I caught the Caltrain up to San Francisco and rode around the waterfront to the Golden Gate bridge.
I stopped on the pier at Gashouse Cove to photgraph my new bike in approximately the same location as my old bike.
There were birds.
I was also testing out my new circular polarising filter.
It was very windy and I got talking to another rider, John, when we were both struggling along Mason st past the marina. He was also going across the bridge to the Marin Headlands. It was excellent to have someone who knew where they were going as I would have stuffed around and not found the quickest way. We made it easily to the middle of the bridge and he kindly took a photo for me.
And that's where I was heading, the lighthouse on the tip of the headland.
The ride to the lighthouse was actually a lot easier than I was expecting. Mainly because there was a tunnel under the hills.
The valley on the other side was quite pretty.
Rodeo beach was at the end of the lagoon and there were a number of surfers and lot of people enjoying the sun (and the wind) on the dark sand.
The building on the right are Fort Cronkhite.
There are a lot of military sites throught the hills. I sure the soldiers would have loved building this one in the 1900's.
Including this 1950's missile site, built during the Cold War. It's the SF-88 Nike Missle site
I then climbed over the hill towards the lighthouse and stopped near the Battery Wallace, with a great view of the bridge and the city.
I even took a self portrait. (yes, I didn't shave this morning...)
The old lighthouse keepers cottage was definitely clifftop living.
With a great view of course.
Unfortunately the lighthouse was closed for the day. Just means I have an excuse to go back. And they really mean no access to lighthouse.
Mind you, I'm not sure there is a lighthouse there as I couldn't see it behind the big rock.
I went back to where I'd parked my bike (and securely locked it !) and saw a sign saying "Secret bunker" but I couldn't find it.
This is the Battery Wallace, the lookout where I stopped before is behind the right hand side. The buildings in front are administration for the missile site.
Looking back down at Fort Cronkhite from outside the Battery Mendell.
Further along the road was a view of Bird island (such an original name !) and a structure that housed a searchlight.
Looking back the other way (south for those keeping count), I finally found the lighthouse pearch right on the edge of the furthest rock with a bridge connecting it to the mainland.
And a closer look.
On the way back I stopped near the missile site and made a video intending to give a panoramic view of the area and to subtly let you know how windy it was. It worked better than I thought it would. Listen for me saying, "You can probably hear the wind", in the only clear bit of recording !! Understatement of the day.
I finally crawled back to the tunnel, met John again on the way and made it back to the bridge.
The moon over San Francisco looked cool.
I stopped near the south pylon and looked up.
I then went back around to the sunny side and did the same.
I loved the shape of the light housings.
My favourite photo of the trip.
I then kept going and took one with the bridge and the city.
I detoured onto the south headland and took these two. It was very cold and windy, so I didn't stay long.
The sun was about to hit a cloud bank, so there wouldn't be any good light for more photos.
I did manage to snap one more from the other side of the bridge.
Before heading back around the waterfront and stopping in the South Beach cafe for some much needed dinner.
I timed it perfectly, arriving at the Caltrain station at 9:10 for the 9:15 train. It was wonderful to sit down and warm up a bit.
More photos here. They are sorted with the iPhone photos first and then my big camera. (and yes I like signs that tell you what things are. ;))
Total distance ridden was 29.3 miles, just under 50 kilometres. Phew !
