictures. Instead, I end up getting lost, giving up, and returning north over the Golden Gate. No toll, hooray!
At this point, there's still plenty of daylight left to burn. So I decide to stop at the recreation area in the Marin headlands and admire the view. I do love the Golden Gate Bridge. The Battery Spencer lookout point makes it an easy one to photograph, even if you only have a crappy Treo camera handy. But if we're talking bridges, the west span of the Bay Bridge is still my favorite. Its criss-crossed tower design looks cool, and it's beautifully lit at night. Goldie gets points for being red, though. Actually, these may be the best pictures I've taken on my Treo, but that's not saying much.
The sun begins to set and a different kind of PDA begins to emerge, so I decide to head home. Tomorrow: The Rock.
Lacking other plans, I decided to go on a road trip around the Bay. At first, I was very literally going to drive around the Bay — up to Richmond and across to Marin, down on 1 through SF to as far as Half Moon Bay, then east through San Jose and back up the other side — but I quickly realized the amount of time and gas involved in that plan was ridiculous. I shortened it to the improvised route in the map at the left.I had never driven the Richmond bridge before. Now I have. Not sure what else to say about it. It's an ugly bridge, but at least nothing fell on me.
After passing the prison at San Quentin, the landscape surrounding southbound highway 101 turned lovely! Beautiful inlets speckled with sailboats, and rocky hills dotted with expensive-looking houses and condos. Through a tunnel (I love road tunnels) and onto an exit, and I was in Sausalito. I had packed a lunch, so I took it to a bench near the harbor and admired the view of San Francisco.
After a little confusion as to the proper method of returning to 101, I was on my way over the Golden Gate Bridge. I'd passed over on my bike before, but never driven over it. The two-way traffic keeps you on your toes, that's for sure.I then took an aimless jaunt down 101 through the city, but realized that I'd rather be closer to the coast. Most of the reason for the drive in the first place was to find some scenic places, and Van Ness isn't. So west again through the Presidio to the ocean! The wind was unusually calm today, so the surf was pretty low. I overheard some surfers complaining about the lack of waves. Dude.
Hopping back into the car and heading south along the Great Highway, I run right out of San Francisco and into Daly City. The horror! I hit the E-brake and pulled a U-turn back into oncoming traffic, tore over a grass median, and returned north. (Well, not really. But that's pretty exciting.) I wander over towards Mount Sutro, thinking I could get up to the tower and take some cool pictures. Instead, I end up getting lost, giving up, and returning north over the Golden Gate. No toll, hooray!
At this point, there's still plenty of daylight left to burn. So I decide to stop at the recreation area in the Marin headlands and admire the view. I do love the Golden Gate Bridge. The Battery Spencer lookout point makes it an easy one to photograph, even if you only have a crappy Treo camera handy. But if we're talking bridges, the west span of the Bay Bridge is still my favorite. Its criss-crossed tower design looks cool, and it's beautifully lit at night. Goldie gets points for being red, though. Actually, these may be the best pictures I've taken on my Treo, but that's not saying much.
The sun begins to set and a different kind of PDA begins to emerge, so I decide to head home. Tomorrow: The Rock.
posted by Elliot at
9:30 PM
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