Yoga, Biking and (More) Walking

Saturday was the day I decided to slow down and relax a bit, seeing as I'm on "holidays". I tagged along with Fran to her studio at Menlo Park to do a morning yoga class. I don't think I was prepared for just how amateur a yoga-doing-person (yogi?) I am - but nonetheless enjoyed the class and the physical challenge. More than once I just had to say to myself "Yeah, my legs don't bend that far. Time for a rest."

The rest of Saturday contained: Olympics, reading, dozing off in front of the TV, and Stephen's awesome BBQ'd chicken for dinner. 

As my last activity in San Fran, I set out today to do the bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. This happened to coincide with the San Francisco Marathon, and a Giants game, which made for fun public transport adventures (lot of crazy people on those trams... just saying).

By 11:30 I was on my way along the shores of the bay, climbing the immense hills towards the base of the bridge. I'll save words here and just let the pictures speak for themselves. This was a phenomenal experience that I will never forget. Another tick off the bucket list, definitely. 

View approaching the bridge, on the city side.

Close up before entering
the bridge bike track.

Accomplished!

Token brooding, angled shot
from under one of the towers...
I'm such an artist.

The changes in weather were incredible. On the bridge it was windy, cold, misty, and then down in Sausalito it was sunny and beautiful. Such an incredible contrast between 5 odd kilometers! Special thanks to Stephen and Fran for the incredible hospitality, once again. Can't wait for the next visit! Off to Vancouver tomorrow... time to catch some zzzz's.

View of the city skyline on the ferry back from Sausalito.

View from shore on Sausalito
side of bridge.

San Fran Exploring #2

Covered a lot more ground in the city on Friday. Had a two-hour historical walking tour booked in the Castro area at 10:00am... to which I arrived at 10:15, sweaty and panting (this seems to be an evolving holiday theme). Luckily Kathy (tour guide) was still giving the rest of the group an overview, and was happy to welcome me.

Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy

A patch on the 'Names Project'
AIDS Memorial Quilt

The tour was good, overall, and Kathy was very informative... but having watched a number of docos on the history of the area, I didn't really feel I gained any information that I didn't already have. Oh well, live and learn. I managed to resist the urge to be "that guy" who butts in and tries to correct the tour guide, because I know how bloody annoying it is to have to put up with those people - in any context. Kathy's views differed from mine about how equality and diversity need to be incorporated into our society. She was all too happy to talk about the perpetuated stereotype of hedonism in gay culture (that frankly I don't identify with at all) and how this seemed to shape the 1970's (and then be a driving factor in the AIDS epidemic) - but when I tried to convey my views about true equality being about not needing to differentiate people based on their sexual preference, and also that it is just one part of a person (not the driving factor of their whole being), she seemed lost for words... "Oh yeah but we all need a place where we can congregate and where we all understand each other - that's important, ya know?" to which I replied: "But I have lots of friends who understand me, and this isn't based on their sexual preferences. [Awkward pause] Are we stopping for coffee anywhere soon?"

I try not to get too political about the whole thing, but I do enjoy conveying my views... (Simo - Am I right?) Moving on...

The tour wrapped just after 12. After a quick lunch, I made my way over many hills (the calves, they're still struggling) towards the Haight Ashbury district. It's so easy walking through San Francisco because all the houses are so beautiful and there's just so much to take in visually that you forget you've walked about 5km. There's also those moments where you realise how high up you are and get an awesome peek at the downtown skyline.

Where's Wally?! (Note that he's ditched the stripes for a more contemporary look)

At Haight, I walked up and down, perusing the wares of the local merchants and then, after about an hour, I felt that between Castro and the Haight I'd seen about all the hipsters I could handle for a single week, and decided to head to down town, via Alamo Park to revisit The Painted Ladies. Liz will recount me dragging her up and down some very steep streets, with no map, in 2006 to find these houses - and also the level of sheer excitement I had when finding them. This time, I knew exactly where I was going, but was no less excited. This park makes me so happy, and always reminds me of watching Full House* as a little kid, and wishing I lived in one of them (I can still say the same, 20 years on).

* Film / TV reference #2

"Everywhere you look (everywhere), there's a heart (there's a heart)..."

Stopped by City Hall on my way to down town, which was fairly impressive. Another tram ride later, I was walking towards the Transamerica Building - which I discovered, upon arrival, does not have an observation deck. "Bugger."

City Hall

Transamerica Building

I started making my way home, but made the mistake of going into an AT&T to enquire about a prepaid sim card for while I'm in America... "Yeah sir you can get the 4G Samsung for $149, or the HTC for $199. Now you're gonna wanna choose a prepaid plan that gives you what you need, so the $10 starter gives you 29c a minute, with 20c texts sending and receiving...international calls are gonna be $1.19 a minute, and texts 50c. But if you choose the $50 monthly saver you get unlimited calls, texts and data and either of these phones and lower international rates..." After an earful I retreated and told the lovely sales girl I would think about her options.

