Our last trip here took us to the Golden Gate Bridge but we weren’t able to walk it across as Jane didn’t have her wheels then but this time we were determined to make it to the other side, it's a mile and a half each way so this was going to take a while but the weather was nice and there wasn't any rush. We left the hotel about 9 o'clock and walked up to Union Square to get the number 30 bus that would take us part of the way to the Golden Gate Bridge then walked around the corner and waited a few minutes for the number 28 bus that takes you all the way to Bridge Plaza which is adjacent to the bridge. It's around twenty-five minutes on the second bus and most of it is on the motorway, the car park is always packed so the bus struggles to get around most of the time but it's the only way to get there for us.
First off we went into the gift shop and bought some things like pens with the logo on because you can't buy these things anywhere else in the city as they have trademarked the image on merchandise I think, next stop was the coffee shop to get a drink and a snack plus a bottle of water to take with us although we still had one in the bag I had. Once you’re on the bridge that's it for anything so it's best to use the toilets first. One thing that is surprising is that the barriers on the bridge are only about three and a half foot high and seem really low considering how high you are, there only part that has a high fence is where the footpath is over the fort and access roads below. This is in case anyone jumps off so they don't land on anyone below I think.
So off we went across the bridge, is actually steeper than it looks when you are pushing a set of wheels so I had to keep stopping to have a rest, at least once you get to the middle of it it's all downhill to the other side from them on. One funny did happen when we were about halfway across while I was talking some photos two blokes started talking to Jane and they asked about her leg. After a few minutes they said they would say a prayer for her but what we didn't expect was for them to drop to their knees place a hand each on her knee and do it there and then while loads of people were walking past. They asked if it felt any better, which it didn't, but they said the Lord works in mysterious ways and who knows what might happen later. They then bid us a good day and carried on their way, I thought they were going to ask for a donation of something but they didn't, just genuine people who believe I suppose. As I was saying once in the middle it was downhill all the to the north vista point.
I thought there might be a shop on this side like there was on the other but oddly the only thing on the north side is toilets although the car park on this side is just as bad as the other one. If I'd had the time and the energy I would have liked to climb up the hills on the far side as the view from there must be amazing, that's where most of the photographs you see in books are taken from taken from but they are taken in the morning but as this was the middle of the afternoon the sun would have been in front of me, maybe that's for the next time we visit. Now it was time to fill up the water bottles from the water fountain and started the mile and a half walk back. When you are actually on the bridge is incredibly noisy so after a while is good to get off there and away from the traffic.
Back at the south vista point where we started at I had found something on the satellite maps that I had to go and look at called Battery Boutelle which is the old fortifications that protected The Gate, so called because the stretch of water between San Francisco and Marin County is called the Golden Gate Straights which is where the bridge got its name from. This is the sort of thing you don't find in most guidebooks and it's very easy to see the old colonial English style in the construction much like the forts in this country only on a larger scale where you really do get some amazing views of the bridge from an angel that you wouldn’t normally see. After spending some time, which was probably too long, taking photographs it was time to go to see if I could find where I’d left Jane as this place was too hilly, sandy, uneven, had ladders and there was generally very uneven up there. Now we had to press on so collected Jane and we got the bus back.
By now it was still only around three thirty so hopped on the number 28 bus back from the bridge plaza but instead of getting off this time where you would normally change buses we stayed on until the end the route almost, the funny thing was we were the only people on the bus by then and the driver asked us where we were going, most people in this city have no idea where they are, where they going or where to get off. He did seem genuinely amazed that we wanted to go to the Safeway superstore, knew where it was and where the bus stop was to get off at. It's easy to see why the drivers there get very stressed at times when it's a simple thing to look on a map of use modern technology to help you on your way. So into Safeway, it was for us, they have all sorts of stuff in here and the prices are a bargain, we had been in this one once before when we walked along the marina but we went a different way then so ended up carrying the shopping for miles. This time we got some reusable bags and walked up to get the next bus we had to catch which was only a short walk, one thing we both fancied for our evening meal was a roast chicken and by chance, they have them ready cooked in here in the hot cabinet. It was a fairly big chicken as well for five dollars, just a shame they didn't have any coleslaw to go with it. After about thirty minutes of stocking up and at least a couple of shopping bags full, we headed back out for the short walk back up the road to catch the number 30 bus.
Wherever possible we try to avoid catching the number #30 bus because it goes through China town and it is literally packed to capacity most of the time, it’s not unusual for people to have to get off because the doors won't shut but where we got on is near the start of the route so it wasn't too bad at first for us but after about fifteen minutes it was completely full and the traffic was almost at a standstill. The good thing was that this bus drops you right outside the hotel so we only had to cross the road when we got off but that's easier said than done at this time of day as there seemed to be an endless stream of traffic coming down the road so ended having to walk to the next junction down just to cross the road then walk back up but given the amount of people who get killed on the road here it was probably a better idea. Back in the hotel, at last, this has been a really long day for us both but we achieved everything we had set out to do today and even seen a pelican flying over the bridge, we had planned on having a meal in Rouge Bar in Washington Square but the chicken was a much better idea and went down lovely with a cold tin from the fridge we had in the room. By now we were both done in so it was time to switch on the big TV and pig out on snacks for the rest of the evening.
