Back to the Streets

Walk #23

It's been a long time between walks! But after all that walking last month, my feet needed a rest like whoa. So I headed to the great Northwest Peninsula of Washington and rested by the lake and in the hot tub. Check out my freizeitsocken...

After I was sufficiently rested, relaxed and vegged out, I was super excited to get back to the City and really excited to walk again! The last few days of September I spent busting out different routes to and from work which were mostly uneventful.

Todays short jaunt home from Harvey's was a little funner though so here goes. First, I ran into some volunteers, some friends of volunteers and an Orpheum usher all within two blocks of the starting point. Popular little place, the Castro.

As I headed up 18th Street I came across this:

Now, I recognize that technically the street stampers have not made an error here. According to the city of San Francisco this is spelled correctly. However, I think I am a wee bit justified in considering it a misspelling. As I've always said regarding my name: No unnecessary letters! Plus, that just looks crazy with all those S's.

Alright, so I headed up 18th St and hit a couple of different side streets just for fun - Ord, Storrie, Hattie, Clover, Danvers.

As Danvers Street made me nostalgic for the North Shore, (and by the North Shore I really mean, Target, Pizzerea Uno and the movie theater - because why else would I have gone to Danvers) I looked up and thought, "how far have I walked???"

Turns out even in San Francisco there's a little love for the Red Sox Nation. I suppose there could be no connection at all to the Fenway Market (where there was no sign of New England sports teams anywhere) at the end of Danvers Street, but come on. It was literally screaming 'Massachusetts' at me.

I continued up to the end of 18th at Market Street where I crossed over to the beginning of Clayton. The problem with walking up in this neck of San Francisco is that up = fog. It would be awesome if this up section equalled a beautiful panoramic view of the bay, but alas, it was nothing but soupy gray. ( I know, I know, it is San Francisco after all and the fog is to be expected, heck I even like it 99% of the time. It just could've been a nice view.)

I almost crossed the street because it looked like there was no sidewalk on my side of the street, but on closer examination there were steps (yay!) so I kept on my path and found not only steps but a cute little community garden.

Apparently, this community garden has been around since 1960 and a group of friends has been maintaining it since it's creator passed away. It is a semi-awkward bit of land (oddly shaped, down a hill), but they've done a really neat job with the landscaping. It was pretty awesome.

From the garden I took Clayton to Ashbury home.

Total mileage: 2.27

Progress?

I'm going to have to start walking more than just to and from work!

p.s. Of course I'm in the map!

See ya later alley-gator

Walk #22

Being super lazy yesterday, and going out of town for a week tomorrow, I wanted to get in a substantial walk after work today. I decided to bust out the alleys of the T-Loin, finish out California street, and eliminate the Laurel Heights neighborhood.

Before I began, I noticed this was happening at the corner of Ellis and Polk.

It also happened, last week at Eddy and Polk. When I first saw it last week, I dismissed it in the morning but in the afternoon the street was freshly stamped and I thought how amazing it would be to MEET the street stamper himself! But today when I saw this, I PANICKED! What if the new street stamper is working to eliminate all of the mispellings and errors?!?! I need to find them all before this new street stamper strikes again!

Between Van Ness and Larkin, the alleys went like this: Willow, Ellis, Olive, O'Farrell, Myrtle, Geary, Cedar, Post, Hemlock, Sutter, Fern, Bush, Austin, and Pine. It was a LOT of zigzagging. It was a lot of avoiding folks sleeping on the street (including in front of the Great American Music Hall where 15 girls were lined up to see the one and only Hanson. Mmm bop ladies. Mmm bop.) It was a lot of giving space to peoples' "homes" and it was lot of zigzagging (yes, again!) At the end I stopped into a Starbucks which was inside a WellsFargo. Banking and tea, what a lovely combo.

Out on California street, I made a side trip down Orben Pl (or Middle depending on which end you read the street sign). I made it all the way to Spruce where I began to basketweave the Laurel Heights/Hill neighborhood. In my mind, this neighborhood is between California and Geary, Arguello and Masonic/Presidio.

Where I began was mostly flat but eventually I ran into the hill section of Laurel Hill. I also had to cut through a playground and a few alleys. Very different from the alleys of the TL. All of the streets here are very wide. Most of the homes have front lawns. And I passed a dozen folks pushing strollers. Again the dichotomy of my walks never ceases to amaze me.

