SF - Fisherman's Wharf Hostel - May 18, '12

Walking Distance: 1.4 mi.
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 15 min. (10:10 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Hyde Street Pier, in San Francisco, CA

Today I covered a short segment of Bay Trail - from Hyde Street Pier up the hill toward Fort Mason (shown as a solid red line on the Bay Trail Map).

A friend (thank you Julie!) showed me Hostelling International's San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel. After climbing up the short, but relatively steep paved (asphalt) road, (west) up the hill toward Fort Mason from Fisherman's Wharf proper, the entrance to this hostel was to the left up a short road.

Note: The paved trail/road heading uphill from the end of Van Ness Ave. is likely too steep for wheelchairs and some other wheeled vehicles. Easier/more level access may be from the other (non-Bay Trail) side (Bay Street and Franklin Street).

We stopped for something to drink at the Cafe Franco at the hostel, and took a quick tour of the common areas of the hostel, before walking over to the nearby Community Garden to admire the individual plots and flowers in bloom. I'd recommend the hostel as a place to stay for those coming in from out of town to walk/ride the Bay Trail.

I will return (back-track) in June '12 to finish walking the curved breakwater/pier (that begins near the very end of Van Ness Ave.) that I missed today, and also to visit Ghirardelli Square and the Maritime Museum (old Aquatic Park Bath house building from the 1930s) we passed due to time constraints.

Wildlife Sightings:
3 sea gulls

SF - Hyde St. Pier - May 14, '12

Walking Distance: 1.5 miles
Walking Time: 2 hrs. (2:20 - 4:20 p.m.)
Start and End Point: metered parking spot on Jefferson Street, San Francisco, CA

Today I continued my start-and-stop transit along the waterfront sidewalks of San Francisco, at a snail's pace. There were too many interesting spots to see and people to meet and photograph in this city. Despite the fact that I have walked through this (Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery) area between Pier 39 and Hyde Street Pier several times before, and that it has a reputation as a tourist trap, I still find it interesting.

The Fisherman's Wharf area was relatively crowded for a Monday. Many people were out-of-town visitors. A group on segways zipped by on a tour, all slanting slightly forward.

I had already eaten, so I didn't stop for a crab lunch this time around. I did dawdle, however, to look at the crabs in tanks, piles of crabs, and crab dishes packaged up and ready to go. And I paused in front of Boudin's bakery window to look at a large loaf of baked bread in the shape of an alligator/crocodile.

Street performers abound here. One man, spray painted from head-to-foot with silver paint, was perched atop a milk crate, moving robot-like; and the man who disguises himself as a bush and pops out to scare people periodically, was in the area. You'll also pass a Ripley's believe-it-or-not museum, where I saw a horse (or a donkey?) made entirely of bottle corks.
I turned around after I passed the Hyde Street Pier, an old ferry pier with several large historic ships moored there now. I walked down the this pier to look at some of these older ships/boats, but did not continue all the way to the end (admission required).

Despite the activity in the area, I did see a great blue heron taking a snooze out on the rocks near the pier. If you stand on the pier and look west toward Aquatic Park, you'll see a beach area, and may catch a glimpse of some bay swimmers from one of the swim clubs stationed nearby.

I also stopped at Rosie's Roses, a shop on Jefferson Street, at the Cannery, a large brick building now occupied by shops and offices. I was looking for chocolate (for my other blog, Chocolate Banquet). In addition to flowers, plants and other items, she also carried chocolates. I passed many interesting small businesses like this along my walk. I always enjoy talking with small business owners.

Wildlife Sightings:
10 sea gulls; 5 pigeons; 1 great blue heron; 4 little brown jobs (LBJs)

Hyde St. Pier, SF - Jan. 2, 2010

Walking Distance: 1.58 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 28 min. (3:17 - 4:45 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parked at north end of Van Ness, near Aquatic Park, San Francisco, CA

Today we revisited Hyde St. Pier, this having been closed previously. The Pier is located at the foot of the Hyde Street hill (shown).

Walking around inside old boats, including the Eureka, a large (car and people) ferry from long ago, complete with old cars in place on the car deck, was very interesting. We also looked inside the Balclutha, which had made the trip around Cape Horn more than a dozen times. Exciting times if you like being on deck in high winds, covered with a thin sheet of ice.

Wildlife Sightings:
7 sea gulls; 2 pigeons; 2 cormorants; bay swimmers and pelican mascot