Day 19: What were you expecting -- Baywatch???
(Samuel Taylor SP to Half Moon Bay SP)
date: Friday August 23, 2002
daily miles: 75 miles (121 km)
total miles: 1,421 miles (2,287 km)
"What were you expecting -- Baywatch???" That was the female ranger's response when I asked here at the campground where were all the sun-drenched beaches that California is supposedly famous for?
Her next comment was 'plus would you want to see my ass in one of those one-piece swimsuits that they wear on Baywatch???' (Hint -- the answer is a definite no thanks...)
The Golden Gate Bridge -- I can hardly believe I made it this far
Today while tooling through Sausalito, I ended up going the wrong way down sidewalks and all over the place -- I acted like a tourist!!! It was crazy fun riding through there and down on the docks – especially with my trailer and its flag flapping in the wind.
The Golden Gate Bridge was itself was definitely cool -- although it was a bit fogged in. I was literally photographed by every Japanese tourist who was there! Maybe because of the colors of the bike or because it would give them a good story to tell – I couldn’t really find out. Ditto while riding across the bridge itself -- I even had two people with video cameras taping me. (Let's be truthful here -- they were all probably excited by the BOB trailer itself with the big American flag waving on the back and not myself....)
 Alcatraz Island and San Francisco |
I road down into the marina -- then double backed up the hills through the Presidio and then to Golden Gate Park itself. Dived down the hills due west to the coast again. I've been in San Francisco quite a few times, but never have been to this side of it -- my mental picture is the one you get as you come in across the bridge from Oakland or from South San Francisco via Candlestick. |
| I'm actually fairly sore today. The cold weather is one reason. But there was a lot of climbing today -- more than I had anticipated -- and I usually attacked the hills versus just casually spinning up them in a smaller gear. |
 San Francisco viewed from the bridge -- lots of fog |
 Golden Gate Bridge from Golden Gate Park |
I cruised into Half Moon Bay State Park. Yes -- the cold only outside showers have been replaced by inside hot showers now. My tent is about fifty yards from the ocean -- amazing how strong the sounds of the incoming tide truly is in the darkness here. |
Looking for sunshine and laundry tomorrow -- hopefully I'll have success at both.
Glad I brought more cold weather cycling clothes than I had originally planned.
Time to crawl into my toasty zero degree mummy bag!!
Mark
