Bike the Bridge

Well what a day. One of the best for sure and again any photo of over 150 could have been used and this one really does not do it justice but summarises the day nicely. We hired bikes early on to tour the main sites of San Francisco and covered over 10 miles taking in Fisherman's Wharf, Crissy Field beach then the steep climb up to 'the bridge'. What a feat of engineering this gem is. Covering 2 miles the Golden Gate Bridge connects the bay to Marine County. It's 750ft high over the Pacific ocean, was built over 5 years and opened in 1937. It is 90ft wide has 6 highway lanes and sadly has the highest suicide rate, off bridges, in the World. There is a 98% chance of death as you hit the water at 75mph. In 2013 998 died having thrown themselves off and there are now councillors present on the bridge at all times to dissuade jumpers. I stopped on the bridge for 20 minutes taking pictures of the bay, Alcatraz, trawlers going under the Bridge and Angel island. Lady A, to her credit, pegged it across the bridge as fast as she could as she hates heights leaving me to photograph the landscape. We then cycled into the most beautiful town I've ever seen for lunch. Sausalito is stunning and we're moving there... The bike ride could have taken us another 20 miles into North S/F & Muir Woods but 1. we were paying for the bike hire by the hour 2. we were sunburnt and very tired. We took the ferry back across the bay in touching distance of the great rock as the mist descended over the bridge. With the bikes back we took a 'stroll' to Lombard Street and the most crookedest road in the World. We walked down it but 'up' another 4 roads and there is reason why San Fran is famous for its trams (they call them cable cars for some reason - they are trams) so pedestrians don't have too. Your knees go above your heads they are that steep. Filert Street is the steepest, a 35.1% gradient and for some reason we walked it (I ran 100 metres and thought I was going to collapse).

Anyway.... a great day, one to remember. Creation at its best

The end (you're all very thankful I'm sure). Alcatraz tomorrow...