I won't.

Here's a little bonus for Simpsons fans, that made me chuckle as I was walking around the Haight... 

Embarcadero-ing & Castro-ing

The day started as any other - with coffee. Fran and Stephen were off to work at 8am, leaving me at home to relish in holiday mode of getting ready over 2 cups of coffee and flipping between Today and Good Morning America to consider upcoming Bay Area weather. (NBC declares Sunday a "beach day" - sounds promising!)

I caught the trusty CalTrain right into the centre of San Fran, and decided on a long walk from the station at 4th and King Streets, right along the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf, stopping along the way to sample awesome foods at the farmer's markets and gourmet food stalls. Mmm... food.

At Fisherman's Wharf I had the inevitable tourist lunch of clam chowder and sourdough at Boudin's Bakery (Jeannet - they wouldn't part with their famed starter - looks like you're on your own with the weekend baking experiments). This sourdough makes me happy beyond explanation, and I can't promise that I won't go back for another sneaky sandwich before I leave...

I'm noticing that at 25, compared with when I travelled to US at 19, I'm a bit more of a "mature" tourist, and am happy to just stroll along people-watching, going for coffee ("cawfee"), checking out architecture, more coffee, chatting with locals/other tourists, coffee... and so forth. Shit - I've become my dad. Probably something my friends and family have already discovered. Oh well, I'll embrace it.

After lunch, I contemplated the hike up the immense hill to Coit Tower (above, left), but realized my calves weren't in the mood (I was, but they weren't), so instead I jumped on the F Trolley destined for the famous intersection of Market and Castro Streets. (The ridiculous hills can wait for the weekend)

Got off at Castro Street, determined to find (among other things) the location of Harvey Milk's 'Castro Camera' (I'll note at this point that apart from free wifi at Starbucks, I'm struggling without having mobile data - maps, googling, social networking - it all seems so hard to manage without quick and easy access when I need it*).

* First-world problem #1

Anyway, proceeding as a data-less tourist, I looked to my intuition to find the store along the 4-block stretch. On the way, I came across an awesome Human Rights Activism store that I had to explore. After finding some Harvey Milk mugs (yes, I bought one, and it will be my new desk staple at UNE), I looked around curiously, and said to the shop owner: "Is this the Castro Camera store?" He laughed, and immediately said "Yep... it is." After this, he proceeded to show me some photos of them filming Milk** there, and explained a bit about the history. I even nabbed some photos sitting on the famous stoop of the store - pretty darn exciting.

** O'Connor crew - this is the holiday movie-reference #1. Let's see if we make it to at least 20 during these six weeks.

Castro was abundant in a couple of things:

1) crazy and/or naked guys ranting up and down the street; and,

2) friendly locals.

Funnily enough, the latter proved to be the most rewarding, and the Starbucks there was a hub for people keen for a chat. Greg was a local guy who worked at University of California and knew heaps about San Fran history. We talked for a solid hour over coffee, on any number of my favorite topics: government policy, history, civil rights, politics... That's right friends, my inherent geekiness travels with me wherever I go.

Then came Andrew, an import from Tennessee who thoroughly enjoyed my ability to recite endless tv and advertising quotes, as well as rebelling against the establishment by walking in front of on coming joggers and playing by no one's rules but our own. We walked from Starbucks to Mission Dolores Park, where we sat on the grass overlooking the city and expressed concern at drug dealers conducting their business just meters away from happy young families playing on the swings. Bless you and your stark contrasts, San Fran.

The walk back towards the train station along Market Street, although interesting, proved too much for tired little Dave after the 15th block and an entire day of walking around the city. I bailed, and got a cab to the station, then the 7:30pm back to Mountain View. On arrival home Fran was excited to hear about my activities. After the catch up, all my coffees had worn off and I was ready to crash.

And to all.... a good night!

Another tick off the bucket list.

Simone and Kate will very much appreciate the start to my trip, which involved my flight out of Armidale being delayed by fog (no surprises there)... and this leading to me getting to Sydney Airport with 15 odd minutes to get from domestic to international, go through customs, and race to my gate. It was 1:07 and I was running through duty free while being paged for my 1:05 flight that was ready to depart. The whole time I was thinking "THIS IS MY HOME ALONE 2 REAL LIFE MOMENT." I boarded the plane, sweaty and panting, to some disapproving eyes, but then I thought of myself as Kevin McCallister - and who could stay mad at him?!


Arrived in LA to that familiarly sweet smell of thick smog. Then was straight on to San Francisco where I feel I can officially begin my adventures. Time for a sleep.

Ready for departure...

My wise colleague Jeannet recommended an introductory post before flying out tomorrow.
"Colours for all occasions..." I argued. And with these last words, the "chino-stack" made its way into the suitcase, and Dave was ready for his One Direction concert... *cough* ... I mean, USA holiday!