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Bill Bikes My bicycling expeditions and jaunts |
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Golden Gate December
18 December 2020
For one reason or another or a multitude of little, teeny, tiny reasons I haven't been pedaling as much as usual.Much of the San Francisco Bay Area went under lockdown / stay-at-home / shelter-in-place orders weeks ago. Santa Rosa and Sonoma County followed suit shortly afterward. As of this morning, the entire Bay Area joins the bulk of the state under strict isolation rules.
Nevertheless, I decided it was essential for me to get out and about. I did so safely. I drove alone to the little "secret" parking lot by the Golden Gate Bridge. From there I pedaled a loop—not for the first time—through the Marin Headlands, including Kirby Cove, Fort Cronkhite, Rodeo Beach, Bunker Road, and Fort Baker. I stayed outside, rode alone, didn't speak to anyone (except for a couple of shouted "howdies" to riders on the other side of the road), kept moving, and remained masked. I think this essential outing met with approval of Dr. Fauci.
Other rides in the Headlands and nearby
Headlands with Jeff, December 2018
Tennessee Valley, January 1018
Marin Headlands, February 2016 (Opens in new tab/window)
First stop, Battery Spencer. This is about as clear as it gets around here.
From the left: Alcatraz, Treasure Island (flat), Yerba Buena Island, western span of the Bay Bridge, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
By the way, Conzelman Road from the "secret" parking lot up to Battery Spencer, past the Kirby Cove turnoff, and all the way up to the traffic circle at Slackers Hill is nowadays one-way—down—for cars (of which there weren't many today) but includes a smooth, wide uphill bike lane. (No downhill bike lane needed, because bikes will be travelling at least as fast as cars.) It's a big improvement over the old two-way traffic pattern with no bike lane.
Northern end of the bridge visible in the foreground. Presidio Yacht Club in Horseshoe Bay a little farther down. Angel Island to the left. Alcatraz to the right.
It's so clear I can almost see John Busher and his Surly LHT over in Berkeley.
From Kirby Cove, the skyline of San Francisco under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Climbing the dirt road from Kirby Cove back up to Conzelman Road.
Almost the solstice. The sun is very low in the sky and the Golden Gate is sparkling.
View from the road at Hawk Hill.
To the left can be seen a brown line which is the top part of the dirt road snaking down to / up from Kirby Cove. A little farther to the left and a little higher is Conzelman Road, my route along the edge of the Headlands.
Telephoto on the City.
After a long climb up Conzelman Road to Hawk Hill (with two-way traffic and no bike lane from the roundabout at Slackers Hill to this point), now it's time for the steep descent.
Here the road becomes one-way again (downhill). Wait until clear of cars ahead—almost zero traffic today—but don't worry about cars behind, because bikes will be moving faster than automobiles.
Zip up outer layer. Check brakes. Check emergency parachute.
From my lunch stop at picnic table near Bicentennial Camp.
A couple of the surfers at Rodeo Beach. It's December, but this is California.
This wave smacked everyone pretty hard.
The Ogre admires the crashing surf at the edge of Rodeo Beach.
The Bunker Road tunnel is one-way for cars—stoplights at both ends to determine who has the right of way—but bikes are always allowed through in both directions thanks to the extra lanes.
View of the city and western span of the Bay Bridge as seen from Fort Baker.
Could that be Cap'n Will and Mary?
Nope. They were on the Bay today (or at least at their boat) and sent me a photo, but not here.
View from under the Golden Gate Bridge at Fort Baker.
It's a titanic struggle of camera vs. sun low in the sky.
Up the steep access road—no cars—to the little parking lot by the bridge.
I always stop for a reflectie (and to catch my breath).
My ace support crew bought Old Grumble-Face a new shirt.
"All men are created equal but the best can still ride bicycles in their seventies."
Summary
Date: 18 December 2020
Time: 11:00 - 2:00
Weather: 55° F, sunny
Route: Marin Headlands, Kirby Cove, Fort Cronkhite, Rodeo Beach, Fort Baker
Distance: 15 miles, 1600' of climbing
Bike: Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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