San Francisco Treat

Yesterday was one of the coolest days of my trip so far. I said goodbye to Julie in Bodega Bay and started riding again. My legs felt great! Those two rest days were definitely a good idea. The ride took me down the road, to a bike trail, through a State Parks, and back out to the road again. I entered many small towns outside of the city on the other side of the bay always heading towards the Golden Gate Bridge. This was the first time I'd ever ridden towards a big city before, and I finally felt like I was in California. The sun was shining, the air smelled like flowers, and everyone was out on the streets. Some smiling, some just out.

So I pedaled along feeling happier and happier. I listened to California Girls on my ipod and cruised along. I was happy to see many signs directing bikes where to go, and also many road bikers waving at me as they passed. I could tell that even though I wasn't quite to the city yet, it was a place that I would love. And so I continued working my way to the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge that I could cross ON my bike.

And so of course when I got to the bridge I had to take a lot of pictures.



And have other people take pictures of me too.



And then take some pictures of the city. Because it was so cool!




And it's all on a hill. Or lots of hills. Oh, wait....hills! Yes, I rode my bike up some hills in San Francisco, going into town, but I tried not to ride up too many because, MAN this city has some killer ones.

When I got into town I rode over to Caren's club (Mohitos) and got directions to her house. From there I decided to take my bike on the Bart instead of trying to navigate the roads. So instead I took my bike and trailer onto the train which involved so much work that maybe it would have been better to just ride.

In the city there are so many cars and buses and the bikes just ride past them as they pause in traffic. I actually feel safer on a bike than in a car now. Or at least, maybe just the last car I was in. Which was a taxi from Mohitos back to Caren's house last night after going with her roommates to see a band play there. Our driver was the craziest guy. Swerving all around cars and buses and people, and every time he would brake we'd know it in advance from a loud shrieking sound of his brakes, and that was followed by a thump from something in the trunk which I guessed outloud MIGHT be the body of some one that he hit recently, but when we asked him he said it was a bird cage. I'll believe that only because I want to.

And now I have a good amount of time here in the city to explore and visit all of the places that I want to check out. Starting with Zara. My very favorite store in the entire world. It's the only thing that I love more than ice cream. And bikes.