America's Cup - SF 2013

America's Cup and The Bay Trail
January 2013

People have asked me if they can view the 34th America's Cup (AC34) yacht races (Summer 2013) from the San Francisco Bay and Bay Trail. The answer is yes, and maybe. The races are expected to draw thousands of visitors, and walking and bike paths will be an important part of getting people there and limiting car congestion.

Construction has been underway for some time to get ready for this event, along the Embarcadero, Piers 15-17 (new home of the Exploratorium), and Fisherman's Wharf, and other areas near or including the Bay Trail -- including segments of refurbished Trail segments for bicyclists and pedestrians. I look forward to walking these segments when they're completed.

More on the America's Cup
The races take place in 3 stages. The earliest America's Cup World Series took place in August and October 2012.

The races in 2013 begin with the Louis Vuitton Challenge Cup (July 4 - Sept. 1), and culminate with the America's Cup Finals from Sept. 7 until as late as Sept. 23, 2013. For more information and final dates, check with the America's Cup website.  Also check the Port of San Francisco site and the San Francisco Bay Trail website (click on the Maps/Guides tab).

The Red Bull Youth America's Cup selection series of races will be coming up in February (with final races in September) 2013.

Where to Watch
Most of the action is happening in northeast San Francisco, and viewing areas may stretch from the Marina Green/Presidio area in the north, to several piers south of the Bay Bridge.

Note: odd numbered piers start at the San Francisco Ferry Building (located at the end of Market Street), and extend north. Even numbered piers start at the SF Ferry Building and increase in number further south.

Possible viewing areas on the Bay Trail: Crissy Field (Warming Hut), Marina, Fort Mason (Greens), Aquatic Park, Hyde St. Pier, Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, and places along the Embarcadero that offer Bay views. (See also previous walk entries and places to eat page on this site for more places in San Francisco.) There are also small pocket parks, some benches, and pier areas where boats may be visible.

Boats may also be viewable (depending on weather, fog) from the Bay Trail in other areas: Northwest Alameda; Alcatraz Island; Angel Island; Fort Baker; Fort Point; the Golden Gate Bridge; and Treasure Island. Bring your binoculars.

Where to Stay
Many of the hotels will have been booked by now. However, there are some great alternative sites that may have units or rooms available in San Francisco. Or, why not stay on a houseboat in Sausalito? Sausalito is a waterfront community (on the Bay Trail) on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge; ferries travel between Sausalito and San Francisco, Tiburon, Angel Island, Alameda, and other destinations. (See my earlier entries on Sausalito to get a feel of the place.)

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)

SF - Pier 39 - Apr. 22, '12

Walking Distance: 2.1 mi.
Walking Time: 3 hrs., 1 min. (4:54 - 7:55 p.m.)
Start and End Point: street parking, metered space, San Francisco, CA

I parked my car on the Levi's Plaza Park (inland/west) side of The Embarcadero, the palm-tree lined avenue that runs along the Bay in San Francisco. Most of today's walk (shown as double red lines on the Bay Trail Map) was atop sidewalks/concrete, with some wood surfaces at Pier 39. Before crossing the road to Pier 23, my starting point, I enjoyed walking up the sidewalk and reading about buried ships under the concrete. Paved over and relegated to become Bay fill from previous centuries, these ships were, in part, a casualty of previous boom and bust cycles dating back to the California Gold Rush from the mid-1800s and earlier.

By the time I crossed the road and muni tracks at a crosswalk to the Bay Trail side of The Embarcadero (street), and started heading up the sidewalk on toward Pier 23 Cafe, the weather had cooled considerably. And the wind had picked up as well. I've learned that if it's sunny in the mornings, it will often be windy in the afternoons by the Bay. The wind is good for whitecap watching and sailing, but not so great for underdressed tourists and walkers, or for holding a camera perfectly steady.

I passed a fairly large construction site (future segment of Bay Trail and/or Americas Cup 2013 related perhaps); and I followed the sidewalk as it curved to the left/west toward Pier 39. I turned right/north to walk around Pier 39 -- a robustly-developed pier with dozens of small, retail shops.

There were several different boats offering rides operating out of this area, including an America's Cup style boat (look for the ultra-tall mast), smaller sailboats, power boats, a tugboat. The RocketBoat, painted in flame-colors, was on its way out to give passengers a bit of a thrill-ride on the Bay. (Blue and Gold Ferry boats are located further northwest of Pier 39.)

