Category
Personal Health Travel News and Events
A few weeks ago I had one of the most relaxing days of my life.
If you haven't read about my long walk,
go do that now. It is the catalyst for this entry.
After I finished at my customer's office that Friday,
I headed back to my hotel and called it an early night.
The previous evening's stay at the hospital really wiped me out,
I needed sleep, and I needed a lot of it.
I had an early dinner and climbed into bed before 7 PM.
The next morning I awoke feeling refreshed and grateful to be alive.
I started the day out with a 20 minute run on the hotel elliptical machine,
then dropped my laundry off at the Chinese Laundry,
and called Tanya while having breakfast.
I wanted to do something "touristy" for the day.
While talking to Tanya I mentioned that I was thinking about taking a bike ride,
and she told me that sounded like a great idea. She was, as usual, absolutely right.
After breakfast I stopped back at the hotel for a shower and change of clothes,
then headed off towards
Bike N Roll
at the corner of Lombard & Columbus.
It had been less than 24 hours since my release from the hospital,
but the cardiologist had ruled out heart problems.
I was still feeling some chest pain, but it went away with exercise.
So I wasn't worried about dropping dead from a heart attack or anything like that.
(I still don't know for certain what the problem is.
My doctor has some suspicions, but we won't know until my test results come back.
One of my favorite things about San Francisco has always been the walk along Columbus,
from the Financial District up towards the bay.
The walk skirts the edges of Chinatown, passes through Little Italy and North Beach,
and finishes up at Bay Street near the Maritime Historic Park.
There are all kinds of very cool shops, bookstores, restaurants and street art along the way.
After about 20 minutes I arrived at Bike N Roll,
where I rented a bike (and helmet, air pump, etc.).
They have a huge selection of all sorts of bikes, along with everything a beginner (like me), intermediate, or expert rider would need.
The folks there helped me select an appropriate bike, adjusted the seat height, and explained the operation of the shifters, brakes, airpumps, etc.
I then began what would turn out to be a 27 mile round trip.
I started out by rolling down the hill towards Fisherman's Wharf.
Once there I rode west along the bay, thoroughly enjoying myself.
At the western edge of San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, at the edge of Van Ness Avenue,
there is a weird sort of man made seawall that extends out into the bay.
At the end of this extension is a large round point kind of platform.
I rode out along this to the end of the point.
The view of the bay, the city, and the Maritime museum from here is spectacular.
I looked around for a placard or a sign or something that would identify what this was,
but couldn't seem to find one.
I'm sure that this thing has a real name, but I was unable to figure it out.
I rode up McDowell Avenue towards Fort Mason.
This was the first of the "what was I thinking" hills I would climb throughout the rest of the day.
At the top of the hill is a dog park.
I rested here for a while, took a few pictures of some dogs
(a rather odd habit of mine, inspired by this website),
and talked to Tanya on the cellphone.
Then I followed Laguna Street to Marina Blvd,
and rode west along Marina towards Chrissy Beach.
When I arrived at Chrissy Beach I parked my bike,
took off my sandals, and splashed about a bit in the water.
It was freaky cold, but I didn't mind.
While drying my feet I met this fellow.
He was having a great time playing water fetch with his human.
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The Pridelands
Chris Byrne
Show n' Tell Thursdays
Maddox