At the edge of Euclid and Masonic I found the ole' bus barn. Oh Muni....

In the interest of full disclosure, I stopped at a Starbucks again. But you mustn't judge! Sometimes you just need a reliable restroom.

At the corner of Euclid and Comm Ave (as my the little piece of my heart that belongs to Massachusetts wants to say) I found this:

Dr. Mr. Streetstamping Man,

First CommonweAlth. Second, I know you're using the 'W' for the 'M'. I got my eyes on you . . . .

And finally as I wound my way home (by way of the pizza place) I saw this guy for the 3rd time. The first time was around 3:30 near the alleys of Larkin St, and I didn't think anything of it. Then I passed him on Masonic and Geary contemplating if it was the same guys. And finally on Haight Street towards home, I saw them collecting more cardboard boxes.

His truck was half empty when I first saw him. Quite the haul after winding their way (stalking me) through the city. Hooray recycling.

Total Mileage: 11.61

Come On Get Happy!

Walk #21.1 and 21.2 (must be allowed to drink and walk now)

So I've been changing my route to and from work just a little bit at a time. Things usually don't get too exciting but yesterday, walking home along Grove, I felt the need to move in here. With a window like that, how could you not get happy? Or want to sing all day with your family. I love me some David Cassidy! (And secretly, I love Danny Bonaduce.)

Today, I walked home along Turk which was pretty uneventful until I got close to USF where there was a lot of hustle and bustle now that the semester is in full swing. Then much to my excitement I found a treasure on TamalpAis Terrace.

What is up with the 'i' /'1' phenomenon? It's turning up everywhere!! Is it too hard to carry around the 'i' stamper and the '1' stamper? Or is the 'i' lost in the truck and you're too lazy to look for it and figure no one will notice? I'm more and more surprised the 'E' / '3' situation doesn't show up more. Also, street stampin' man, don't think I didn't notice you missed the third 'A'. I've got my eyes on you . . .

(p.s. mini shout out to Jessamyn on this one!)

Take me out to the ball game . . .

Walk #20

After happy hour(s) at Toad Hall, I decided to take advantage of today's dynamic deal and get myself a cheap ticket to what looks to be my last Giants game of the season. *tear*

The walking options were plentiful but I decided to keep it as simple as possible. I walked all the way down 18th street from Castro to the Bay, then

up 3rd to AT&T. Super straight forward and it proved to be a genius plan. First, there was no line at Bi-Rite, I repeat NO LINE AT BI-RITE! On a beautiful Tuesday afternoon! Crazy. I of course got myself some white chocolate blackberry. Yummy looking, huh?

Then I got to cross two freeways! The first by pedestrian footbridge, which seriously terrified me, the second

a traffic ramp, which was not nearly as scary.

Funnily, there is something about me that is intrinsically a Peninsula girl , it was so awkward that 101 was west of 280. I kept thinking the map was lying to me. Guess I'm not quite a city girl yet.

101 280

Luckily, this walk was all about my favorite city workers: the Street Cement Stampers!

First, at 18th and SancheZ . . . .

Then, I thought I was walking on 18th street. Am I really 10 blocks off track and didn't realize it?

Is 'Florida' a little like 'Toys R Us'? Backwards letters are fun for kids of all ages! And it least it got this stuck in my head, which always makes me happy. Boots with the fur . . .

Sadly, I was late to the game, it's almost like I was a Dodger fan - yucka. But the view was nice coming to the park from the south.

Total Mileage: 3.77

Finding Fun in the Monotony

Walk # 20

San Francisco is not all glamourous or ghetto. Turns out there are many average streets along the way. But fun really can be found around every corner.

For example, after a yummy lunch with Jessamyn I headed south on 3rd St. I didn't worry about any cross streets but did hit up all dead-end streets. Clementine, St. Francis, Perry and Kaplan where I found a secret motorcycle parking lot.

After making my way to the ball park, I tried to walk parallel to the Embarcadero. As San Franciscans may know, not an easy task. Embarcadero isn't exactly straight, while most of the streets around it are. So I tried to wiggle my way as much as possible - to the end of Townsend and back to go up Collin P. Kelly, over to Brannan till it ends, then back to Delancy and so on. It didn't work well for too long. I tried to hit up all the awkward scragglybits of streets but missed a few so back I'll go. It was a little depressing over

there and this sad site didn't help.

