If you know anything about Dan and Hannah, you know they avoid cities. Living in York, Maine, 65 miles north of Boston, they never go to those cobbled streets. Like never! I’m not bragging; it’s just a fact. Given a chance to spend a vacation anywhere, they choose the Mountain West, with a soft spot for Bozeman, MT and Flagstaff, AZ. Twenty-nine years ago, they moved from the Valley of the Sun in Arizona with its three million residents to small potatoes seacoast New England. People end up where they are supposed to; at least that’s what I’m selling today. These two scream “country mice” when you look at them. So a trip to the big city of San Francisco takes them far from their little hole in the wall.
Chauffeured and sheltered by good friend Chris, we head to the Farmer’s Market at the Ferry Building (http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/), just down from Giants Stadium along the waterfront on El Embarcadero. Within the Ferry Building the most surprising shop is advertising Tasty Salty Pig Parts. Toto, we are not in Maine anymore. Expecting to see California stereotypes (i.e., beautiful, tan, edgy), we see joggers, sweethearts walking hand in hand, and families with energetic kids out for a Saturday morning. Beautiful they are and not all that different from Mainers.
On the sidewalk a saxophone player collects tips. Not to disappoint those who jump to stereotypes, there is the smell of marijuana in the air. We are given a slice of blood red orange without asking. An accordion player hopes we are generous with our spare change. The energy from the street on this March morning makes me smile. The sunny, 60 degrees temperate climate that attracted hippies in the Sixties explains why so many Americans are Californians.
Though I am not a city guy, the warm temps, good friend, and Hannah melt my resistance to the big bad metropolis. Then, a tad overweight man comes bicycling by in just a jockstrap loudly proclaiming his participation in the World Naked Bike Race. As far as I can see, he is the only entrant. Ah, San Francisco stereotypes come to the rescue. Later, we see a homeless man with a sign, Why lie? I need a beer. Please help.”
Taking the Blue & Gold Ferry Bay Monarch (http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/) with three decks, two with open-air benches, we pay $20 each for a round trip to Sausalito. Bundled up with three layers of clothing to ward off the bay breeze off the 50-degree water, we pass Alcatraz (http://www.alcatraztickets.com/) and the Golden Gate Bridge on this 30-minute trip. Sitting in the sun, I feel a freedom that comes from being loved and on vacation. As we deferry, we look for a restaurant for a 2P lunch. We hit the jackpot at the Winships in Sausalito (http://www.winships.com/). With a pub atmosphere, it serves us delectable minestrone soup with baskets of sliced sourdough bread.
On the return trip we wait for what seems like 80 rented bikes to board the ferry. They weren’t there when we came. What gives? Talking to my seatmate on the flight home later, I learned that many rent bikes (e.g., Blazing Saddles – http://www.blazingsaddles.com/) in San Francisco, ride over the Golden Gate Bridge and then coast down the steep hills to the Sausalito waterfront. Many then take the ferry back rather than pedal, push, and cajole their bikes up the steep hill.
Pleased, sated, and thankful, Mickey and Minnie will one day return to San Francisco to bike over the Golden Gate Bridge.
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