Monday, September 16, 2013

San Francisco Part One - Biking the Golden Gate and America's Cup

We got back last night from 5-days in the San Francisco Bay Area and no matter how many times I visit I love it more and more each time.
This year was even more special because we were not only visiting our best friends who live out there but are other besties from Ohio met us out there too!

I took hundreds of pictures and our trip was jam packed with activities and fun ranging from the America's Cup Sailing Finals to Napa/Sonoma and the Cal vs. Ohio State game.

Today's post highlights our first day in the city.
We flew and and somehow managed to get on an earlier direct flight that got us in 2-hours early and we got a voucher.
SCORE!

Since we landed around 10am I talked Brad into renting bikes and riding the 8-miles from Fisherman's Wharf over the Golden Gate and into Marin County.
I knew it would be a great vantage point to see all the America's Cup boating and it was!!
Check out the US boat sponsored by Oracle.
 Brad wasn't as excited about the bike ride as I was but he was a good sport.
 We rode along Crissy Field and up to the bridge.
This was the part that Brad wasn't so thrilled with.
We had to walk our bike up 2 steep areas.
 This picture really tells it all!
Haa!
But the mood improved once mid-way on the bridge.
 Gorgeous views from up there!
Believe it or not this was my very first time making this bike trip.
 Once over the bridge we made our way into Sausalito where we grabbed a quick lunch then hopped on the ferry back.
 Marin County is such a beautiful area.
If we could all own a mansion overlooking the water there.
 Like one of these.
Ahh. dreaming.
 The ferry dropped us off in the middle of the America's Cup action.
They have literally turned the waterfront in SF into an Olympic Village of sorts!

 After an 8-mile bike ride we felt we deserved a beer or two so we stopped by the one of many biergarten's in the Village. 


After all that we headed back to our friend's gorgeous home in the Marina area and walking distance of the Cup action.
If you've been reading this blog for long you might recall Beth and her husband are some of our best friends.
This was our first time to meet their 2 and 1/2 year old daughter Dylan.
Cute as can be!
 Giving we had gotten up at 4:15am Eastern time to travel to the West Coast you would have thought we would have went to bed but instead we rallied and Beth and DJ were so kind to get us tickets to the Giants game!! 
 Needless to say we didn't make it until the end.
We were exhausted!!
We got home at 11pm Pacific time, which was almost 24-hours after we woke up on the East Coast!!

Tomorrow our trek to Napa and Sonoma to meet up with our Ohio friends!
Things are just getting started so prepare to saddle up!

7 comments:

donatelli98 said...

So fun!! Loved seeing all of the beautiful pics!

MCW said...

That bike trip does not look easy! I've neve been to San Fran. Looks like a blast.

Ashley said...

I have only been to SF for about 24 hours. Would love to go back. I heard a lot about the American cup this weekend because I guess NZ was doing really well in-all those Kiwis im around like to brag :)

starnes family said...

Marin County. Sigh. So beautiful. Love San Fran!!!!!!!!

Sara said...

I love this part of your trip! Can't wait to hear/see more!

eas said...

The bike ride looks amazing and you look so happy! I would have been flipping the camera off!
AT&T will always be my home park! Go Giants!! We took 35 of our friends there tqo nights before our wedding!
Great trip!!

Leigh Powell Hines said...

That is such a beautiful area. I'm slowly catching up.