To start with, I was going to take a hiatus from writing, but my wife encouraged me to write as it happened. We each have our quiet time where she reads or I write or take pictures. So….
On Sunday, the day started out very well. My son dropped me off at the airport at about 7:45 for my 9:30 flight. I made it through check-in and security by 8:30, giving me an hour to relax by the gate, camera in hand, watching the ebb and flow of the airport hallways.
Soon, I was on my wife. We took off on time, landing in SFO a full 15 minutes ahead of schedule, only to have to wait for a gate for about 20 minutes. After leaving the plain, it was off to get the luggage and then to rental car counter to get my ride! 
The luggage came rather slowly, as is SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for US Airways, who has the glory of being worst customer service for 3 years running! Go US Scare, I mean Air!
After waiting in line at Dollar Rent A Car, I had my vehicle and was on my way. I checked into the hotel and set about my journey. I had about 7 hours to kill until my wife came in from Dallas and thought that I’d take in some of the sights that Monterey John had suggested.
Treasure Island! Here I come! Eventually…
So, off on my journey to Treasure Island Naval Station. I got on the freeway, 101 North and headed for adventure. What I found was traffic! Lots and lots off traffic. The sign on the freeway gave me hope: Travel time to Treasure Island, 13 minutes. Well, I figured that I could wait for 13 minutes, I’m a patient kind of guy! Well, some 90 minutes later, I arrived at Treasure Island! There were signs everywhere proclaiming that the Bay Bridge was going to be closed for Labor Day weekend! As I sat stuck in the traffic, I wondered: Is the damn thing open right now?!
Anyway, taking advantage of the wait time, I just sat, listened to music, marveled at the view of San Francisco, and waited until it was my turn to exit. Here’s where being in the moment works really well. I was not frustrated one single iota. Not a bit. I was in traffic and that was the reality of it. Jump in the river and go with the flow.
Looking back to SF from Treasure Island
Before you knew it, I was on Treasure Island! John had advised me to dress in layers. I should have heeded that advice. I arrived in typical southern boy summer wear. I had on shorts, sandals, and a tee shirt! I, obviously, was not ready for what I got. As soon as I stepped out of the car and that 20 MPH, 62 degrees breeze hit me, I understood that I wasn’t in Charlotte anymore! I also understood why no one could have made a swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco. That water is cold ALL-OF-THE-TIME! San Francisco doesn’t have a summer. The sun may shine, but it sure doesn’t heat up the air much! I have to admit, though, this is my kind of weather. No air conditioning needed. I have the windows open all of the time and am quite comfortable. Delicious!
Psychedelic, baby!
OK, on to step two: John also suggested that I head over the Golden Gate Bridge and check out the view from a park on that side. I gave it my best shot, but took an exit too soon and ended up in downtown SF with its cast of colorful characters! I thought about circling back around to try to find the bridge, but there was no way that I was going to get back on 101 North and spend another ’13′ minutes, AKA 90 minutes, trying to get back around to the bridge! It’d have to wait for another day!
Well, that’s one way that you can do it!
So, I cruised up and down the streets of SF seeing what I could see until I headed back south on 101. I was tired. I went back to the room, left again, shot a few more pictures of the bay, which was right behind the hotel, took a snooze until it was time to pick up my wife from the airport, and that concluded my first day in the wonderful city of San Francisco.
Every little bit helps!
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3 Responses to “The San Francisco Chronicles”
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This is a great entry. I loved reading this. The photos are great and are perfect compliment to your words, or vice versa.
My grandparents started taking yearly vacations a few years before my grandpa died. They did SF, then Las Vegas and then Hawaii. They went back to SF year four, they loved it so much.
The Tao of Pooh. The original Uncarved Block!! It’s amazing how the simple things are the best, such as this wonderful book.
Your description of the summer weather in San Francisco reminds me of a similar remark Mark Twain once made: the coldest winter he ever experienced was the summer he spent in Duluth, Minnesota.