Matthew Tuffin Blog

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Source: Flickr

Source: Flickr

Source: Flickr

What started out as what looked like a good day’s weather, we headed down to the Fishermans Wharf to rent some bikes for a trip across the bridge. In the bike rental shop we chose out a simple comfortable bike for my mother and I decided to pick out a road bike.

We headed out towards the bridge, first passing Fort Masson and then on Fort Point sitting below the bridge. After a climb up a fairly steep hill we were at last riding across the golden gate bridge. And yes it is a long way down until you hit the water. We passed down the east side of the bridge, the west side being closed the during the day time. Taking about 15~20mins to cross the bridge, having stopped a few times, it certainly is a great experience one you can take away with you. Shame the weather decided to turn a little misty at this point, I was freezing a little in my short sleeved bike shirt.

Using Alexander Avenue we passed into Sausalito which is only about one hour away from San Francisco and not far from the bridge, only down the hill. Stopping for a quick bite to eat we decided to continue on hoping to eventually catch the last ferry before it got too late to take the bikes back. Out into the Bothin Marsh the sun showed up and we enjoyed a warm ride onwards.

About an hour outside Tiburon I did start to feel that we were not going to make the ferry and then I noticed I had been looking at the ferry times for the weekend and not the weekdays. 4.10pm instead of 4.25pm. However we made it into Tiburon just on stroke of 4pm, so it was good going from my mother who had managed to keep up with me on a slower bike, even though she walked up two hills.

The ferry ride was finally a chance to recover and view Alcatraz Island from a different angle. We returned the bikes in on time and proceeded out for dinner. Picking out a small Italian place we had seen on our walk back from the bike rental place to the hotel, The Nob Hill Cafe. There were no phone reservations just a list that is on a first come first serve basis, we waited for about 30mins outside thankfully with a bottle of wine. Once in however the wait was worth it, that has to have been the best Spaghetti Carbonara I have ever tasted.