Thursday we drove down to San Francisco and the pier area. We needed to locate a good parking lot for Sunday when we will take a tour of Alcatraz and the bay. We first went up to the vista points for the Golden Gate bridge and took some photos. It was not a good day for photos because it was overcast and fog sometimes rolled in from the coast. Sunday is forecast to be sunny and warmer so perhaps we will try again when we are down there.
The Golden Gate Bridge welcomes ships into the bay
The city viewed thru the bridge
After driving around town and the pier area we drove back across the bridge and exited into the vista point at the north end of the bridge. We took a few photos and then walked midway across the bridge. The foot traffic and bike traffic was very heavy and we were lucky to avoided being ran over by a bicycle. Would be interesting to know how often someone is hit by a bicycle on the bridge. There are signs directing pedestrians to stay to the outside railing and bikes to stay to the inside railing but that is near impossible with the large number of pedestrians traveling in both directions. Most of the bikes were rental and many of the users were not skilled bikers. The city needs to require all bikes be walked across the bridge. We did see a police officer on a bike patrolling the bridge.
Look at the traffic on the bridge
In the photo below look at the two bikers on the left whizzing by the pedestrians on the right.
Cars, bikes, and people
After leaving the Golden Gate bridge we drove up 101 a few miles and turned off onto California 1 that runs along the coast. First stop was a Subway in Tamalpais Valley Junction to ad some fuel to our hungry bodies and then on out to Muir Beach. Dogs were allowed on the beach so Bo got to stretch his legs and go for a walk. He loved the beach and jealously eyed another dog who's owner allowed to frolic in the water. Bo is a royal and we will have none of that! Some of you are saying we are cruel not to let him play in the water but if you had to deal with all the sand sticking to his coat you would understand. Giving Bo a bath is not high on our list of things we like to do.
Sign welcoming us to the beach
Bo loves the beach and the feel of the sand
Muir Beach
After the beach area we drove up to Muir Beach Overlook with a fantastic view of the coast line. There are a number of old World War II gun emplacements there were soldiers monitored the entrance to the bay.
One of several gun emplacements at the overlook
The Northern California Coast is beautiful but treacherous to both humans and watercraft. Beaches are rare along this part of the coast making Muir Beach a popular destination.
View of the coast looking north
In the photo below Muir Beach can be seen down below in the left and the entrance to the bay and the Golden Gate is in the center of the photo. As far as one can see in both directions there is only one beach.
View of the coast looking south
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