Day one in the city: Defeated by parking

What a nice morning it was waking up on a boat in San Francisco Bay.  We stayed on a friends boat in Sausalito on the opposite side of the Golden Gate Bridge from the city.

(sunrise in the Sausalito harbor)

We figured, why waste time?  There is lots to be done in the city.  We got in the car and headed for the city.  We were both filled with excitement as we crossed the Golden Gate into the “golden city”.

Our first destination was a surf check at Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge.  Three wrong turns, one misleading hwy and 1/2 a dozen reroutes later, we were there.  The road was blocked to get down to the base of Fort Point so we parked up top and walked the windy trail.  I was amazed at the jaw dropping view of the Golden Gate Bridge, but once we reached the bottom I was let down that there were no waves. Diana made sure we got in some touristy photos and was secretly happy because this meant city exploring time.

However, I wasn’t giving up that easy.  Next stop Ocean Beach, the site of this years Rip Curl search event.  We swept around the hill to a beautiful view of the coast. Pulled into the OB parking lot and did the “universal surf check.”  This entails parking the car, getting out standing on a curb and staring out at the surf trying to find that one motivator out in the sea.  No motivators came, however to the credit of the sea had it been a warm, great white shark-less body of water I would have probably been out there.  With surfing out of the picture for the day, it was now time to explore the city.

After filling our bellies at Squat and Gobble..

we were off to see Pier 39 and the Fisherman’s Wharf!  Once in the area we were on a hunt for parking.  After plenty of circles and outrageous pricing, parking was never found.  What’s next?

Let’s see Lombard St. the curviest road in the world.

Parking was found, but not near our destination.  After tackling the perpetual stair climber, that is San Francisco we arrived.  Took pictures, walked down, and climbed the stair climber back.  What’s Next?

Haight Ashbury, a hip and happening part of town.  The parking wars continued, laps upon laps led to the conclusion of the farther the better.  A long walk is better than a never ending search for “the spot.”  After passing a girl holding a sign saying, “to ugly for prostitution” in an attempt to make money, we decided to recharge at a cafe called Coffee to the People.  A Hippie-filled cafe where the walls look like the back of a Volkswagen Bus, covered in bumper stickers about peace, environmental issues, and liberal libel.

apple’s amongst the wall of empty opinions   

part of their wall decor..

(at least its warm, and slightly cozy)

Diana ran back to the car to grab something and was confronted by the “Parking Nazi,” which is a story in itself.  However this is where I write to you from, defeated.  I did not draw inspiration from the city like great writers such as Kerouac, Ginsberg, or my favorites Mark Twain and Hemingway.   I did not find the answer to life, nor did I find myself in fact I couldn’t even find a good parking spot.  Defeated is a harsh word I am not defeated I am enlightened and ready to tackle it again another day.  I saw sites people dream of seeing, and for that I am happy.