Through this maze of diverse boat traffic (check out all the boat-related, dotted white lines on the Bay Trail map), you'll be able to catch glimpses of Coit Tower and Alcatraz Island (itself looking boat-shaped from this angle) on all but the foggiest of days.

I circled Pier 39 and stopped to watch the group of sea lions, local denizens who had hauled themselves up on wood docks on the west side of Pier 39. This loud and proud raft (the name for a group of sea lions) is a draw for visitors and local resident photo-snappers alike. The size of the group waxes and wanes over time, but there are usually always a few that are visible on the west side of Pier 39.

Beyond the sea lions, lay Forbes Island, a tiny isle with a restaurant that can be accessed by boat.

After I'd walked around the Bay side (external perimeter) of Pier 39, I wandered through the wood plank covered and paved inside promenade area (with stairs leading to upper level(s)), out to the end and back, passing the carousel, a boatload of small shops, places to stop/explore, and places to eat and drink along the way.

Upon returning to Levi's Plaza, pink petals from trees in bloom had settled gracefully on the water in the park, adding some color in what had become, at that point, a cold, drab, overcast evening. I revived myself with a hot meal at the Fog City Diner on the way back to my car. Their "Don't Worry" clock above the entrance also made me smile.

Wildlife Sightings:
14 sea gulls; 3 Western/Clarks grebes; 12 pigeons; 13 sea lions

Pier 39 to Fisherman's Wharf/Cannery, SF - Dec. 23, 2009

Walking Distance: 2.32 miles
Walking Time: 3 hrs., 10 min. (4:00 - 7:10 p.m.)
Start & End Point: Fisherman's Wharf Parking lot, San Francisco, CA

After walking east, out to the end of Pier 39 and back, I walked by a Wax Museum (with a replica of actress Elizabeth Taylor, dressed as Cleopatra I believe, out front); countless t-shirt and souvenir shops; cotton candy, hot dog, chocolate and candy sellers; camera/electronics stores; huge steaming pots of crabs; and fishing boats decorated with holiday lights and decorations. Lots going on, and lots to see. Because of my dawdling, to buy a new camera and take numerous pictures, this short jaunt turned into a three + hour walk. And the only reason why I hit the 2 mile mark, is because I followed all the piers and walkways as far out to the Bay as I could on the way back.

Despite all the attractions, and clear views of Alcatraz and night lights, the wildlife count was fairly low -- due mostly to the fall of darkness. There were no sea lions to be seen or heard. They usually congregate on docks just north of Pier 39.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 Western Grebe; 21 sea gulls; and no sea lions out this evening.

San Francisco - Pier 7 - Pier 39, Dec. 19, '09

Walking Distance: 1.67 miles
Walking Time: 2 hours (3:51 - 5:51 p.m.)
Start & End Point: Parking Lot, San Francisco, CA

Yes, another day of wonderful sights and tastes, and hardly any headway on the mileage/kilometer front. San Francisco, with its dramatic landscape, and so many points of interest, is an amazing place to walk and take pictures (and a great place to eat). Today's walk, north along The Embarcadero, straddled daytime and darkness (given that it's December). I passed restaurants, a local chocolatemaker, dinner theater/circus (Teatro Zinzanni), tour boats to Alcatraz, pedicabs, and glimpses of the Bay itself.

My turn-around point was Pier 39, a popular destination for visitors. On the walk back to the car, I stopped at chocolatemaker TCHO, on Pier 17. They had great hot chocolate; it was not too sweet. By the time I left TCHO it was dark, and I took pictures of tugboats, lighted skyscrapers, and antique rail cars and cable car buses zipping by. However, without a tripod, I ended up with a lot of blurry, artsy shots. (I no longer notice people's puzzled expressions while I take pictures of leaves on the sidewalk at night or teeter my little camera on top of a metal can.)

On a more serious note, I took some pictures this evening in honor of ex-colleague, and talented photographer, Neil Kelly, who died in a car accident on Highway 101 yesterday. Neil, you left us all too soon.

Wildlife Sightings:
12 sea gulls, 2 pigeons, and tourists/holiday revelers buzzing around Pier 39 area.