SaiKaiTai

"This generation's got no destination to hold..."

I really had no idea where I wanted to go today
No idea of how far to ride or how long.
I just knew I wanted to ride
And -what the hell- let's just follow the muse.
So I ended doing 35 miles today and I found things -right in my own backyard- that I had no idea existed.
And it's a ride (well, part of it, anyway) that I can share with Mrs. S.

It wasn't a great day for a ride

That's not fog or overcast or clouds.
No, there have been a LOT of wildfires burning all over Northern California and there still are...
That's smoke you're looking at.
At? OK, "through"... I'm in it.
Still they said the air would be "moderate" today and I have my inhaler with me...

...So, up Sharp Park Road, Down Skyline and over the hill I went, dropping down on Sneath Lane.
We're in South City. South City: South San Francisco The Industrial City.
We have or own little "Hollywood" in South City.
I meant to get a shot of it but I forgot.
If I had it would look a lot like this one:

That's San Bruno Mtn behind it.

There has always been industry in South City. Still is. Only the industry has changed.


Yep. South City is the home of Genetech and that's where I'm heading. Why? Just because.
Little did I know -had NO clue really- that right behind Genetech is the Bay... well, I knew that but I didn't know about the Bay Trail. A fabulous MUP that lines the west shore of the Bay coming from I-don't-know-where in the south and going I-don't-know-how-far to the north.
It passes through wetlands, bayshore, the Bayshore (the highway right next to all of this that runs into downtown SF), and... Marinas.


And with San Bruno Mountain behind it.


Eventually -5+ miles later- I came to a peer. That's lovely Candlestick Park out there.
You might know it as Monster Park. Or Bill Walsh Field. Or whatever it is this season.
Home of the San Francisco Forty-Niners.
Seems like a good place to turnaround, before I get too close
Hm 10 mile round trip, Fairly flat, no traffic, scenic...
Mrs S would love to ride here. I'm bringing her back. Maybe next week. When she rides it's her call.


I then I headed on home past The SSF (see on the lawn?) City Hall.


And into and through Colma.


There are more dead people than living in Colma. That's what they say, anyway.
They live in places like this:


This business of Colma is cemetaries. Seriously.
And the side industry that goes long with it:


There are about 6 or 7 monuments shops in Colma. And at least that many cemetaries.
Then I turned left and headed up the long grade back to Skyline.
Skyline? Heh... when I left, it was hazy but fairly warm.
When I got back the fog had rolled in.
It was a long breezy, cold drop down the highway and home.

I feel good. Sore. But good.

BluesDawg

Good report and pictures. I love a good ride with no planned destination. There are always things right there under your nose that you never knew were there.

SaiKaiTai

Thanks 'Dawg...

It's funny (ha ha), but I do have a tendency to get zoned into keeping a rhythm when I have a planned destination and mileage goal for a ride. And that's OK -nothing wrong with getting zoned in- but I miss all of the "Around me" part of the ride. When I didn't know where I was going to end up yesterday, I paid a lot more attention to the world around me and little things just kind of led me where I wanted to go. It's nice.

SaiKaiTai

Hm. Looks like this might be my last ride report for a while.
Not one of my better efforts, really. The report, not the ride. The ride was fine

dachshund

Thanks for the report and pictures! I used to live in SF... brings back memories.