Monday, September 17

It was a gorgeous day all around.  I headed out Corbett to Clayton to Frederick to Stanyon and into the park.  I rode out to Ocean Beach then up the Great Highway to Geary and then up to the Palace of the Legion of Honor.  The sun was shining and it was beauful:

Morning sun looks good on everybody:

Then I headed down Camimo del Mar to the Presidio and then through the Marina, up Columbus and into work.  I had to go to REI before I went home for lunch where they tightened my brakes another crank.  After work, I rode out 2nd to Howard to 11th to Harrison to Precita Park and then Alabama to Cortland (hello hill!) to Bocana to Holly Park to Murray into St. Mary's Park, over the footbridge over 280 and then Cambridge to McLaren Park.  It was gorgeous up there:

It was getting late so I took Mansell to Persia to Ocean to Phelan and into school and then Foerster to Teresita to Evelyn to Portola to Corbett home.  Total bike mileage: 35

Sunday, September 16

I got up early to walk Rufus and then I headed off on my bike.  I rode Corbett to Portola to Woodside to Dewey to Taravel down to the ocean and then up the Great Highway to Geary and then up to the Palace of the Legion of Honor and then down through Seacliff into the Presidio and then down to Crissy Field.  I was a ride leader for a Lifecycle ride out to Tiburon and back.  It's either the last ride of the 2007 season or the first ride for 2008 depending on how you look at it.  We had a few new riders this time.  A group from San Jose showed up a little late but once they got going they caught up top the pack pretty quickly.  Poor Gary had a flat right at the beginning but we got it changed and got him off on the route.  Here he is just after the Golden Gate Bridge:

Here are Gary's super hot friends:

And Kurt looking licious as usual. 

We headed down into Sausalito and I stopped to wait for some riders who were getting some stuff at Mike's Bikes.  Not a problem because I love oogling the staff there that might best be described as "mouthwatering".  We headed off over Camino Alto.  I didn't see as many riders on it as I'd thought which made me think that a lot of them had gone around on Trestle Glen or just taken the flats into Tiburon.  They finally put a light at the super dangerous stop at the bottom of Camino Alto which I was really happy about.  We got on Paradise Drive and made our way to Tiburon.  One of the riders collects photos of herself on industrial equipment.  You heard me.  She collects photos of herself on industrial equipment.  I have a picture to prove it:

 

Kurt again.  This time with "The wave"

We made our way to Tiburon.  Here's a nice view from the bike path:

We came back on the flats and stopped in Sausalito to pick up some more riders who had stopped for snacks. The blond girl not in bike clothes is from London and she's going to be doing the ride for the first time.  Good for her!

Then we started making or way up to the bridge. I ran into the sweep for the other ride that was going that day and I ended up riding with them in.  Here are the glamour girls who were the finale of the ride:

Here are the sweeps:  Paolo and I.  He is so adorable!

Cycle hotness Kari Boatner:

I headed home Arguello out the Arguello gate and into Golden Gate Park and then Stanyon to Beulah to Cole to Carmel.  This is the view over the Haight from the top of Carmel:

And then I went home for food.  I was really beat because I hadn't eaten enough and it was a long day so I went to bed at 5:30.  PM..  Yes we all know I'm old.  Total bike mileage:  60.  Mileage for the week:  220.

Friday, September 14

After work I headed off Sutter to Steiner to Ellis to St. Josephs.  There's a beautiful view of the city from there:

Then I took St. Josephs to Turk to Stanyon into Golden Gate Park.  I rode around the park and came out on 9th Ave into the Sunset and then rode up into Forest Hill.  There's great views of twin peaks from there:

You can see how steeply terraced some of the houses on West Twin Peaks are.  Watch that last step!

This charming house, which seems to be mostly roof is on Alton near Pacheco:

I crossed Dewey and took Hernandez to Laguna Honda.  There's great views of Laguna Honda Hospital from there. 

Up the hill from the hospital is the new Juvenile Hall.  It's a nice design that's a little impsing although it's trying not to be.  I know a certain Chester who'll be sorry to hear that it's not available for private parties:

Then I took Portola to Corbett and home.  I met Mr. Chris and Sofi at the park and Rufus got a chance to run around.  And run he did:

I let him play until he was pretty tired and then we went home for dinner and then we went to bed.  Total bicycle mileage: 30.

Friday, September 14

It was nice and warm again this morning!  I rode Corbett to Portola to Woodside to Dewey to Taravel and then down to Great Highway.  I headed up the coast and came back on Cabrillo.  I got a great shot of St. Ignatius--  except for all the wires.  Lousy wires:

This house is on Cabrillo at 2nd avenue.  I don't know what's going on with the roofline.  But it's very unusual and not necessarily in a good way.  My only thought is that maybe the original roof was very different and made those weird angles look not quite so freakish.  Maybe a thatch roof or something like that:

I jsut don't get it:

Here I am enjoying the beautiful morning:

I headed up to Parker and then came in on Golden Gate.  I took a few pics of the Golden Gate Theatre at Golden Gate and Market.  It's a beautiful structure but it's not in good condition and it looks like it needs a little restoration:

 

It looks like some of the fine plasterwrok is distintegrating:

Fabulous detail!  I love that building!  And the theater inside is awesome too.  I saw Lion King there.  Let's just say.... I loved the theatre.  I went down Market into the Financial District and into work.

