DSF San Francisco 2005

California Dreaming

I look out across San Francisco Bay from the Golden Gate Bridge. I am in the saddle of a rented bike on a sunny day in California. It's Sunday and the crowds are out to see an air display by the Blue Angels. I've escaped the festival for a few hours to see the bridge. The context exhilarates me and I sing California Dreaming as the pedals turn beneath me. The leaves are not brown nor the skies grey, but this could be a dream. The first time in any beautiful location has a dreamlike effect. "Am I really here?". My memory flips back to The Grand Canyon last year.

I wasn't sure how I was going to travel to the Golden Gate. I took the 33 bus from 16th and Bryant near KQED. It wound it's way over the Twin Peaks along Haight, past the notorious junction with Ashbury to the Golden Gate Park. I found a cycle shop and within a few minutes I was at the start of a ten mile circular ride which would take me across the GG Bridge and back.
I had toyed with the idea of bringing my folding bike with me on this trip but the thought of the "Streets of San Francisco" had put me off. But there were cyclists everywhere. It wasn't all steep hills, freeways and nose to tail traffic. In the saddle I was free to explore and I wasn't alone. It was a good afternoon ride but I admit to missing the start of Joe Lambert's first session at the Festival as a result.

posted by Dawnriser @ 13:31