Petaluma to San Francisco - Cruising

Today's ride started at 9 am as it was only 55 miles to San Francisco.  It was probably shorter had we taken the direct route in - but we paid to ride so they routed us over some more hills - just to see if our legs would hold out.   Started out in the high 60's and quickly jumped in to the low 80's as we are still in farmland/mountains.  Again really, really dry.

One of the road shoulders had recently burned - but luckily it looks like there was some fast action by the fire department and put it out before it could spread.  We are talking thousands of acres of dry grasslands as the pictures below show.

Got lost a bunch of times today as we headed into a more populated area.  We were told to follow the "bike route" signs but they failed to tell us there were also "school bike route" signs - which of course were the wrong signs to follow - which of course were the ones I followed.  Got so lost I had to stop at a fire station for directions (yes real men do stop and ask for directions, sometimes).

On the way into Sausalito, the devious ride planners had us climb another 2 miler - I guess just to say we did it.  I was cursing the entire way up until I got to the top and was able to take the following shot of San Francisco from the peak of the hill.

In the end the climb was forth it.  So no complaints!!!

Going through Sausalito was pretty scary.  Not because of the cars but because of the tourists that were either walking in the street (disregarding the cross walks) or newbies on rental bicycles.    A lot of tourists rent bikes in San Francisco, cross the Golden Gate Bridge and then ride down the hill to Sausalito for lunch.  The problem is that once the get to the bottom - it is almost impossible for the newbies to climb back up the hills to go back over the Golden Gate Bridge.  The smart ones take the ferry back.  But as you climb up the hill to get on the Golden Gate - there are loads of people walking their bike up about a 2 mile hill.  

Did get a couple shots of the city from the bay shore side in Sausalito.

And a couple of Alcatraz.... 

I didn't get any shots from the Golden Gate as it was unsafe to stop.  First there are lots of people walking over the bridge. In theory there is a lane for walkers and a lane for bikers.  There are so many tourists that must never had seen the little bike symbol they paint on the walkway - because most of them were walking in the bike lane.  

And you can't shout at them "biker passing on the left" because most don't speak English.  Then there are the newbies that have rented bikes that are struggling to climb up the bridge (it is a steep climb 1/2 way up the bridge from either side).  Most have rented their bikes from a place called "Blazing Saddles".  They each have a little pack on their bike handlebars that say " Blazing Saddles".  When you see one of these you pray for your life.   They have no clue how to ride a bike - never the mind being on a bridge that if you fell off, you would plunge 500-700 feet to your death.  

Some people actually commute on this bridge daily. The stress would be too great for me to deal with on a daily basis.  Either that or I would bring a gun with me and shot the damn people that got in my way.  Not sure this is covered by  the second amendment, but sure would help people understand they need to stay in the walk lane.  

In any case we managed to get over the bridge and to our hotel.   Tomorrow is rest day (well deserved I might add) so no blog.   Going to see Alison, Steve and Ryland.  The good thing for Alison is that during the ride Ryland's bed time and mine are the same (6:30) so it will be an early dinner.

Sunday we head to Santa Cruz.  It's our longest day - 92 miles.