Thursday, September 13

I woke up and walked Rufus and headed out Corbett to Clayton to Parnassus into Judah and down towards the coast.  I stopped to take some pics at St. Anne's but my camera's batteries had died and my phone takes such crappy pics that I thought I'd just come back after work.  I continued down Judah to Great Hightway and up to the Palace of the Legion of Honor, down Camino Del Mar into the Presidio, through Crissy Field, Marina Green up to Fort Mason and then Columbus into work.  After work I headed off Sutter to Sacramento to Arguello into Golden Gate Park.  I stopped by the Conservatory of Flowers for some pics:

And one of me as well:

I rode around the park and exited into the Sunset at 9th Ave and then rode Judah down to St. Anne's.  It's a spectacularily beautiful church and finely detailed:

 

Then I continued down Judah to 17th and then out to Vicente.  St. Cecilia's at 17th and Vincente is my favorite church in San Francisco and the bells were ringing when I rode by around 6PM:

Check out the amazing detail on the bell tower:

I rode up to Wawona.  This is the view from Wawona and 17th up to Mt. Davidson:

This is the Ardenwood retirement home.  Built in 1930.  It's pretty big and very French looking.  It doesn't look so massive from the street but from Golden Gate Heights it looks enormous:

THen I continued on Wiwona to Portola and then into Saint Francis Wood.  I love that neighborhood when the sun is shining.  Which isn't all that often.  So I'm enjoyed it while it lasted:

Then I rode up Portola to Corbett and then home.  Total bike mileage:  30

Thursday, September 13

I discovered to my dismay this morning that I am no longer the biggest fag on earth. I've always known, in the back of my mind, that the day would come when someone with lighter loafers than me would come out of nowhere and I'd be out-swished.  I had hoped to be able to hold on to my crown a little longer, but today I came across this video of this earnest young man and I realized my reign was over.

Wednesday, September 12

I headed off after work up Sutter to Fillmore to Clay to Locust to California to Spruce to Euclid to Clement to 5th Avenue to Cabrillo to Park Presidio and then into Golden Gate Park at the Rose Garden.  The garden was beautiful as usual:

Here's me in some of some pink climbing roses:

I rode through the Park down to the North Windmill.  It's planted very beautifully with flowers.  Such a contrast from the South Windmill which is creepy and deserted:

 

Then I rode down the Great Highway towards Lake Merced.  The days are definitely getting shorter and I saw flocks of birds flying south for the winter.  I'm not so looking forward to the shorter days, but we need rain and we only get it in the winter.  The ocean looked beautiful in the late afternoon sun:

I headed around Lake Merced and then took Font to Holloway to Harold to Ocean to Phelan and into class.  We had a quiz and it was pretty tough.  Then I took Foerster to Teresita to Portoal to Corbett and then home.  Total Bike mileage:  38

Wednesday, September 12

It was pretty damp when I left the house but it was warm so I wasn't complaining.  I went Corbett to Portola to Woodside to Dewey to Taravel and then down to the ocean.  It started to dry off by the time I hit Sunset.  I continued up the Great Highway to Geary and then up to the Palace of the Legion of Honor.  Then I went down to Lake and then Lake to Arguello to California to Jordan.  I like Jordan Park.  It's the only place in the city where there are a bunch rambling early 20th century houses that aren't too mansion like.  Here's me in front of some of them:

And beautiful St. Ignatius rising in the background:

I got on Euclid and followed it up to the top of Laurel Hill.  There's a beautiful view of the city from there:

I continued down Euclid to Presidio to Post and then into Japantown.  The Pagoda in Peace Plaza was decorated with banners.  I couldn't figure out what they were for:

 

Then I continued down Post into the financial district and into work.

Tuesday, September 11

I headed up Columbus after work and photographed St. Peter and Paul's.  It's a really beautiful church and very finely detailed:

   

Gorgeous stonework over the main entrance:

Even stand out sculptures representing the four gospels.  I forget which animal goes with which.  Note extensive pigeon proofing.  Evidently even God can't save you from pigeons: 

 

 

I headed over to Fisherman's Wharf and into the Marina and then into the Presdio.  I stopped at Immigrant Point where the view is always spectacular:

 

I came out of the presidio at the Arguello Gate and went Jackson to Cherry to Jordan to Stanyon to Waller to Cole to Carl to Clayton to Corbett and then home.  Rufus has been a little sick and needed a bath (you don't want to know).  Mr. Poe was conveniently at a meeting (I think he's out drinking with Travis and Tommy Taylor and I'm entitled to my opinions) so I had to do it myself.  He feels better and smells better now but I'm so scratched up from him trying to not get into the shower with me.  Thanks to bike shorts for keepin' the junk safe.  Total bike mileage:  30

 

Tuesday, September 11

I was a little bored this morning so I took a slightly different route and connected a few areas I hadn't been to in a while.  I rode Corbett to Portola to Woodside to Dewey to Taravel and then down to Ocean Beach.  I headed up the great highway and went into Golden Gate Park.  I rode around a little there and photographed this cool portal which sits serenely on a lake:

I headed out of the park at 7th Avenue and rode down Clement to Arguello and then I got on Euclid.  This house is on Euclid in Jordan PArk.  It's very stately and has a beautiful circular bay:

This house is across the street from it and it has a much more fabulous bay:

I took Euclid to Presidio to Jackson to Scott to Filbert to Steiner to Green St. to see St. Vincent De Paul's.  I love the overall design but it's a little weak on the detail.  It's no Saint Cecelia's but it's unique in the city and fun to look at:

This fantastic little building is a public library and the frieze above the door says it's the "Golden Gate Valley Branch".  I've never heard of that neighborhood!  I think it's called Cow Hollow now.

The building is incredibly well detailed:

I continued on Green to Polk to Broadway through the Broadway Tunnel (yikes!) and then down Columbus to work.