20 newspaper stands with 2 newspapers -2 free ad books - 16 empty stands!! Poor sad print journalism (she says as she blogs).

I eventually gave up on the wiggle and took a straight shot up Beale which

became Davis across Market. Is there any street that retains it's name when it crosses Market? Only more walking will tell . . . .

On Green Street I found California Historical Landmark #941. What ever

could have happened on detached, 3.5 block section of Green Street over by the Embarcadero you ask? The birth of TV, that's what! This is the lab where Philo Farnsworth invented the first TV in 1927! Apparently, he was called the genius of Green Street (yes, I was/am thinking of Katie every time I saw/typed it). See, proof that walking is educational. And all good things come from SF. (We invented ice cream, right?)

So maybe not all good things originate in SF, that doesn't mean that we don't have Harry Potter's Pier. Lightening bolt and all! 66 days . . .

Done wiggling, I turned right onto Bay which I followed for about 2 miles. The beauty of this decision was not only crossing Jones street [Are my college roommates stalking me throughout the city today or what? I guess it'll be more interesting when I end up at the corner of Jones and Green, but still. If I come across a Brereton street things will officially get weird, though I feel like there's a higher possibility of me finding a Park St :) It's the same right?] but that Bay is probably the lowest grade crossing the city westward. Lucky me!

As the end drew near, I had some time so I decided to cross off a 3-square block radius within Bay, Fillmore, Laguna and Marina. Holy Cannoli, it turned out to be over two miles on it's own! I even had a nice plan for minimizing the blocks that had to be repeated (only 4 sides) and yet, two miles! Crazy! But done and done! And while my feet may have hated me at North Point and Webster I FINALLY found this wee error. Really, you couldn't solve that 'N' 'O' situation any better? I guess no. Bahahahaha!

Anyway, ended on Beach Street for some much needed couch time. Dinner and a movie with the fabulous Monday night movie crew = good times!

Total mileage: 9.16 miles

A big ol' loop

Walk #19

Today was literally the only day I had available to see the Impressionist Exhibit, Paris: City of Light, at the Legion of Honor. So I left home heading north. The journey there was pretty simple, Cole, Hayes, Stanyan - where I made a detour down a cul de sac where a really sweet golden retriever wanted to join me. Sadly, I had to leave him behind. Stanyan turns into Jordan. One left turn and the the next two miles were spent on California. Luckily, there were a couple of open houses - I could own my own home in SF for a mere $1.9 mil!- and then look:

Fall showed up! Alright, fine. It's weak sauce BUT we do have seasons. They're just subtle . . .

A long trek down California, a turn on 32nd, a few more cul-de-sacs, onto Clement, through the golf course and ta da: The Legion of Honor.

The exhibit wasn't necessarily my favorite but there were three or four pieces I loved so it was still worth the trek. I decided to shake the old Urban Spoon App on the iphone which lead me to the Garden House Cafe. Thank goodness it was close because I was starving. New walking rule: snacks and water required! Not only was I starving but it was also a bit chilly so I needed to sit down and warm up.

Mmmm soup! And sandwich and hot coco. The folks here were really friendly and the food was scrumptious. Highly recommend.

I tried to logically plan my return route. I decided that if I walked the outer

rim of the Richmond, I can later come back and basket weave the streets. So I walked Clement (which turned into Seal Rock). Coming up to the VA hospital there was a cute monument to the veterans.

I went down and back on Alta Mar, then 48th as far south as I could. There was an awesome view of the Dutch Windmill but the fog didn't lend itself to awesome photography opportunities.

At the end of 48th I followed Sutro Heights to 46th to Balboa. More cul-de-sacs though this one had stairs to go up, and different stairs to go down.

From Balboa I turned down La Playa. I know I said I was aiming for the outer rim of the Richmond, but I know eventually my run club will take me back out to the Great Highway, so I opted for the street a block in.

I went all the way down to Fulton (so I could completely check La Playa off the map) and circled back around onto Cabrillo. Which, like California, I followed for 3 miles.

Cabrillo was great. Some houses had fabulous, matching stained glass windows,

a port-o-potty had a warning,

and a pre-school creatively used old buckets for gardening.

When Cabrillo ran out, I continued onto McAllister which had this colorful home.

To end it out I went up and down Parsons, Parker to Fulton, Cole, Hayes and Clayton. Whew! And the final view of the day perfectly sums up the weather.

Sutro tower is there. I SWEAR!

Total Mileage: 10.84