Right so 4 days in and we are cripples!! Michelle's knees have gone and my feet have siezed up so we have bought a tube of muscle rub and we both smell slightly medicated as we are wandering through the streets!
The muni passes ran out yesterday so we are back to walking. The sole plan for today is to walk the Golden Gate Bridge and then head to Sausilito starting from our hotel in the Civic Center a trip of approx 9 - 10 miles. I think we are crazy considering our current ailments, but we felt it would be cheating to get a bus over the bridge.
We took a steady walk to powell street and had breakfast at Lori's Diner - the full works 2 giant pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausages and randomly 1 slice of orange.
Bellies full we headed to the coast and walked back through Fort Mason, checking out those pelicans again. I appear to have taken a shine to them and could have watched them for hours.
We took a quick detour to the Ghirardelli Square which is similar to The Cannery - converted mills which are now shops and restaurants. I'll not bore you with the historical details, but in brief Ghirardelli was a dude who did something with chocolate and we think he used to play with the 49ers, but that could be utter crap - who knows!
Hudson:
Was still another 3 miles to the start of the bridge, but we continued to take it at a leisurely pace (as that's all our aching limbs could manage). There was a bit of a marshy bird preservation type place and Michelle got giddy about a heron.
Also took a bit of a detour through the palace of fine arts, which is one of the strangest places! As part of an international exhibition in 1915, they "built" some classical Roman ruins. Got no history? Never mind Goddamn it we'll build some! Ironically in the 1950's the ruins started genuinely going to ruin and were rebuilt as the locals were very fond of them. Only in America eh!?
One last push and we were finally there at the start of the bridge.
Handley:
Firstly can I just say the heron wasn't your common garden Grey Heron you see in the UK, it was different, not sure what it was though other than a heron!
The "Marshy Bird Place" was Crissy Field and was very interesting attracting a lot of unusual bird life!
Anyway where were we, oh yes FINALLY we were at the start of the bridge we took the obligatory pics and then stepped on the bridge:
Giddiness took over and the aches and pains faded. We made it half way and felt great, this one is for you John - are you freaked out!?
20 mins later we were at the far side, not a bad time just 40 mins to which included lots of stops for pictures.
Once on the other side we needed to find the best route to Sausilito. We asked a guy on a bike who had a map and a ferry timetable (perhaps we should have been a little better prepared!)
Anyway the quickest route was on a bike path and then route 5. Not the most pleasant walk and now that the giddiness of the bridge had subsided it was pretty much pain all the way!
After half a mile I was making involuntary intakes of breath with each step. Finally we were in Sausilito, beautiful place, very expensive and up-market. It might have been nice to have a mouch around the shops, but our ferry back was due.
I have never been so grateful to sit down EVER! The ferry ride was short and made better by a beer whilst watching the sun set under the bridge.
Back on dry land and Michelle got this cool pic of the Financial District:
We were now ravenous so headed back to Loris Diner - wouldn't normally eat in the same place twice in a day, but we needed food and a sit down fast. This time we got a cool booth this time with our own jukebox - I was clearly excited.
Back to the hotel by 8 and asleep by 9!!
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