More Adventures in San Francisco
Day 3: "The fire spinners would approve." We've all earned a nice late start to Easter morning. We celebrated with scrambled eggs and bacon and veggies, vodka and OJ, and the new episode of Doctor Who (another expert on resurrection). After Seth's girlfriend left for work, he took me on a long drive through Sea Cliff, Fort Mason, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Embarcadero. Our final destination was a winding stretch of Vermont St. for the Running of the Big Wheels. For the past eleven Easters, hipsters and burners and perfectly normal folks gathered with garish costumes and wacky outfits and raced children's racers down the twisting streets by McKinley Square. Go head and look it up on Google maps, it's very steep and extremely serpentine. We camped out at one bend in the road; I had no idea of the awesomeness that was to come. The event kicked off with the Easter Bunny walking the course, surrounded by his bunny eared security force. One the rabbit cleared the path, a horn sounded, and the madness began.
There will be pictures later, but two hundred people dressed as Elmo and gladiators and Michael Jackson and Hit girl and Mario riding big wheels, green machines, tricycles, little inch worms, recycling bins, and any small toy with two wheels was one hundred percent pure concentrated awesomeness.
We concluded our driving adventure with a trip to Twin Peaks, two mounds (heh) perched high up on a hill. In a city full of majestic views, this one took the cake. The wind almost took me for a ride as well. Gazing over the city, I felt myself emptied out, the wind blasting thorough me and scouring me clean, and the grandeur and vastness of the city fill me to my fingertips. Our trip home was quiet as I digested all that I had seen that day. We closed the day at his favorite Szechuan restaurant for truly amazing dumplings and orange beef, and we caught up on Game of Thrones.
Day 4: "Send him to the fishes!" Seth was gracious enough to lend me his car for the day. I was awaiting calls to hang out with two of my friends, but I heard nothing from either one. I approached driving with a certain fear, as Google maps had led me astray in the past. I called upon the pioneer spirit of my forefathers, and drove off. Destination? the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
I knew the hills in the city were bad, turns out the hills on the highway are just as winding and steep. I've been on shallower roller coasters. Eventually the amusement park ride was behind me, I passed farmland and flatness adn the sandy hills by the sea until I reached my destination. I lost myself for an afternoon, surrounded by sea houses, turtles, penguins, and otters. There were sleek sharks, glowing jelly fish, and truculent eels lurking in the reefs. The lighting was poor, and the curved glass ruined many a shot, but there will be beautiful pictures of the creatures of the deep. I can easily recommend the aquarium to anyone who makes their way out of the city. The ride back was an extra adventure, as my directions once again let me down. As the highway ended on the embarcadrero, I turned into the city, determined to make my way home. I dodged pedestrians and street cars, and got some practice in working the parking break on San Francisco hills. Eventually I spotted the diner we ate at on Friday, and that led me to Geary Street, and the rest was history.
Was my day done? Are you kidding? I donned my new leathers I bought at the flea and took the bus down the 8th street and Wicked Grounds, a quaint little S&M themed coffee shop to meet Carol. We ate amazing Indian food, prepped back at her apartment, and attended Death Guild. Quite possibly the oldest running Goth night in the country (sniff, alas Manray), the club is the very cinematic depiction of a night club, only with more bars. I heard brand new songs, old standbys, and tunes I haven't heard in a decade (was that As the End Draws Near? Yes it was!) I was hit on by boys and girls alike, shared some dance space with Annabelle's twin sister, and found another masterful bartender who carried the Kraken. Are you trying to send me some kind of message, San Francisco?
There will be pictures later, but two hundred people dressed as Elmo and gladiators and Michael Jackson and Hit girl and Mario riding big wheels, green machines, tricycles, little inch worms, recycling bins, and any small toy with two wheels was one hundred percent pure concentrated awesomeness.
We concluded our driving adventure with a trip to Twin Peaks, two mounds (heh) perched high up on a hill. In a city full of majestic views, this one took the cake. The wind almost took me for a ride as well. Gazing over the city, I felt myself emptied out, the wind blasting thorough me and scouring me clean, and the grandeur and vastness of the city fill me to my fingertips. Our trip home was quiet as I digested all that I had seen that day. We closed the day at his favorite Szechuan restaurant for truly amazing dumplings and orange beef, and we caught up on Game of Thrones.
Day 4: "Send him to the fishes!" Seth was gracious enough to lend me his car for the day. I was awaiting calls to hang out with two of my friends, but I heard nothing from either one. I approached driving with a certain fear, as Google maps had led me astray in the past. I called upon the pioneer spirit of my forefathers, and drove off. Destination? the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
I knew the hills in the city were bad, turns out the hills on the highway are just as winding and steep. I've been on shallower roller coasters. Eventually the amusement park ride was behind me, I passed farmland and flatness adn the sandy hills by the sea until I reached my destination. I lost myself for an afternoon, surrounded by sea houses, turtles, penguins, and otters. There were sleek sharks, glowing jelly fish, and truculent eels lurking in the reefs. The lighting was poor, and the curved glass ruined many a shot, but there will be beautiful pictures of the creatures of the deep. I can easily recommend the aquarium to anyone who makes their way out of the city. The ride back was an extra adventure, as my directions once again let me down. As the highway ended on the embarcadrero, I turned into the city, determined to make my way home. I dodged pedestrians and street cars, and got some practice in working the parking break on San Francisco hills. Eventually I spotted the diner we ate at on Friday, and that led me to Geary Street, and the rest was history.
Was my day done? Are you kidding? I donned my new leathers I bought at the flea and took the bus down the 8th street and Wicked Grounds, a quaint little S&M themed coffee shop to meet Carol. We ate amazing Indian food, prepped back at her apartment, and attended Death Guild. Quite possibly the oldest running Goth night in the country (sniff, alas Manray), the club is the very cinematic depiction of a night club, only with more bars. I heard brand new songs, old standbys, and tunes I haven't heard in a decade (was that As the End Draws Near? Yes it was!) I was hit on by boys and girls alike, shared some dance space with Annabelle's twin sister, and found another masterful bartender who carried the Kraken. Are you trying to send me some kind of message, San Francisco?