I took a long ride yesterday, riding downtown, through SOMA, to Potrero Hill, back to downtown for ramen and then to the beach.
Mark Twain one remarked that the coldest winter he ever experiences was a summer in San Francisco.
That’s fog in the picture, not smug! And this is at Ocean Beach, near the Cliff House!
This is typical summer weather. It’s foggy, cold and wet. Now this is what summer is supposed to be!
Muhuhahahaha!
Motorbike and Allergies
Yes, I will admit that I’ve been remiss in taking “pictures” for this blog. Mostly because I have to hang around SF during my peak travel season (the shoulder season before peak summer travel time). But I’ve a good reason, lah!!
I’m getting to know my new used bike. Its a naked Suzuki GS500 (yes, I’ll put a picture up when I remember to take one). It’s naked because it has no windscreen or fairing, which means riding it at speeds over 55 MPH (88kph) is an adventure in “gripping the handlebars tightly”.
Today was the first day of sun-shiney weather that we’ve had out here in a while. It seems that the deluge that we’ve gone through here (AKA the rainy season) has abated, thus leaving lots of weeds and horny plants about. In other words, it’s now hay fever season.
Atchoo! I mean, bleagh!
I’m get allergies in the springtime and whenever there’s a cat around. So this is not a good time for me to be here. Usually, I’m in Asia this time of the year, but am hanging around for the possibility of a straight gig. Hopefully I’ll hear something one way or the other soon…
But back to the ride. The best way to learn riding is “saddle time”. Go out and ride. So I rode. Across the Golden Gate Bridge, along US 101 to San Rafael. Stopped off at a Borders and got a book and some coffee. Enjoyed the sunshine. Then rode back on US 101, making a detour to Muir Beach, stopping there and then rode home via Sausalito.
Wait, I DID take a picture!
Notice that layer of “smug” over San Francisco. Looks like a 2nd stage smug alert! Yeeeech!
Absolute BS (sort of)
So on the way back from the Headlands (see previous entry), there was a gently curving road that was fun until we hit this red light.
Read that sign underneath the signal. FIVE MINUTE LIGHT?!? And no countdown signal or anything!
But it’s there for a good reason since the tunnel you enter after the light has ONE lane.
But it still can use a countdown timer at that friggin’ five-minute light…
Went for a Ride
Went for a ride on my motorbike with a friend who was breaking in his last weekend. It was a fun jaunt through Marin ending at the Marin Headlands (at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge).
At the other end of the Headlands is Point Bonita. There’s been a lighthouse there for a billion years.
But nowadays, instead of lighthouses, the modern solution is radar and electronically controlled foghorns.
Yamanote
The last train of the night arrives at Shinagawa station and I’m there to start my journey back to Minami-Senju and sleep.
Funny thing though, all the other lines that start from a Yamanote stop will wait for the last Yamanote to arrive before it leaves.
It’s funny only because I live in San Francisco and MUNI never does this, ever.
You must be logged in to post a comment.