Spanky's Place

After I finished drying off I hopped back on the bike and rode up the hill past Chrissy Field, then headed up another hill which took me to the entrance area for the Golden Gate Bridge. I realized I might not get another chance to do this, so I decided to ride across the Golden Gate. This may not seem like that big of a deal for those of you who have done this before or who ride a lot, but for me it was absolutely exhilarating.

While resting at the north end of the Golden Gate I met Rafael Giraldo, a middle school teacher from Florida who is spending his summer bicycling across America. We chatted for a while, took each other's photographs (if you watch the day one photos on his website, you'll see the one I took of him), and then rode back across the bridge. It was just as exhilarating for me this time as well.

After completing my crossing, I cut in along Cranston and rode up to the old battery area of The Presidio. Another spectacular view, another moment to thank God for being alive. I headed on down Lincoln Blvd, brakes almost smoking, towards Seal Rocks State Beach. This was quite a hill to ride down, it is very easy to find yourself approaching ludicrous speed.

I connected up with Point Lobos Avenue, followed it as it curved south and became THE GREAT HIGHWAY, and meandered along there until I hit Lincoln Way where I turned into the Golden Gate Park at South Drive.

They close several of the roads in Golden Gate park to automobile traffic on the weekends, which makes bicycle riding there a wonderful experience. I cruised along and enjoyed the views, and even took a (walking, no bikes allowed) tour of the Botanical Gardens.

I rode past the Conservatory of Flowers and exited the park at Arguello Blvd, where I turned north. This hill kicked my butt. Climbing up out of the city back into the hills of the Presidio along Arguello Blvd is a rough ride even for the most seasoned cyclist. For a 280 pound fat man fresh out of the hospital it was absolute agony. I had to stop several times along the way just to breathe. Along the way I passed this church, whose simple, clean, elegant beauty absolutely amazed me.

Just after crossing Pacific Avenue, Arguello enters the south edge of the Presidio. I continued riding up and north until I finally came to a scenic view rest point, where I stopped for a good half hour to rest. I then continued down the hill into the old historic Presidio, where I stopped at the visitors center to check it out. It was pretty cool. After leaving there I headed north and east towards the Palace of the Fine Arts.

The Palace of the Fine Arts was constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. It is one of those very rare, very cool places to visit that tourists rarely find. Those that do find it are both awed and calmed by it's stately beauty and serene quiet. It is well worth the time and effort to seek it out.

I headed through the quiet neighborhoods near there towards Ggnra Yacht Harbor, where I stopped for lunch. (Nothing fancy, I grabbed a sandwich and a couple of bottles of water from a Safeway there). I then re-traced my route along the edge of the bay, up to the dog park at Fort Mason, and back down the hill next to the Maritime park.

It was while cruising along Beach Street that the stupidity monster caught up with me. Specifically, it was at the corner of Beach and Hyde. Those of you who are familiar with San Francisco will remember that the famous Lombard Street switchbacks begin at the corner of Hyde and Lombard. (Coincidentally, St. Francis Memorial Hospital is also on Hyde, at the corner of Hyde and Pine).

Perhaps it was the endorphins running through my system. Perhaps it was the sun beating through the vents of the bike helmet and onto my bald head. Perhaps it was the alignment of the sun and the moon. Whatever the reason, the idea of riding down Lombard popped into my head. And being more enthused than wise, I decided I would follow through with it.

This of course meant that I needed to get to the corner of Lombard and Hyde. Which meant that I needed to ride up Hyde. Up....Russian....Hill... At first it was tiring. Then it became exhausting. Then it evolved into an agonizing torment of pain, sweat, and sharp breaths. My lungs were on fire. My thighs felt like they were being simultaneously stabbed with knives, beaten with crowbars, and stretched on a taffy pulling machine. My heart was pounding like a Taiko drummer on crystal meth. I couldn't get enough air. Every breath was like breathing through a bonfire and a hose at the same time. I looked back, and saw I had conquered almost 20 feet of this monster hill.
"This", I thought, "is going to suck."

I really don't know how I did it. I had to stop several times just to breathe. But through determination, stubbornness, or just plain stupidity I finally reached the top of the hill. I got off the bike and lay panting on the sidewalk for quite some time. I don't know how long I was there, but at some point a hippie-guy (how poetic) asked me "you OK dude"?
"Yes", I replied, "just happy to be alive." ' I got back on the bike, screwed up my courage, and proceeded across Hyde and down Lombard.

Nobody told me it was cobblestone.

I've stated before that I'm a pretty big guy. But let me take a moment and try to paint a picture for you. Imagine if you will, a 280 pound bald crazy person. This lunatic is sunburned, exhausted, sweaty and precariously perched atop a bicycle while wearing shorts and sandals. He is riding the bicycle down one of the curviest, steepest and most famous roads in America. There are cars in front of and behind him. The road is cobblestone (technically brick), and he is bouncing about, teeth chattering and bicycle shaking as he rides. People are pointing, laughing, and taking pictures. Mothers are shielding the eyes of their children from the visage of this crazed boom ba latty rattling down the hill. That lunatic was me.

I managed to make it to the bottom without killing myself. I then rode the short distance back to Bike N Roll where I turned in the bicycle. I walked back to the cleaners where I picked up my laundry, then back to the hotel for a shower and change of clothes.

I took myself out to dinner at one of my very favorite restaurants, The Stinking Rose. If you've never eaten there, you really should give it a try. The food there is wonderful, unless you happen to be a vampire. All in all, a wonderful way to end a wonderful day.

If you're interested, I've posted a whole bunch of other photos on my Facebook.